From the Monterey Jazz Fest to Saratoga’s Mountain Winery to San Jose Rep’s Broadway bound One Night With Janis Joplin, there is music in the South Bay air. What’s more, art festivals abound this fall, including ¡VivaFest! and an international exhibition of fiber arts.
Music at the Market
Friday evenings through Oct. 25
San Pedro Sq. Market (87 N. San Pedro Street, San Jose)
Historic Peralta Adobe Plaza is the lovely outdoor setting for a Friday-night series of live music sponsored by San Jose Jazz. On Sept. 13, hear Black Sunday Roadshow, a 16-piece ensemble that tells the story of America through its big-band folk music, which encompasses jazz, gospel, blues, zydeco, bluegrass and country music. Sept. 20, guitarist and singer Isaiah Pickett plays the blues. On Sept. 27, Henry Clement — also known as Big Chief Takawaka — and the Gumbo Band will give a performance that gets the crowd up and moving to a combination of zydeco, blues, and jazz. There’s plenty of parking and many eateries within walking distance.
For more information, visit sanjosejazz.org.
The Doobie Brothers
Sept. 13
Mountain Winery (14831 Pierce Rd., Saratoga)
The band that would eventually bring us “Listen to the Music” and many other hits had its origins in San Jose. The Doobies are back this Friday, performing at the Mountain Winery, formerly the Paul Masson Winery, where the scenery is breathtaking and the Spanish portal makes a dramatic stage backdrop.
For tickets and information, visit MountainWinery.com.
José Guadalupe Posada, Centenary Exhibition
Weekdays through Dec. 30
The San Jose Mexican Consulate (2125 Zanker Rd., San Jose)
¡VivaFest! and the Consulate of Mexico in San Jose present an exhibition featuring the work of the famed Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada. His cartoon illustrations — immensely popular and influential among Latin American artists — mocked politicians and the upper classes during the decades-long rule of the dictator Porfirio Diaz. Posada is best known for his calaveras (skulls), which were adopted into the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday. The exhibit, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the artist’s death, is free to the public.
For more information, visit vivafest.org.
One Night with Janis Joplin
Through October 6
San Jose Repertory Theatre (101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose)
Why, after so many years, do people still want to learn more about this young girl from Port Arthur, Texas? She put her heart and soul into everything she did during her 27 years and was a legend in her own time, pioneering the way for women to come forward and take center stage. The show sets a string of Joplin’s hit songs with commentary from the singer about her life and musical influences.
For tickets and information, visit sjrep.com.
56th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival
Sept. 20-22
Monterey County Fairgrounds (2000 Fairgrounds Rd., Monterey)
Over 500 artists will be playing nonstop on 8 stages for 3 nights and 2 days while performing America’s gift to the world. Jazz Times magazine readers voted Monterey “World’s Best Jazz Festival” in 2006, 2007, 2008. Artists include Gregory Porter, George Benson, Diana Krall and the Wayne Shorter Quartet.
For tickets and more information, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
Kinky with Carla Morrison, La Santa Cecilia and Sistema Bomb
Sept. 28
San Jose Civic Auditorium (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose)
Fans of Latin music — and people who watch cop shows — will know Kinky from their hit, “Más,” whose driving bass, rap whisperings and Latin beats have made it a staple of soundtracks for crime TV shows and movies, not to mention video games. The Mexican techno-funk dance band plays an evening of Latin alternative music sponsored by Mexican heritage festival ¡VivaFest!
For tickets and information, visit vivafest.org.
Bonnie Raitt with Marc Cohn
Oct. 6
Mountain Winery (14831 Pierce Rd., Saratoga)
After a string of well-regarded roots-music albums in the ’70s, Bonnie Raitt struck rock gold in 1989 with her Grammy-winning Nick of Time. She followed that success up in the ’90s with the hits “Something to Talk About” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Last year, Raitt released Slipstream, her first new album in seven years — and received her tenth Grammy, for Best Americana Album.
For tickets and information, visit mountainwinery.com.
Fiberart International 2013
Nov. 6 – Jan. 19
San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles (520 S. First St., San Jose)
This is the West Coast premiere of this prestigious international exhibition that pushes the boundaries of fiber art. The exhibit showcases works in wool, silk, hemp, paper, linen, wire and just about every other type of material that can be woven or knotted into works that are sculptural, representative, conceptual, abstract and beautiful.
For more information, visit sjquiltmuseum.org.
