Headliners for 2008 are really too numerous to count, but include many past festival artists as well as first-timers-- Fred Hersch with Kurt Elling, Charles Lloyd in Quartet and Trio settings, Eddie Palmieri, Don Byron, Bennie Maupin, Charlie Haden and Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, and a festival all-star band featuring Bobby Watson and Mary Stallings. Perennial Healdsburg performers like drummer Billy Hart and Bay Area favorite young son, guitarist Julian Lage, will appear in various ensembles as well. Within Healdsburg and environs, venues will include the Raven Theater, Jackson Theater (in nearby Santa Rosa), La Crema and Rodney Strong Wineries, Hotel Healdsburg, Barndiva, Palette Art Café, the Headlsburg town plaza, and more.  

The Festival Line-Up

May 30, Fred Hersch Trio with Kurt Elling (8 pm, Jackson Theater (Sonoma Country Day School, Santa Rosa). Few pianists in modern jazz are held in such high esteem by their peers. A mentor and teacher to many of today’s keyboard stars, Fred Hersch has also recorded prolifically and toured almost exclusively with his famed trio and/or leading vocalist. With new bassist John Hebert and long-time bassist Nasheet Waits, Hersch will feature past collaborator and internationally acclaimed vocalist Kurt Elling. Hersch and Elling formed the core of the pianist’s Leaves of Grass project several years ago, setting the words of Walt Whitman to music. Sublime meets sublime on the fine stage of the Jackson Theater (4400 Day School Place off Airport Road in Santa Rosa; tickets $30/$50). 

May 31, An Evening With Charles Lloyd (7:30 pm, Jackson Theater (Sononma Country Day School, Santa Rosa). A longtime ECM recording artist, saxophonist Charles Lloyd was an early cohort of Jack DeJohnette and Keith Jarrett, much later beginning an association with the late Billy Higgins. His trio and quartet combinations of late have included bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Eric Harland, and percussionist/tablist Zakir Hussain. His pianists in the past decade have included Geri Allen and now young Texan Jason Moran. This evening, the quartet with Moran, Rogers and Harland takes the stage first, celebrating their new ECM release, Rabo de Nube, followed by the Sangam Trio with Harland and Hussain. Lloyd’s appearance with Harland and Hussain at the 2006 festival was mesmerizing. (4400 Day School Place off Airport Road in Santa Rosa; tickets $45/$70). 

June 1, Latin Jazz on the Green with Eddie Palmieri, Pete Escovedo (noon, Recreation Park in Healdsburg).  An afternoon of festival activities held in the park. First up, Eddie Palmieri’s Latin Jazz Sextet. The pianist/bandleader, younger brother of noted Latin pianist Charlie Palmieri, has nine Grammys and led the ultimate Latin ensemble, La Pefecta. He’ll be joined by one of New York’s hottest trumpeters, Brian Lynch, trombone master Conrad Hewig, and young bass sensation Luques Curtis. One of the Bay Area’s Escovedo Brothers, purveyors of hot Latin rhythms in the 50s, the alum of Santana and Azteca brings his current ensemble to the park. Pete is not only a noted percussionist and bandleader but also father to acclaimed percussionists Sheila E and Juan Escovedo and singer Peter Michael. Pete will be joined by conguero John Santos. Salsa lessons available! (Piper and University Streets in Healdsburg; admission $25/$15 students and seniors; free for children ten and under). 

June 1, Jazz Night at the Movies (Raven Film Center, Healdsburg). Join film curator Mark Cantor for what has become a festival tradition of viewing classic and rare jazz films. (415 Center Street, Healdsburg; $10) 

June 2, Bug Music for Juniors with the Don Bryon Sextet (1 and 7 pm at the Raven Theater, Healdsburg). Two educational shows for the whole family, this multi-media extravaganza  combines live jazz, classic cartoons and rare film exploring the Swing Era. Don Bryon is  well known for his eclectic projects, having played everything for sax and clarinet, from salsa to klezmer to Afro-Cuban and classical music.  His cohorts over the years have included Hamiett Bluiett, Mario Bauza, Geri Allen, David Murray and Bill Frisell. Byron’s 1996 recording, Bug Music, provides the foundation for today’s shows, which include trumpeter Ron Miles, saxophonist Robert DeBellis, pianist George Colligan, bassist Mark Helias, and drummer Billy Hart. (115 North Street, Healdsburg; Students under 17, free; Adults with child, $10; unaccompanied adults, $25) 

June 2, Bop and Shop (4-8 pm, downtown Healdsburg). Healdsburg merchants offer tasting and shopping specials while six jazz combos provide the beat! Along the square in the middle of town. 

