Altered Roots Quartet drummer Todd Wilder

The 2009 AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival was unofficially launched tonight with a show by Altered Roots Quartet at neighborhood hangout The Naglee Park Garage.

Altered Roots Quartet is a local band that’s been together in various guises for many years. Only about 4 years ago they came together in their current form. The band plays reggae songs in a jazzy style and jazz with a slightly reggae beat. One key to the band’s sound is that guitarist Andrew Sacco is also a luthier, or guitar maker. He built his own 7-string guitar, and also bassist Chris Wilder’s instrument.

ARQ will play, officially, at the San Jose Jazz Festival Saturday evening at 6 on the 48 Hour Jazz Stage in the Theater on the Square at San Pedro Square. After the festival their next gig is Friday, August 14, at Gordon Biersch Restaurant in San Jose (I’m giving you the date from memory, because GB’s doesn’t seem to update their web page regularly for upcoming shows).