D’oh! Actually, Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons will be in town at the Le Petit Trianon this September.

He will be in conversation with Lakshmi Pratury discussing the inspiration behind the series and the impact that the Simpsons has made on pop culture. A Q&A session and book signing is scheduled to follow the discussion.

More information here.

Le Petit Trianon
72 N. Fifth Street, San Jose

Friday, September 12
6:30 pm Check-In; 7:00 pm Program

Admission:
$25 General (purchased by September 4th)
$45 General (purchased after September 4th)
Check website for other pricing

photo: woz.org

Steve Wozniak created the Apple I and Apple II computers in the mid-1970s with the Apple II becoming one of the best selling personal computers of the 1970s and early 1980s. He co-founded Apple Computer with Steve Jobs.

He is also an author, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It.

Happy Birthday!

David Sanborn

I arrived just as John Densmore was preparing to go on stage. Once a member of the ‘Doors’, this drummer now surrounds himself with tribal inspired musicians that make up the earthy rhythmic sound of Tribaljazz. John dedicated ‘Wrapped Around Your Finger’ to drummer Stewart Copeland of the ‘The Police’ saying, “He came to my rescue in a legal matter once…”

Eddie Gale was jamming a traditional style of jazz at the San Jose Rep. Gale didn’t perform to the audience; it was as if he allowed us to sit in on a private session.

I felt privileged to be up front when David Sanborn blew the proverbial roof off the main stage. As he looked out over the crowd, he mentioned how happy it made the old man to see so many [people] there for the music. (David turned 63 on July 30th) My personal thanks goes out to the San Jose Jazz Festival for securing David Sanborn as a headliner. I will treasure the experience.

The politics:

Say it ain’t so to the rumors that the Jazz Festival Board members wish to rename the festival tying it to Silicon Valley. Name recognition is crucial for San Jose’s economic growth.

Somehow the Festival was able to make up the monies that were so foolishly withheld by the city, but what about next year?

The once largest free jazz festival in the world that began to charge a $5 entry fee a few years ago, now requires $10. I would be willing to spend up to $20 if it guarantied more big name performers.

flickr set

I can hardly wait to get through the morning! Though the music starts at 11:00am, I won’t make it to the Jazz Festival until later.

1:00pm: My first stop will be the blues stage.
The Gary Smith Blues Band’ Gary, the ‘Godfather of Blues Harmonica’, calls San Jose his hometown.

2:00pm: The main stage will be the place to be.
The last time I saw John Densmore (Tribaljazz) was in 1967 at the Continental Ballroom. He was then with a group called ‘The Doors’.

The Continental Ballroom, once a roller-skating rink that was located at 1600 Martin Ave., Santa Clara just north of SJC. Those were the days…

4:00pm: The San Jose Rep Stage.
In nineteen and forty-one Eddie Gale was born in Brooklyn. He came west and in nineteen and seventy-two he found his way to San Jose, and by 1974 Mr.Gale was named ‘San Jose’s Ambassador of Jazz’.

6:00pm: Back to the main stage.
I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town when six-time Grammy winner, David Sanborn plays his tribute to Ray Charles and his arranger, saxophonist Hank Crawford.

From a young age David suffered with polio. When he was eleven doctors recommend that for therapy David take up a wind instrument. As a fan of Ray Charles and his sax players, ‘Fathead’ Newman and Hank Crawford, he chose the sax. The rest, as they say…

San Jose's Katee Shean is Top Girl Dancer

My daughter sat, with her ever-present MacBook, watching ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. The computer came to life when Katee was chosen for the last Top 20 spot. My daughter and other Atlas School of Dance (former) students were thrilled.

Last night Katee became the top girl dancer, and she was awarded $50,000 for her amazing performance. Though Joshua is now America’s favorite dancer, Katee is the favorite in San Jose.

More good news, she won’t have to star in “Step It Up 3D” the movie (?)

So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2008
HP Pavilion 9/25/08

Happy Birthday Peggy Fleming, born July 27, 1948 in San Jose.