June 2, Jazz and Wine Dinner at Dry Creek Kitchens (7:30-10:30 pm, Dry Creek Kitchen, Healdsburg). Another festival tradition is this night of dinner and jazz at the famed Dry Creek Kitchen, this year featuring the sounds of the Lee Charlton Trio. (Hotel Healdsburg. For reservations, email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )  

June 3, Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Ensemble (5:30 – 8 pm; Healdsburg Plaza). Bay Area trombonist/arranger/educator/composer/producer Wallace has a resume including Count Basie, Benny Carter, Sonny Rollins and Fatha Hines. Normally heading a big band, tonight Wallace features a sextet of the best of the area’s Latin jazzers. (Center Healdsburg, Free. Open set from Tacuma King and Bay Area Youth Arts) 

June 3, Angela Wellman Quintet with Lori Wellman (8-10 pm at Palette Art Café, Healdsburg). Long-time Oakland resident, trombonist Angela Wellman features sister and vocalist Lori in her ensemble. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Angela founded the Oakland Public Conservatory of music, and has performed with McCoy Tyner, Joe Williams, Al Grey and Slide Hampton. (235 Healdsburg Av, Healdsburg; no cover) 

June 4, Healdsburg High School Jazz Band/Sarah Wilson’s Trapeze Project (7 pm, Raven Theater, Healdsburg).  Band alumni open the evening, followed by the current high school band. Joining the band finale will be graduate Sarah Wilson, an accomplished trumpeter and composer who then leads the last act on the bill, her Trapeze Project with esteemed musicians including pianist Myra Melford, clarinetist Ben Goldberg, drummer Matt Wilson, and bassist/guitarist Jerome Harris. (115 North Street, Healdsburg; $10/$5 students) 

June 4, Herb Gibson Quartet (8-11 pm, Palette Art Café, Healdsburg).  Area vibes master and vocalist Herb Gibson recently recorded with Cedar Walton and cousin Keb’ Mo’. (235 Healdsburg Av, Healdsburg; no cover) 

June 5, Marc Cary’s Focus Trio (7 & 9 pm, Barndiva, Healdsburg). Once accompanying Sarah Vaughn, pianist Marc Cary is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of Art in Washington, DC. He played with Roy Hargrove, Betty Carter, Jackie McLean, Milt Jackson, Wynton Marsalis, Max Roach and Shirley Horn. His Focus Trio includes Bay Area musicians,  bassist David Ewell and drummer Sameer Gupta. (231 Center Street, Healdsburg; tickets $26 include one drink) 

June 6, Jazz and Dinner with Steve Moon and Damon Lee (5-7:30 pm, Palette Art Café, Healdsburg). Returning in duo format after last year’s quartet appearance with the Luna Quartet. The piano/bass duo provide perfect dinner accompaniment, finishing in time to arrive at the Raven Theater for the evening’s jazz headliners. (235 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg. No cover) 

June 6, The Music of Eric Dolphy with Bennie Maupin and James Newton (8 pm, Raven Theater, Healdsburg). Eric Dolphy was a masterful composer, arranger and performer on multiple reeds. A favorite of Mingus and Coltrane, Dolphy is perhaps best known as the composer of avant-garde compositions using odd time signatures further pushed outside by his dissonant and unpredictable blowing style. Although his untimely death at age 36 in 1964 deprived the jazz world of decades of performance, he left behind a raft of sheet music that has never been performed. Now in celebration of Dolphy’s 80th birthday, renowned multi-reedist Bennie Maupin and adventurous flautist James Newton bring these “new” compositions to life with the Dolphyana Ensemble, featuring vibraphonist Jay Hoggard, drummer Billy Hart, and bassist Darek "Oles" Oleszkiewicz. In addition to the new works, they will also delve into the more familiar repertoire of Dolphy’s recordings for Prestige and Blue Note, including the legendary Out to Lunch. (115 North Street, Healdsburg; tickets $25/$45) 

June 6-7, John Heard Trio (9 pm-Midnight, Hotel Healdsburg). Another tradition during festival week is the weekend late set at the Hotel Healdsburg with bassist John Heard, drummer Lora Hart, and pianist Danny Grissett. (No cover) 

