The 2017 Folsom Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday, January 28th, 2017 from 7:00 am to 10:30 pm, and it promises to be an exciting day of entertainment. Over 140 middle school and high school jazz bands, vocal jazz choirs, and jazz combos from all over California and Nevada will compete throughout the day at this family-friendly event. This must-attend Festival is the largest jazz competition in our State! Last year's Festival was an amazing success! Please click HERE to enjoy a highlight video!
The Noon Concert will be in the Theater at Folsom High School and will feature Sacramento State Jazz Orchestra. Some of the finest musicians in Sacramento play from the cutting edge contemporary styles of writers such as Maria Schneider , Jim McNeely, Vince Mendoza, and Bob Mintzer to the classics of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Charles Mingus. Both large group ensembles perform regular concerts on campus and at top local, regional and international jazz festivals. Prominent guest artists who have recently appeared with the Sacramento State Jazz Ensemble include Ernie Watts, Kenny Werner, Jon Faddis, Bobby Shew, Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge, Conrad Herwig, Bob Mintzer, Wayne Wallace, Ingrid Jensen, Tim Ries, Geoff Keezer, Scott Whitfield, Dave Pietro, Wayne Bergeron, Terell Stafford, Steve Turre, Dave Pietro, and Wycliffe Gordon.
The 3 o’clock Concert which will be in the Choir Room at Rolling Hills Church will feature American River Jazz Choir. The advanced Vocal Jazz Ensemble has earned a reputation as a top quality ensemble having earned 9 DownBeat Awards and the honor of performing for many local, state, national and international audiences.
This Year’s Evening Main Stage guest artist is the Dave Pietro Group. Dave is currently a member of the Grammy Award-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra and the Grammy nominated groups the Gil Evans Project and Darcy James Argue's Secret Society. From 1994-2013 he played lead alto saxophone and recorded seven CD’s with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. He has also toured and/or recorded with the bands of Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock, Mike Holober, Anita Brown, Pete McGuinness, Pedro Giraudo, Jim Widner and Arturo O’Farrill. Pietro has performed with may other well known musicians such as Paul Anka, Louis Bellson, Blood Sweat & Tears, David Bowie, Bobby Caldwell, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Feinstein, Chaka Khan, Liza Minnelli, James Naughton and John Pizzarelli. Dave has studied East Indian music and performed with various groups led by Indian tablist Sandip Burman.
The Folsom Jazz Festival will take place at two locations:
Folsom High School - 1655 Iron Point Road, Folsom, CA 95630
Rolling Hills Christian Church - 800 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.
Tickets day of the event are $13 Adults, $9 Seniors, Children, and Students with ID (which includes entrance all day at both locations).
Online program link: Current Schedule - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
USE DISCOUNT CODE JF2017 to save 10%. This is valid only for early purchases so get your tickets soon!
Check out the evening concert from 2014! Folsom High School Jazz Band I performing at the 2014 Folsom Jazz Festival's evening concert with George Stone, Brian Lynch, and Donny McCaslin.
