Yes, the rumors are true. There will be a jazz festival in Modesto! Several people have been talking individually about doing a festival in Modesto, and finally the talkers have joined forces and began doing something!

Mark your calendars for May 16th and 17th. It’s going to be fun. I certainly hope so. It’s a lot of work planning a festival. Even this one, which will be small, as we eagerly test the waters to see if it is ok to jump in. The bands have been booked, the venues lined up. We need volunteers to help out. A t-shirt is being designed. Flyers and posters are being distributed. Ads have gone out. So many things to do. When you haven’t done it before, it’s tough to determine if you’ve left anything out!

At first we planned a single day festival on Saturday, May 16th. We had the Barkin’ Dog, Tressetti’s World Café, and the Fat Cat booked as venues. Natural Gazz Jazz Band, JassCity Jazz Band, Creole Jazz Kings and more booked to perform.

Then the Gallo Center for the Arts caught wind of the plans and called to try to get a piece of the action. SO! We expanded to a two day festival. Our monthly meeting, which falls on May 17th, with Devil Mountain Jazz Band as our guest band, will be held in the Gallo Center. Yep, that’s right. IN THE GALLO CENTER! Not only in the center but on the stage in one of the theaters! And there will be a jazz brunch and full bar available. Cool, huh? But it gets better!

After the MTJS meeting, there will be a Legends of Jazz concert at 3:00 p.m. Plas Johnson, Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew and Mic Gillette will perform, backed up by Ernie Bucio’s Little Big Band. Once again the venue will be IN THE GALLO CENTER.

Tickets for the festival are already on sale at the Gallo Center box office. You can purchase online, www.galloarts.org, by phone, (209) 338-2100 or 1-877-488-3380, or in person at the box office. Don’t wait to buy! Saturday tickets are limited.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Modesto Traditional Jazz Society. So buy a ticket. Dance your feet off. Eat, drink & be merry. AND support your local jazz society.

— Margaret Squires, Music Director