June 7, Christian Foley-Beining and Gary Johnson Duo (4-6 pm, La Crema Winery, Healdsburg). Classical jazz, Brazilian tunes and original compositions from this guitar/sax duo in the tasting room of La Crema. (235 Healdsburg Av, Healdsburg, no cover) 

June 7, “A Night in the Country” with Charlie Haden and Kenny Barron/The Julian Lage Trio (7:30 pm, Raven Theater, Healdsburg). Featured in duo, trio and quartet, modern bass legend Charlie Haden has been a prolific performer and recording artist throughout his near 50-year career. From his first rise to fame with Ornette Coleman in the late 1950s through his leadership of Quartet West and the Liberation Music Orchestra, and his duo appearances with Cyrus Chestnut and Hank Jones, Haden has been the model of eclecticism for several generations of jazz bassists. Tonight Haden is joined by a pianist of equal stature, the great Kenny Barron, a partnership first recorded on Night and the City in 1998. With sideman credits including Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard and Stan Getz, Barron has more recently been acclaimed for his work as ensemble leader and duo partner, with such notables as Buster Williams, Ben Riley, and Regina Carter. One of the leading voices of modern saxophone, tenor/soprano great Joshua Redman joins the duo tonight for some trio and quartet works (with singer Ruth Cameron). Winner of the Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, Redman’s connection to Charlie Haden goes way back—Haden played with Joshua’s dad Dewey with Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett and in the Liberation Music Orchestra. Charlie in turn accompanied the younger Redman on his first national tour and appeared on his 1993 Warner Brothers recording, Wish. Since, Joshua Redman has led his own quartets and trios and served as the first artistic director of the famed SF Jazz Collective. 

Guitarist and Bay Area resident Julian Lage has appeared at every Healdsburg Jazz Festival since year 2—when he was a mere 11 years old. Now a festival and touring veteran at age 20, Lage has toured with Gary Burton and Taylor Eigsti, appeared with Herbie Hancock and more. For his trio performance tonight, Lage is joined by veteran bassist Ray Drummond and festival favorite, drummer Billy Hart. (115 North Street, Healdsburg. Tickets $50/$75) 

June 8, Come Sunday Spirituals and Sacred Jazz Compositions with James Newton and George Cables (10 am- Noon, Raven Theater, Healdsburg). An ecumenical morning of celebration will feature frequent festival artist and much acclaimed pianist George Cables accompanying sacred jazz singer Ruth Naomi Floyd, who then join an all-festival ensemble led by James Newton. Cables, who underwent liver and kidney transplant surgery last fall, makes one of his first public appearances with Philadelphia-based Floyd. He was a mainstay of Bay Area jazz in the 70s as house pianist at Keystone Korner even while living in Los Angeles, and has been back in his native New York City for the past two decades. He’s appeared most recently in Healdsburg with the late Frank Morgan and drummer Billy Hart. (115 North Street, Healdsburg; tickets $25) 

June 8, Festival Grand Finale with the Cedar Walton Trio, Bobby Hutcherson Quartet and Festival All Star Band (3-7 pm, Rodney Strong Winery, Healdsburg). Cedar Walton has enjoyed a long career as one of the most accomplished pianists in jazz. His big break came when he appeared on John Coltrane’s Giant Steps, and he has since recorded over 60 albums and has toured internationally. This afternoon he is joined by long-time bassist David Williams and impeccable timekeeper, drummer Lewis Nash. Bobby Hutcherson is recognized as one of the genre’s top vibraphone masters. His long association of with Blue Note produced a series of albums documenting his prowess. In his early career, Hutcherson recorded with Eric Dolphy and Jackie McLean in the 60s, co-led a famed quintet with saxman Harold Land in the 70s, and helped revive Blue Note in the 80s. More recently he has worked with McCoy Tyner and was part of the inaugural edition of the SF Jazz Collective. His current quartet includes pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Victor Lewis. The Festival All-Star Band will be led by alto sax virtuoso Bobby Watson (Horizon), tenor saxman Craig Handy (Mingus Big Band) and soulful vocalist Mary Stallings (Count Basie, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie). And of course you can expect to see many of the performers from the past two weeks. (11455 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg; tickets $45, children under 10 free). 

Tickets and further information about the Healdsburg Jazz Festival at www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org