San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023

In Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop on August 11

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023 Announces New Friday Night Headliner on The Sobrato Organization Main Stage in Plaza de César Chavez Park (San Jose, Calif.)

Plus New Stage Announcement: 200 Park Stage Tributes 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop with Bay Area & Los Angeles Hip-Hop Acts on August 11:

Headliner Murs of Living Legends

Plus Needle To The Groove DJs Allen Johnson, Dave Ma & Michael Basura;
Playboyz Inc. Breakdancing, Popping, and Turfing Troupes Featuring NastyRay, Scarface & Johnny 5; Live Graffiti by Gwen Mercado Reyes & Joey Reyes

200 Park Stage Features Latin, Jazz, Funk & Soul Party on August 12 & 13:
Cimafunk, Jungle Fire, La Misa Negra, Frunkyman, B. Deveaux

“Advance Price” Tickets On Sale Now Through July 31 (Tickets: $35 – $250/Day; $105 – $680/3-Day Passes)

Silicon Valley’s premier annual music event, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023 celebrates the 50th Anniversary of hip-hop with newly confirmed headliner Big Daddy Kane set to perform with a full band and backup singers on The Sobrato Organization Main Stage on Friday, August 11, 2023. One of hip-hop’s most innovative and trendsetting MCs who’s renowned for bringing the “playa” style to the game, Big Daddy Kane holds an array of career accolades that have catapulted him to legendary status in the genre. From several Gold records and a GRAMMY Award to being recognized as an icon at the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors, Big Daddy Kane’s hit singles have brought his influential, lyrical baritone voice to the masses across multiple decades being in the hip-hop spotlight.

Big Daddy Kane’s acclaimed catalogue of albums include Long Live The Kane, It’s A Big Daddy Thing, Taste of Chocolate, Prince of Darkness, Looks Like A Job For…, and Daddy’s Home. His standout tracks have appeared on film soundstracks such as Lean On Me, Juice, Mo’ Money, and Colors, and his distinguished voice can be heard as the narrator of the documentary film, Notorious. As a powerful figure on the rap scene, Kane has collaborated with Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Heavy D, Busta Rhymes, Patti LaBelle, Quincy Jones, among others. Big Daddy Kane performs on the actual 50th Anniversary of the birth of hip-hop at SJZ Summer Fest — 50 years to the day when DJ Kool Hercplayed records at a party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York.

Big Daddy Kane joins a star-studded lineup of headlining artists performing on The Sobrato Organization Main Stage, which features appearances by Blue Note recording artist Gregory Porter, renowned funk/jazz bassist and a UNESCO Artist for Peace Marcus Miller, GRAMMY-winner and platinum-selling Anthony Hamilton Featuring The Ton3s, buzzy rock-inspired traditional African music group W.I.T.C.H., Havana, Cuba’s superstar Cimafunk and his nine-person band La Tribu, and eight-member NOLA brass sensation The Soul Rebels. Pete Rock & The Soul Brothers are no longer performing at SJZ Summer Fest 2023. To see the full artist lineup, please visit summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.

9th Stage Added to San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023 — 200 Park Stage — Featured Artists
Adjacent to The Sobrato Organization Main Stage will be a brand-new activation on the 200 Park Stage with the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop taking over the stage on Friday night featuring Murs; Needle To The Groove w/ DJ Allen Johnson, Dave Ma & Michael Basura; Playboyz Inc. Breakdancing Troupe Featuring NastyRay, Scarface & Johnny 5, and Live Graffiti by Gwen Mercado Reyes & Joey Reyes. The night will be hosted by San Jose emcee DEM ONE, aka Demone Carter, who has released several albums and collaborated with notable hip-hop artists like D-Styles and Motion Man. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, the 200 Park Stage turns into a Latin, jazz, funk and soul party with a second show by Cimafunk and La Tribu, as well as electrifying sets by Jungle Fire, La Misa Negra, Frunkyman, and B. Deveaux. The new General Admission outdoor 200 Park Stage is sponsored by 200 Park, a spectacular new building next to the new stage on the newly-reopened Park Avenue.

With nearly 40 solo and collaborative releases, Los Angeles’ Murs has truly run the gamut of independent success. Early work with 3 Melancholy Gypsys and the iconic hip-hop supergroup Living Legends paved the way for MURS’ stellar career and critically-acclaimed catalog of work, including MURS 3:16 The 9th Wonder Edition. 2008’s release of Murs For President on Warner Bros. was a massive splash for MURS, and as the founder of the pivotal Paid Dues Festival, MURS went on to collaborate with Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, will.i.am, DJ Quik and E-40, and getting signed to Tech N9ne’s independent Strange Music label. MURS holds the Guinness World Record with a 24-hour live rap marathon on Twitch. In 2019, he released with 9th Wonder, The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over. Summer 2020 marked the triumphant return of Felt — the duo comprised of Murs and Slug of Atmosphere, with the surprise release of their fourth album, Felt4U, and his collaboration with DJ Fresh for the release of Love & Rockets Vol 2: The Declaration.