Ms. Fleming, a figure skater, was the only American to win a gold medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Her energy and unique style left a lasting impression on all who watched her performances, especially the free-skating program.

After the Olympics, she starred in five television specials, toured the U.S. as a special guest star in the Ice Follies ice show, and has been a commentator on figure skating for ABC Sports for over 20 years.

Fleming and her husband, Dr. Greg Jenkins, own and operate Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery in Los Gatos. Profits from a Rosé go towards charities that support breast cancer research; she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. The Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room is located at 45 West Main Street in downtown Los Gatos.

Photo courtesy Peggy Fleming Website

She is best known as Star Wars’ Princess Leia, some may know her as an author, and you may know that she contributed to numerous film scripts. She has been outspoken about her life and career. Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking begins this Wednesday July 23 and runs through August 2 at the San Jose Repertory Theatre.

From the San Jose Repertory Theatre website: “Carrie Fisher is the life of the party with Wishful Drinking, an uproarious look at her Hollywood hangover. Fisher tells a true and intoxicating story with her trademark wit and humor. From starring as Princess Leia to penning the bestseller Postcards from the Edge, from having Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher as parents to marrying and divorcing Paul Simon… this Tinseltown toddler lands among the stars when she’s cast in a little movie called Star Wars. But it isn’t all sweetness and light sabers: as a single mom, she also battles addiction, depression, mental institutions, and that awful hyperspace hairdo.”

Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking
San Jose Repertory Theatre
101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose

July 23 - August 2

Tickets $34 - $60

More information here.

Nazanine Mousavi and Ephrain Joseph

Yes, that was a film crew at San Jose Airport today.

I spoke with Black Dove Entertainment Producer Michael Andres. Michael a graduate of Saratoga High School and UCLA told me that his cast and crew were all local people. He was kind to let me talk with the cast and take a few photos.

“Layla: Live or Die” a story that is relevant to the times and lifestyle of the Bay Area. Layla (Nazanine Mousavi), a young woman from the Middle East, must make some hard choices when the engagement to her fiancé (Ephrain Joseph) falls apart.

Black Dove Entertainment
Michael Andres - Producer

YouTube:
“Kidschool” - Cinequest Film Festival
“Father Son Holy ghost”

flickr:
“Layla: Live or Die”

While waiting for our respective customers at SFO, I noticed that the chauffeur standing next to me was holding a clipboard. Attached to its back was a small handbill from the San Jose Jazz Festival. Seeing it was enough for me to start up a conversation. I learned that this chauffeur was none other than Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs a.k.a. radio KKUP DJ - Bajaba On Jazzline.

KKUP’s involvement (Blues Stage) with the Jazz Festival includes being one of its sponsors. Mr. Dayvs was surprised to hear that because of a miscalculation, San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs had made the recommendation to significantly cut funds for this years festival.

To shift funds away from the Jazz Festival and give it to other city venues such as Christmas in the Park is not in the best interest of San Jose. Christmas in the Park makes for a nice local family tradition but it does not generate the revenue or recognition that a jazz festival does.

Hopefully wiser minds at City Hall will prevail and the San Jose Jazz Festival will receive the well-deserved attention it deserves.

KKUP 91.5 Peoples Radio

Bajaba On Jazzline 4PM Tuesday

San Jose Jazz Festival 2007

One thing I love about going to Cinequest, especially to the premiers, is mingling with the cast and crew. They are often around before, and after the show. I was able to have a few words with Director Craig Saavedra and Cinematographer Joaquin Sedillo. I met Enrico (Rico) Colantoni. He plays D. J. (short for Dijon - like the mustard) The guy he was with liked my brown Nikes. (?)

Sherman’s Way was filmed, for the most part, in Northern California up in Lake County. I am already making plans for a spring road trip.

The town of Kelseyville, thanks to the beautiful work of Joaquin, is now a must see vacation destination.

I didn’t want Sherman’s Way to end. I kept hoping for one more scene - I wasn’t ready to say goodbye…

Screenings: Dates and Times