This weekend, San Francisco’s Fillmore Jazz Festival takes over Fillmore Street and then some. Beginning in 1985, the festival is the largest of its kind on the West Coast. During World War II, dozens of clubs on booming Fillmore Street hosted the era’s most legendary talents. Today, you will find top jazz talents in addition to great food, arts and poetry. The San Francisco Rock Project will treat visitors to a special performance on Saturday, July 2, 2011 on Fillmore at Jackson.
A l’il history about the festival dating back to World War II. At the time, dozens of Fillmore Street Jazz clubs hosted the era’s major musical talents, including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Billie Holliday. Stars such as Joe Louis, Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood and Sammy Davis, Jr. sparkled in the audience. At the legendary Jimbo’s, Louis Armstrong went to check out Charlie Parker (the only known time they were under the same roof). Chet Baker snuck out of the Fort Mason barracks to jam all night, and John Handy played Bop City with John Coltrane.
In the 60’s, Jazz historian David Rosenbaum ran the Melrose Record shop on Fillmore Street, employing high school student Maya Angelou. Zen Buddhism was first introduced to the West in the Fillmore, which became a creative home to artists including Isaac Stern, The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Mel Blanc and Alan Ginsberg.
Although much changed following the area’s redevelopment in the 1970’s, the jazz spirit proved tenacious.
| Saturday, July 2, 2011 California Street Stage | |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | |
| 4:00 – 6:00 | |
| Sutter Street Stage | |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | The VNote Ensemble(Venezuela/Jazz) |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | The Nigerian Brothers (Nigeria) |
| 2:00 – 2:35 | Ottmar Liebert (Nouveau Flamenco) |
| 2:55 – 3:30 | Faith Ako (Hawaiian/Polynesian) |
| 4:00 – 6:00 | Mingus Amungus (Charles Mingus/Cuban/Dance/Funk) |
| Eddy Street Stage | |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | |
| 4:00 – 6:00 | |
| Fillmore Center Plaza at O’Farrell & Fillmore | |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Basic swing lesson by Swing U (no partner & no experience needed). |
| 12:30 – 2:00 | DJ’s by SFSwingFest.com |
| 2:00 – 5:00 | Bay Area Swing All Stars |
| 5:00 – 6:00 | Lost Dog Found |
| Fillmore & Jackson Entertainment Area | |
| 12:00 – 5:00 | |
| Sunday, July 3, 2011 | |
| California Street Stage | |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | |
| 4:00 – 6:00 | |
| Sutter Street Stage | |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Venezuelan Music Project(Venezuelan/Vocals) |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | Markus James & The Wasssonrai(West Africa/U.S.) |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet(Cuban/Latin/Jazz) |
| 4:00 – 6:00 | Los Pinguos (Argentina) |
| Eddy Street Stage | |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Future Perfect Band |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | |
| 4:00 – 6:00 | |
| Fillmore Center Plaza at O’Farrell & Fillmore | |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Basic swing lesson by Swing U (no partner & no experience needed). |
| 12:30 – 1:00 | DJ’s by SFSwingFest.com |
| 1:30 | Pin-up Contest |
| 3:00 – 500 | Emily Anne Reed SF swingstress who appeared on American Idol |
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