For almost 40 years, Playboyz Incorporated (PBI) has been San Jose’s premier Popping crew with its members traveling across the U.S. and globe competing in world-class dance competitions. The original group of three dancers has expanded with members in Singapore, Ukraine, Vietnam, and the U.K. The group specializes in a variety of styles of group and freestyle solo dance, including Popping, Strutting, Boogaloo, Tutting, Waving, and Robot. The Playboyz preserve dance culture and are active teachers throughout the Bay Area. Joining Playboyz Inc. for the evening are breakdancers NastyRay, Scarface, and Johnny 5, and turfing dance artists as well.

San Jose vinyl shop and label Needle to the Groove curates DJ sets on Friday night by Allen Johnson, Dave Ma & Michael Basura. With one of the best vinyl inventories in the SF Bay Area, Needle to the Groove features rock, punk, hip-hop, soul & funk, 80’s, jazz and blues records. Live graffiti by Gwen Mercado Reyes and Joey Reyes will bring an exciting visual element to the 200 Park Stage for the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop celebration. (Cimafunk)

Grammy Award-nominated Afro-Cuban rockstar Cimafunk (Erik Iglesias Rodriguez) takes the funk of James Brown, George Clinton and Prince, the soul of Al Green and Bill Withers, and incorporates his native Cuban “Trova” and “Songo” to present one of the best live performances currently touring at SJZ Summer Fest 2023 on The Sobrato Organization Main Stage on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 4pm, as well as the headliner on Aug. 12 at the 200 Park Stage at 9pm. The name Cimafunk refers to his heritage as a “cimarrón,” a Cuban of African descent who resisted and escaped slavery. Along with his nine-person band La Tribu, Cimafunk celebrates with a dynamic live performance overflowing with grooves that’s redefine contemporary Cuban music, Afro-Latin identity and the fusion of black cultures.

Jungle Fire is a deep foray into Afro-Latin funk with a highly explosive live show. In 2014, the group’s debut LP titled Tropicoso was released to great critical acclaim via Los Angeles’ own Nacional Records. Their follow-up album Jambú (Nacional Records) debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Latin charts leading to placements in a variety of films, commercials and TV shows including spots for VICE, Lipton, Starbucks, NIKE, the 2019 Emmy Awards and the soundtrack to Lionsgate’s How to Be a Latin Lover with Eugenio Derbez and Salma Hayek. Jungle Fire have contributed to the opening credits and soundtrack of the May 2022 film release by Eugenio Derbez titled, The Valet, in addition to several shows on HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and ESPN. Jungle Fire’s live performances serve up a healthy dose of originals and deep Afro-Latin Funk covers all cooked up together in a live mix-tape style, ensuring an energy that is nothing short of burning.

Oakland-based seven-piece band La Misa Negra blends cumbia, Afro-Latin rhythms, punk rock energy, and horn/accordion-driven riffs. La Misa Negra has shared festival bills with the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Thievery Corporation, and many others. La Misa Negra’s one-of-a- kind shows transcend musical, cultural, and generational divides.

Bassist/composer Frunkyman is a graduate from SJSU’s Jazz Studies Masters program and has worked as a studio musician for several series including Genius: Picasso, FIFA 2018, Drifting Dragons, and the Video Game Awards 2018. The SJZ Jazz Aid Fund awardee has performed at the Fountain Blues & Brews Festival, San Jose Museum Of Art, SJZ New Works Fest and San Jose Jazz Summer Fest.

21-year-old non-binary, queer Oakland native B. DeVeaux is a rising singer who studied at the Oakland School of Arts and was mentored by the likes of Kehlani, Daveed Diggs, and Ledisi. They held the top spot in OSA’s premier ensemble, Vocal Rush (International Competition for High School Acapella, 4x champions) and was a 2023 Jazz Aid Fund and New Works Fest artist.

Sponsors @ San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023

The arts connect us, ignite new possibilities, and contribute to positive mental health and well-being. Applied Materials Foundation supports Arts & Culture initiatives by contributing $1.05 million in grants to 59 nonprofits in 2022. Applied Materials Foundation has kindly granted $25,000 to support the free Latin Tropical Stage and musicians at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023.

“The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the arts worldwide with many organizations still struggling to survive. Applied and the Applied Materials Foundation awarded over $1 million in grants to organizations we truly belief in. We are proud to support community-based non-profit organizations such as San Jose Jazz to ensure live music and Latin American artists continue to have a prominent place in our society.” -Julie Lata (Global Community Affiars, Applied Materials Foundation)

Additional sponsors for the SJZ Summer Fest 2023 include The Sobrato Organization, Hunger at Home, Full Circle Catering & Events, DownBeat Magazine, Google, PG&E, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Republic Services, Dave’s Bread, Urban Catalyst (sponsoring District 3 Opening Night Happy Hour), CEFCU (Club Crawl Sponsor), Visit San Jose, Gordon Biersch Brewery, City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs, and Castellano Family Foundation.

