My favorite summer music series! There's a lot of live music in and around the South Bay in the…read moresummer, and this is the one I always make a point to go to. No, jazz is not my favorite music, but the ambiance and atmosphere here is just so fun and relaxing. I love that you can bring your own food and drink and have a picnic with live music in the background. They also have a booth selling wine, and it's usually a local winery pouring. They used to be very strict about not having blankets on the grass, chairs only, but this past summer a lot of people had blankets and they weren't told to fold them up. While it can get crowded, you're usually able to find a spot in the park to set up camp fairly close to the music starting.

I think everyone should give Jazz a chance. Start here, at Jazz on the Plazz, as it is free…read more Pro tip: Get there at 1:30pm to set your own lawn chairs up prior to the show, no one will snag them. Another pro tip: Order from a local restaurant and pick up your dinner before the show. I am vegan and I highly enjoyed the new vegan cheese on the pizza at Pizza my Heart (Miyoko's made it, which is in my opinion the best vegan butter as well, so there is that). Other great options for vegans (and non-vegans) are Andale' and Oren's Hummus. Some local restaurants have specials - Oren's has a Jazz box, there are others so be on the lookout at the restaurants right near the venue. The musicians are fun - some quality talent lines the menu, which gets more star-powered as the weeks go on. Tony Lindsay + the Soul Soldiers are top shelf, that man has a boatload of Grammies. Jazz Mafia is sooo cool and blends it up good with R&B, classic soul, rock, even some punk tossed in, great stuff. OK now you know the music is good, and the food in town is good too. The one not-so-great thing is that this is one big boozy picnic. Imagine a bunch of houses in Los Gatos just emptying into the plaza, oldies with wine in hand, ready to sit and drink wine and talk talk talk. Yeah, that it what you get. You get a load of people just yakking and not even paying attention. People will stand right in front of you as if you are not even there, they don't care if you can see the band. So just be ready for that and meditate before you go and you will survive. Nothing is free. The noise is what you pay. The rest is cake. Enjoy!

My friend's picked the Brian Ho Jazz Trio as their band choice for their wedding. We met with Brian…read moreseveral months before the wedding and he was very accommodating to the needs of the bride. I missed seeing him twice (once in downtown San Jose at the Fairmont and another time at Pampas) on the days leading up the wedding but the bride went and it only confirmed her choice of what a great band they are. They showed up promptly for the wedding, were very professional, and they played great music. During the wedding ceremony, it was Brian on piano and his guitarist, and for the reception, the drummer joined them. They are an amazing jazz band and do great covers! Very entertaining and kept the crowd going, even when the majority of the old folk left and it was just us young kids. They started out smooth and classy and ended the night getting groovy and funky! That's when they really started cuttin' loose and you could tell they were feelin' the music and jammin' really hard. Lol They definitely kept it live up until the very end. Thank you guys! You guys did a great job!

The Brian Ho jazz band played at my sister's college graduation party this summer. They were…read moreabsolutely amazing!! Brian and his band were the icing on the cake :) They energized the crowd and gave our event the unique and special feel we were looking for. All of our guests thoroughly enjoyed their tunes. TWO THUMBS UP!

Bruce was so awesome from start to finish for our private event today. He initially replied to my…read moreinquiry within about 15 minutes with a very reasonable quote. It literally went like this: B: "I have that day available" Me: "excellent. Can I give you a deposit?" B: "no need. You can pay me the day of. See you then!" A few days prior to the event, I got a little ...control freaky-deaky and made contact just to confirm cuz let's face it.. it's hard to find business people so equally laid back yet with absolutely no detail left undone. But that is exactly how it was with Bruce. His equipment is top-notch -- Sound, lighting, etc. His attitude is warm and friendly and his song list is AMAZING. He showed up when he said he would (2 hours prior to go time for set-up). He takes care of everything. He brings pens, song slips, multiple song books by artist and song title... and he works a great rotation. He seems to really enjoy what he does. Our party was extremely happy with Bruce and we definitely will book with him again for another event. Very professional.

Kor Karaoke has been a welcome and wonderful cornerstone since I discovered them in Mountain View…read more10 years ago. They are constantly improving their selection and walk a wonderful line between being professional while still feeling like friends. For a great evening, with a fun fanbase, and an encouraging crowd? There's no one better

You must check out this new venue, it's fantastic! Great sound, great atmosphere and friendly…read morestaff. They specialize in singer/songwriter artists and have one show a month. You will definitely be entertained. Check out their website for upcoming events.

I was sitting here chilling to some jazz that reminded me of the music of organist, composer Chet…read moreSmith. A couple of civic organizations I have been affiliated with have hired him to play at their black tie galas. He plays wonderful jazz and is known for the unique customized organ he uses to create some of the best music I've ever heard. He has an extensive resume dating back at least to the 70's. His reviews are stellar and numerous from preeminent, respected, musicians and critics alike. When I was privileged to enjoy his performances, he was the quintessential professional and made a lasting, positive, impression on audiences, setting the mood during cocktails with soft romantic jazz and ending the evening with varied and familiar up-tempo jazz numbers perfect for dancing. What I've said here, really can't properly give Mr. Chet Smith the credit he deserves. The man is versatile and virtually a one man orchestra you simply must hear.

