One of the year’s best mixes of wine, food and music is happening again all over Healdsburg and Geyserville when the seventh annual Jazz on the Menu takes place on Thursday, Feb. 23. It’s a perfect opportunity for locals and visitors to explore restaurants and discover a new favorite, while supporting the highly successful Healdsburg Jazz Festival Music Education Programs. Participating restaurants donate 25 percent of their food and beverage sales to the Healdsburg Jazz Music Education Fund.
This unique event promises to be a special evening of fine food, good wine and great jazz in Healdsburg and Geyserville restaurants. Over 25 musicians in small jazz ensembles will be playing at nine different restaurants, with hundreds of dining couples and groups turning out for the town-wide benefit. The dining room vibes and conversations are all very “azzy. It’s easy, fun and enjoyable to join the evening’s festivities: just make dinner reservations at any of the participating restaurants and show up to eat, drink and be cool. The list of restaurants and bands can be found at www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org/jazz-on-the-menu-feb-23/.
We believe we are the only town in the United States to have created this unique way to educate our school children in the America art form of jazz and its blues roots. The nonprofit Healdsburg Jazz annually sponsors two music education programs in nine local schools: Operation Jazz Band and Black History Month. Operation Jazz Band involves area fifth graders during one week in April. The Black History Month program includes third — sixth graders throughout February. New in 2017, we have created The Student Jazz Combo Competition for high school students throughout Sonoma County. These music education programs represent a vital service to students in an era when music education has disappeared from many California classrooms.
The dining part of this event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, and then everyone is invited for dessert and more jazz music at Costeaux French Bakery & Café, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The after-party tickets are $15 per person. This year The Ian Carey Quintet+1 with Adam Shulman on piano; Kasey Knudsen on alto saxophone, Sheldon Brown on woodwinds; Fred Randolph on bass; Jon Arkin on drums and Carey on trumpet will be bringing its blend of original creative music. The evenings repertoire will be comprised of standards, jazz tunes, plus Carey’s adventurous compositions and arrangements.
Healdsburg High School Jazz Band is the opening band. The Costeaux After-Party is very popular. Early tickets can be bought online at www.healdsburgjazz.org or by phone at 433-4644. They will also be available at the door, subject to availability.
Participating restaurants include Baci Café and Wine Bar, Café Lucia, Campo Fina, Catelli’s Restaurant, Chalkboard Restaurant, Healdsburg SHED, Kinsmoke, Spoonbar and Valette. Reservations are strongly recommended.
This year marks the 19th anniversary of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, which will take place June 2-11 at various venues all around Healdsburg. For more details visit www.healdsburgjazz.org.
– Submitted by the Healdsburg Jazz Festival