ACT NOW, some hotels are already sold out! Exclusive hotel deals close to the festival grounds are now available. Check out these great rates at Signia by Hilton San Jose, AC Hotel by Marriott, DoubleTree by Hilton, Four Points by Sheraton, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hotel Clariana, Hotel De Anza, Hyatt Place, San Jose Marriott, and Westin. Book your reservations now at this LINK.

33rd Annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023
When: August 11 – 13, 2023
Where: Plaza de César Chavez Park, San Jose, CA
Admission: summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/buy-now
More info: summerfest.sanjosejazz.org;
Call: 408.288.7557

Artist Lineup (Friday, August 11 – Sunday, August 13)

Gregory Porter, Big Daddy Kane, Marcus Miller, Anthony Hamilton Featuring The Ton3s, The Soul Rebels, W.I.T.C.H., Cimafunk, The Bad Plus, Grace Kelly, Veronica Swift, MURS, Marcus Shelby New Orchestra Featuring Tiffany Austin, Shayna Steele, Sunny War, Vanessa Collier, Patrice Rushen, Telmary & Friends, Connie Han Trio, Blaque Dynamite, MAE.SUN, Billy Childs, Vocal Gents of Jazz with Kenny Washington, Lalin St. Juste, Jungle Fire, La Misa Negra, Frunkyman, B. Deveaux, Playboyz Inc. Breakdancing Troupe, Needle To The Groove w/ DJ Allen Johnson, Dave Ma & Michael Basura, Nicolas Bearde & Jamie Davis, Luca Stricagnoli, Halie Loren, Ronit Widmann-Levy & Angel Romero, Benny Benack III, Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few, Bee Taylor, DK Harrell, VibraSon, Chika Di, Óskar Ly & Rumbalú, Gabriel Gonzalez Y La Verdad, Club Mambi, San Miguel, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s, The Blues Defenders with Mz. Dee & Willy Jordan, Noah & The Arkiteks, Marcel Smith, Chicken Bone Slim & The Biscuits featuring Laura Chavez, Maxx Cabello Jr., Billy Iuso, Yvonne Flores, Malachi Whitson, Soul Message Band, Maraca & Orquesta La Moderna Tradición, Basivibe, Stimulator Jones, Ian Santillano, Ensemble Contratiemple Afrovenezuelan Jazz, Mr. Clifford’s Young Jazz All Stars, MJF Regional All Star Vocal Ensemble, MJF Regional All Star Big Band Ensemble, Jazz Education Ensemble, Youth Jazz Jam, Mr. Clifford’s Young Jazz All Stars, Berkeley High School Combo, Mariachi Mexico, Savannah Martinez Band, Los Gatos-Saratoga Band, The Serenaders, Synchronicity, Top Shelf, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Los Tacoyos, Full Spectrum Big Band, SOJ Band, Footnotes, Ames Jazz Band, and Swing Solution.

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2023 — Ticket Information

3-Day Pass Adult VIP ($610 advance; $680 gate)
Includes access to all stages, Fri-Sun, Aug 11-13 and access to VIP seating Area at the Sobrato Organization Main Stage on Fri–Sun. Also, unlimited access to the VIP Pavilion near the Main Stage with two drink tickets, snacks and one meal each day; as well as “first-in” access to indoor stages, 15 minutes before downbeat. If the venue is full, you’ll be the first to get in when seats become available.

3-Day Pass Adult PRIORITY ACCESS ($310 advance; $340 gate)
Access to all stages, Fri-Sun, Aug 11-13 and to Priority Seating area in front of the Main Stage with an exclusive attached bar plus Priority, “first-in” access to indoor stages, 15 minutes before downbeat. If the venue is full when you arrive, you’ll be the first to get in when seats are available. Also, an exclusive no-host bar.

3-Day Pass Adult ALL STAGES ($190 advance; $205 gate)
Basic access to all stages, Fri-Sun, Aug 11-13. Access to indoor stages after Priority Access and VIP ticket holders are seated.

3-Day Pass Adult GENERAL ADMISSION (GA) ($115 advance; $130 gate)
Basic access all outdoor stages, including the Main Stage, Aug 11-13

3-Day Pass Child ($30)
Admission to SJZ Summer Fest, Fri-Sun, Aug 11-13 for children aged 5-12. Children must be accompanied by a ticketed adult, and access will match that of the adult.

About San Jose Jazz Founded in 1986, San Jose Jazz is a public benefit organization celebrating jazz as a dynamic, evolving art form and is producer of the annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest and Winter Fest. San Jose Jazz innovates trend-setting initiatives to foster artistic ingenuity and preserve the jazz tradition as a forward-thinking movement. Through diverse music and educational programming, San Jose Jazz offers singular content and events by investing in the SF Bay Area ecosystem of exceptional talent for local and national audiences to enjoy.

For more information, please visit sanjosejazz.org.