Charley the owner and Tee the guy at the door are stand up guys! I had a great experience at this…read moreclub seeing Careless Whisper and plan to go back as soon as possible. Highly recommended! There is plenty of parking at the nearby parking lot but if you can walk a few blocks you can find street parking that is free after 8pm. Tons of places to eat within walking distance. The cover charge is also very reasonable considering the quality of the talent and how helpful the staff are.

This Saturday I had a great experience with the door security team (of Charlie and T…read more I lost my ticket and the event organizer initially told me that I couldn't leave and renter the venue. Instead of simply deferring, T. helped resolve the situation so I could briefly hang out with the friends and band members. Instead of leaving frustrated, I ended up having a wonderful experience. I wish more security professionals approached their job the way T. (and Charlie) do.

I attend a lot of events at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose. Fountain Blues & Brews is my…read morefavorite! The festival expanded to two days in 2025. They always have a great lineup, featuring local blues musicians and top performers from around the country on two stages. The "brews" part of the festival consists of 40 beers on tap (wine and water are also available). The crowd is always a lot of fun, and there are some great vendors and food trucks. Come for the music, and enjoy the vibe, the beer, the food, and the crafts.

It was such a wonderful carefree environment this past Saturday, at the 40th annual Fountain Blues…read more& Brews Festival in downtown SJ. Parking was easy, with several pay garages nearby ($10 max fee), the closest a 4 minute walk from Second Street. And there were no lines for event entry/security check, as well as in and out privileges which is super convenient. Once inside, the setting was perfect, the lovely breeze and shade from the trees to keep us cool and comfortable on a hot summer day, many festivalgoers relaxing on lawn chairs or beach mats on the grass. And the gushing water fountains adding a nice touch as well as a cool mist to the inviting atmosphere. An awesome combination of soulful, jazzy, and upbeat music filling the air from two stages, with plenty of space for attendees to enjoy the entertainment (whether viewing from a distance or dancing near the stage). We loved all of the performers throughout the day, especially the first band on the main stage, Andre Thierry's Accordion Soul Music. The band played awesome renditions of Stevie wonder hits, Usher songs, and more, with various and unique instruments including the washboard, and remarkable vocals engaging the crowd. There were several food trucks and eateries available including Poor House Bistro, Fire & Slice Pizza, and Made Out of Dough (selling baked desserts). I got to try the salmon burger and cookies from Nita Bee's Specialty Bakery and the lobster quesadilla from Cousin's Maine Lobster (which I regularly get from this truck). And plenty of beer and wine, to keep us satisfied. All of the food and drinks were super tasty, with great service and no lines to wait in. There were also a couple merchandise vendors on site, and we got ourselves some cute tank tops/shirts with cool designs. Overall the event wasn't too crowded, family friendly but not infested with too many kids running around restlessly. Lots of good food and drinks, no waiting in line for anything, and extraordinary musicians creating the awesome sounds of funk, rock, and all things blues to soothe your soul.

This music fest, hosted by Jazz 91 KCSM, is an annual event taking place at the College of San…read moreMateo in between the Library and Theatre. Two stages were set up, one in front of each of these buildings, along with long and lovely fountains, creating a picturesque setting for live jazz. Plus, free admission and free parking (though visitor parking was a bit confusing to find, since a few lots had signs noting they were only for vendors and musicians). The event featured awesome performances by various bands on the Main Stage, including Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, Larry Vuckovich and his ensemble performing great tunes like Manteca, and the amazing musicianship and vocals of Kim Nalley: Three Ladies Sing the Blues. I also caught the performance of the SF Jazz High School All Star band on the Youth Stage, the young musicians showcasing their talents on the keyboard, trumpet, saxophone, drums, bass, and violin. There was no shortage of food and drink options, with six food trucks and a coffee shack on site. Lines were short or nonexistent, and I was able to enjoy a yummy gyro quesadilla from Falafel Fresh. Vendors and organization booths included Old Skool Cafe and Mango Blossom Apiary (local wildflower honey). Lots of seating too, campus structures in various locations, chairs provided for the event, and grassy fields with plenty of space for stretching out both in shaded areas and in the sunshine which was comfortable on a bright and breezy Saturday afternoon. I was able to lay out my mat, do some reading and relaxing, and of course, appreciate the beautiful sounds of latin rhythms, funk, and blues filling the air.

Not enough bands. Too much talking and not enough music. They must have had a hard time getting…read morebands. Especially at the youth stage there were huge hour gaps between bands. Stanford group very small unlike last year. I wanted to hear the All stars but they were on late and couldnt stay do to the wind. I wish they would put some of the large bands on first . The amplification was too loud and took away from some of the bands . They claimed this started 20 years ago yet I was there in 1990. It was better when they charged admission .