Japantown Jazz Festival: A Celebration of Asian American Jazz | SF

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Come out for the second Annual Japantown Jazz Festival, a celebration of jazz in San Francisco’s Japantown featuring the Asian American Jazz Orchestra, Michael Sasaki and the Bluesetta Band and the Bob Kenmotsu Quartet.

Japantown’s location next to the “Harlem of the West”, the Fillmore has led to it becoming a hotbed for cutting edge jazz throughout the years. There are many vibrant musicians and groups that have grownup on the music and now push it forward by incorporating Japanese sensibilities into their sound.

This free event is sponsored by the Merchants of the Japan Center Malls.

The July 14, 2012 Performance Includes:

Asian American Jazz Orchestra: Led by critically acclaimed musicians Anthony Brown, Mark Izu and Masura Koga, they blends the sonorities and improvisational approaches of the jazz tradition with Asian musical instruments and sensibilities. Since 1997, the orchstra are leaders in San Francisco’s Asian American creative music movement and founded the Asian American Jazz Orchestra (AAJO).

Michael Sasaki and the Bluesetta Band: Michael Sasaki is a gifted guitarist and composer. He emerged on to the music scene in 1971 as the guitarist for the San Francisco-based band, Cold Blood. A solid member of the vibrant San Francisco music scene of the 70’s, Cold Blood’s signature sound featured the powerful lead vocals of Lydia Pense backed by a tight group of musicians blending jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll. Michael’s tasty guitar work can be heard on Hiroshima CD’s as well as on Cold Blood classics.

Bob Kenmotsu Quartet: Bob was a member of the Jack McDuff organ combo, and the Ruth Brown Band. He recorded ‘The Spark’, with Billy Hart and Ira Coleman, and ‘Bronx Tale’, with Pat Martino and Jack McDuff. In 1994, Bob went to Japan on a Japan/US Fellowship cultural exchange grant, and lived there until 1997. While there, he played many clubs, concerts, festivals, and toured the country several times.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.