Roseville Jazz Festival preps for second act

When the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee shuttered its doors in late 2017, musician and former promoter Jim Martinez scrambled to put together the inaugural Roseville Jazz Festival in just under four months time. This Memorial Day weekend, the executive and artistic director has had a bit more time to prepare for the Roseville Jazz Festival's second act. "I love Roseville because it is such a rich area for the arts," Martinez said. "To have jazz available in Roseville is amazing, because I think people yearn to have that here. At least on Memorial Day weekend, people no longer have to travel to Sacramento to get that fix." Through his personal history, Martinez said, he knew that Downtown Roseville was a perfect match. Along with a vibrant arts center and capability of hosting the sprawling event, according to Martinez, Sun City residents in Lincoln and Rocklin were a built-in audience. From the perspective of those with the city of Roseville, the feeling of being a perfect fit was mutual. Roseville Assistant City Manager Dion Louthan said the Roseville Jazz Festival fits the mold for the city's vision for downtown. "This event aligns nicely with our Downtown Specific Plan, which incorporates arts, culture and entertainment," Louthan said. "Additionally, one thing listed on our City Council priorities is having a great downtown. We love the idea of bringing folks to our downtown and showing them what we have to offer. Not only do we get to showcase downtown, people can come out for some great music." The two-day event will include headliners The Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, vocal group The Four Freshmen; pianist Tamir Hendelman; saxophonist Cleave Guyton from The Lionel Hampton Orchestra; guitarist Will Matthews from The Count Basie Orchestra; Michigan bassist Paul Keller; The Sacramento Jazz Legends, and The U.S. Air Force Commanders Jazz Ensemble from Travis Air Force Base. Among the most anticipated local acts will be the Woodcreek High School Jazz Band, which will feature the final performance for Woodcreek's bands' director Brad North. "The students and I are excited about playing at our local festival," North said. "This is also our last performance of the year, which means the final performance for this band. On a personal note, this is my final performance as a teacher. I am retiring after 38 years and I am happy my last performance with Woodcreek Jazz and will be at the Roseville Jazz Festival." The Roseville Jazz Festival will be held on Memorial Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. May 25 to 26. The festival will be centrally located at Vernon Street Town Square, 311 Vernon St., Roseville. Single-day passes are $45 and two-day passes are $80. To buy tickets or find out additional information, visit rosevillejazzfest.com or call Martinez at 916-804-8370. Know and Go: What: Roseville Jazz Festival When: 10 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. May 25 to 26. An after-hours jam session will be the night of May 25. Where: Downtown Roseville on Vernon Street (multiple venues) Tickets: All-day pass $45 per day or $80 for two days. Saturday night jam session is $5. Buy at rosevillejazzfest.com Info: Jim Martinez, festival's executive and artistic director, at 916-804-8370