Sun, Fun and Great Music Expected in Downtown San Jose August 6, 7, 8 for Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival Presented by Southwest Airlines

Business Wire, August 2, 2004

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- More Than 165,000 People Expected at the World's Largest Free Jazz Festival; Top Names in Jazz on Eight Stages Bring Musical Spotlight to San Jose, CA

Some of the top names in jazz are expected this weekend, August 6, 7 and 8 at the 15th Annual Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival Presented by Southwest Airlines. Jazz superstars including NEA Jazz Master and saxophonist, James Moody; trumpeter and composer, Terence Blanchard; legendary bandleader and percussionist, Pete Escovedo; vocalist, Lizz Wright; saxophonist Jane Bunnett; and the highly influential percussionist, Ray Barretto are featured at this year's festival. More than 165,000 people are expected to attend the free event which will feature hundreds of musicians at eight themed venues throughout downtown San Jose.

The Festival kicks off Friday, August 6, 2004 at 5:30 pm at the Main Stage in the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. On Saturday and Sunday, performances will commence at noon at all eight of the Jazz Festival's stage venues. The weekend after hours events include Jazz After Dark performances on San Salvador Street, Jam Sessions at Pete Escovedo's Latin Jazz Club, gypsy cinema at the Circle of Palms on Market Street, Master Classes at the Youth Stage inside the Tech Museum and Jazz Masses at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Joseph.

For more complete information about the San Jose Jazz Festival and how to plan your weekend, visit www.sanjosejazz.org. Proceeds from the Festival go to the San Jose Jazz Society's music and education programs.

About the San Jose Jazz Society

The Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival is one of many programs offered year-round by the San Jose Jazz Society, a nonprofit organization with a mission of celebrating jazz through performance and education in order to enrich and improve the lives of people in Silicon Valley. Proceeds from the Festival help to support the Society's education and outreach programs, including a myriad of in-school programs that reach 10,000 students per year with jazz history and music workshops that also emphasize a tobacco-free lifestyle. In 2003 the Festival generated more than nine million for the downtown San Jose economy.