Report from Roman Gokhman:

Some of the biggest names in jazz and blues, including pianist Herbie Hancock, guitarists B.B. King and Robert Cray, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and trumpeter Terence Blanchard came together Sunday (Oct. 26) in Los Angeles for an all-star benefit for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

The concert, dubbed “The Blues and Jazz: Two American Classics,” was part showcase of the youth who have benefited from the instruction of the institute, part award ceremony, part history lesson and part merry-go-round of all-star collaborations.

It was the second year the institute has held the event, which included the finals of it’s 21st annual young artist jazz competition, at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The show felt too scripted at times – all of the introductions and song lyrics were telepromted – but it certainly made up for it in once-in-a-lifetime musical pairings and several great performances

The evening included a star-studded rotating cast. They included vocalist Cassandra Wilson, guitarists Joe Luis Walker, Keb’ Mo’ and Lee Ritenour; percussionists Poncho Sanchez, Terri Lyne Carrington and Thelonious Monk, Jr., saxophonist Wayne Shorter and pianist George Duke.
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(Here is the final report from Monterey, which I’m handing over to my editors for print.)

By Jim Harrington

Christian McBride had been waiting a long time for the moment to arrive. When it finally did, the bassist couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm.

“Monterey,” he exclaimed. “Hot damn!”

That pretty much summed up what everyone was feeling during the 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival, which ran Friday through Sunday (Sept. 19-21) at the city’s gorgeous oak-tree-dotted fairgrounds. Many of the 40,000 fans that turned out for the event had been looking ahead to the 2008 festival basically from the moment last year’s ended.

Some probably didn’t even wait that long to start anticipating. For proof, consider that people could be heard over the weekend making their plans for 2009.
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By Jim Harrington

For a half century, the Monterey Jazz Festival has been the genre’s gold standard. With its 51st edition, which takes place Friday through Sunday, Monterey is ready to begin the push for platinum.

The event will feature some of jazz music’s biggest names, including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Cassandra Wilson and Joshua Redman, as well as such young hot shots as Jamie Cullum, Anat Coen, Derek Trucks and Ryan Shaw. In all, some 500 artists are set to appear over the weekend on the festival’s nine stages.

I plan to be at the festival all three days. If I could only make one, however, it would definitely be Sunday. I really want to see what all the fuss is about with Cullum, who performs that afternoon. I haven’t been overly impressed with his CDs, but people say that the young English pop-jazz star is amazing onstage.
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New on-sales from Ticketmaster:

Now on sale:
Golden State Warriors
Saturday, October 11, 2008 to Monday, April 13, 2009
ORACLE Arena
Oakland , CA

Dolphy & Zsa Zsa
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Reno Ballroom
Reno , NV

On Sale Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Carnival Cabaret
Friday, September 12, 2008 to Friday, January 2, 2009
Horizon Casino Resort
Stateline , NV

Lewis Black
Friday, December 26, 2008
Silver Legacy Casino
Reno , NV
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(Official press release from LiveNation folks:)

FOR IMMEDIDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 08, 2008.

SHOW CANCELLED.

HERBIE HANCOCK
Saturday, September 20th, Doors 7:00PM Show 8:00PM
Nob Hill Masonic Center

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Herbie Hancock & Live Nation regretfully announce the cancellation of the previously scheduled Herbie Hancock performance at the Nob Hill Masonic Center on Saturday, September 20th.

Ticket refunds are available at point of purchase.
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New on sales from Ticketmaster:

Now on sale:

Todd Paul
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Jackson Rancheria Casino and Hotel
Jackson, CA

Jasscity Jazz Band
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Jackson Rancheria Casino And Hotel
Jackson, CA

On Sale Friday, August 01, 2008 at 10:00 AM

San Jose State Ice Hockey
Friday, September 26, 2008 to Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sharks Ice at San Jose
San Jose, CA

Gwendolyn Mok
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Le Petit Trianon Theatre
San Jose, CA

The Lee Trio
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Le Petit Trianon Theatre
San Jose, CA
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The 4th annual Sonoma Jazz + festival offered more than its share of musical thrills over Memorial Day Weekend.

The majority of the excitement occurred on the festival’s mainstage, which was erected in a huge tent in downtown Sonoma’s Field of Dreams, as such big-name acts as Diana Krall and Bonnie Raitt entertained fans over the course of four evenings, Thursday through Sunday.

There was also fun to be had during the daytime, as the popular Wine & Song series paired Bay Area musical talent with wines from local vineyards on Saturday and Sunday. This series, held at such picturesque and intimate downtown venues as the Ledson Hotel and the Red Grape, offered up such clever thematic music/wine combos as “Rhythm and Red” and “Cabaret and Cabernet.”

Perhaps the best part about this festival (which receives sponsorship from this newspaper) is that it helps raise funds for music programs in Sonoma Valley schools. Indeed, some locals say that without Sonoma Jazz + there would be no music programs in local schools.

I caught three of the festival’s four nights, having skipped the Kool and the Gang opener on Thursday. Here’s a look back:
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What looked to be the Sonoma Jazz + festival’s most potent doubleheader _ Friday’s (May 23) pairing of Herbie Hancock and the Reverend Al Green _ didn’t quite live up to those lofty expectations. Each set offered amazing music, but they just didn’t gel well as a package.

Green took the stage first, wearing a snazzy suit, dark glasses and a smile for the ages, and revved up the crowd with his one-of-a-kind mix of R&B, soul, gospel and pop. The 62-year-old vocalist, whose new CD, “Lay It Down,” hits stores Tuesday (May 27), sounded terrific as he led his big band through such Top 40 singles as “Let’s Get Married,” “Tired of Being Alone” and, of course,” “Let’s Stick Together.”

He was an energetic and assured front man, borrowing more than a few tricks from James Brown’s bag, and he had fans eating out of the palm of his hand. The highlights of the set were a transcendent “Amazing Grace,” which began as almost whispered duet between Green and the crowd and gradually built to a triumphant height, and a monster work-out of “Love and Happiness.”
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By midday on Feb. 10, Herbie Hancock had already received one trophy at the 2008 Grammy Awards. The pianist-composer’s “River: The Joni Letters” had won the prize for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, which was awarded during the pre-show ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Everyone knew that Hancock would return to the Grammy stage later that night _ to perform a duet with fellow pianist Lang Lang on George Gershwin’s epic “Rhapsody in Blue,’’ which turned out to be the performance highlight of the TV telecast. What was hugely unexpected, at least in the eyes of Grammy handicappers, was that Hancock would make one more trip to the podium _ this time to pick up the most coveted Grammy of all, for Album of the Year.

“There wasn’t a glimmer of hope in the press’ eyes that I would emerge as the winner of that one,” the 68-year-old Chicago native says during a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. “No one had talked about me having a chance in that one. Everybody was saying it would either be Amy Winehouse or Kanye West.”

Hancock wasn’t just battling West and Winehouse _ as well as the two other nominated artists, Vince Gill and the Foo Fighters _ he was also up against the poor overall track record that the jazz genre has posted in the Album of the Year