A big (jazz) plus
Music vibrated throughout the Valley all weekend as the fifth annual Sonoma Jazz Plus Festival rolled through town. From swing to rock to country to reggae, with a dash of jazz thrown in for flavor, this year's festival was a smorgasbord for the ears.
Between the packed concerts on the main festival stage at the Field of Dreams and smaller performances of Wine and Song, the four-day music extravaganza brought 12,300 ticket-holders out to soak in the sounds. Of course excellent weather, free-flowing wine and gourmet food didn't hurt attendance, either. Thursday night always kicks off with a dance party, which this year featured Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Many call Thursday the "Community night" because it usually attracts the largest number of locals, as many tourists have yet to arrive.
The tent may not have been full, but the dance floor certainly was as attendees boogied down to the blaring horn section. Couples well into their 70s were able to revive the swing steps from years gone by while dancing next to teenagers eager to attempt their first jitterbug.
On Friday, Keb' Mo' got things off to a bluesy start with his velvety vocals warming up the crowd. Between headliners, Sonoma's Whiskey Thieves took to the smaller stage in the festival village as attendees enjoyed a wide variety of food and wines.
Those with patrons' passes retreated to the patrons tent, which was expertly arranged in feng shui style by Wine Country Party and Events, using water features said to improve the flow of energy. Renowned chefs served up a different collection of tasty offerings each night of the festival (see Kathleen Hill's column on Friday for a more complete listing of epicurean delights from the festival). The crowd was ready for rock legend Joe Cocker when he took the stage at 9 p.m. While he wears his age plainly on his face, Cocker's voice packed the same punch as his famous Woodstock performance 40 years ago. Best known for covering other musicians' songs and making them his own, Cocker delighted the crowd with his renditions of "You Are So Beautiful" and "With a Little Help From My Friends."
On Saturday, country music was king. Shelby Lynne got the evening started with her charming southern drawl. But it was Lyle Lovett, performing with His Large Band, who stole the show with spunky tunes thick with Texas twang. The audience let out a collective squeal as he hit the first notes of "Cute as a Bug" and "No Big Deal."
Wrapping the show up on Sunday was the odd musical pairing of Chris Isaak and Ziggy Marley.
While Isaak may have had only one top 20 hit in his musical career, he has produced nine top-selling albums, been nominated for two Grammy awards, appeared in several movies, and has become a major media personality with television shows, including "The Chris Isaak Hour." Isaak's witty banter, self-deprecating humor ("these sequins are for your protection") and flawless voice, combined with his superb Silvertone band, brought the audience to its feet.
Ziggy Marley hails from the first family of reggae - the eldest son of the legendary Bob Marley, and while the four-time Grammy winner has certainly established his own musical credentials, he got the biggest response from the crowd when he played classics from his father's repertoire such as "Jammin" and "Is This Love." He shared the stage with his youngest daughter Judah Victoria Marley, 4, who started out singing backup with her own mic but ended the show singing along in her father's arms.
Proceeds from Jazz Plus will go towards supporting music education programs in Valley schools. To date, the festival has contributed more than $400,000 toward the cost of music teachers, instruments and scholarships, giving Valley children access to many opportunities the public schools can no longer afford to sustain on their own.