2011 Jazz In The Parks Struts In June 24

Big Time Operator swinging the crowd at Stagecoach park, July 9, 2010. Click here for photos.

Carslbadistan’s Jazz In The Park is getting a fresh start for its 26th season. Not one of the bands who performed last summer is returning. There may be a reason for that, but it’s certainly has nothing to do with the energetic, friendly crowds that flocked to Stagecoach, Poinsettia, and Calavera Hills Parks last summer.

The all-new season of Jazz In The Park kicks off on Carlsbadistan’s Eastern Front at Stagecoach Park Friday, June 24, 2011 as the electrifying blues singer Javina Magness returns after a two-year absence.

Janiva Magness is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Charismatic, gutsy and known for her electrifying live shows, she won the Blues Music Awards’ B.B. King Entertainer of The Year in 2009 – only the second woman ever to win the coveted award. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from teen homelessness and deep experience. USA Today declared, “Magness is a blues star,” and The Philadelphia Inquirer said, “Magness sings superb, potent soul-blues with a scorching intensity.”

Better get out the picnic basket and start collecting all that wine and cheese because you”ve only got three weeks. For the complete Jazz In The Park schedule click the link.Concerts at Stagecoach Park
3420 Camino de los Coches
Between La Costa Avenue and Rancho Santa Fe Road on baseball field #1 on the park’s upper level.

June 24, 2011 Janiva Magness
Janiva Magness is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Charismatic, gutsy and known for her electrifying live shows, she won the Blues Music Awards’ B.B. King Entertainer of The Year in 2009 – only the second woman ever to win the coveted award. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from teen homelessness and deep experience. USA Today declared, “Magness is a blues star,” and The Philadelphia Inquirer said, “Magness sings superb, potent soul-blues with a scorching intensity.”

July 1, 2011 Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band – funk
“Purveyors of original funk since 2002,” Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band zoomed onto festival stages nationwide, fueled by a heady mix of powerful original compositions, triumphant horns, laid-back grooves, and heavy backbeats. Having fun and feeling good is the philosophy of this Asheville, NC six-piece band, and colorful costumes and interactive stage personalities are all part of the show. Proclaiming that their goal is to shake the world, one cheek at a time, when the Booty Band hits the stage, everybody dances!

July 8, 2011 B-Side Players
The B-Side Players are a 10-piece powerhouse of bilingual reggae, funk and cumbia. And yes, believe it or not, they are still around. With fierce political lyrics and an overwhelming positive vibration of love, culture and unity, this legendary San Diego-based band incorporates the sounds of Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico and Brazil into their funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop rhythms. Described as “War meets Lenny Kravitz by way of Ben Harper,” the Players have been igniting dance floors for 15 years and have shared the stage with Ozomatli, The Wailers, James Brown, Toots and the Maytals, and Maceo Parker, among others.

Concerts at Poinsettia Park
6600 Hidden Valley Rd.
Free shuttle service will operate between 4:30 and 9 p.m. from two locations: south of the park at Pacific Rim Elementary School at the corner of Hidden Valley Road and Camino de las Ondas and north of the park at the Legoland parking lot off The Crossings Road north off Palomar Airport Road.

July 15, 2011 Johnny Polanco y Su Conjunto Amistad
Johnny Polanco delivers a Latin sound that is adored by salsa dancers worldwide. As the fearless leader of the ultimate West Coast Latin party band, Polanco, who hails from the Caribbean by way of New York, serves as multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger for his band, Conjunto Amistad. Over the years the group has solidified its reputation for a sound described by Latin music chronicler Lina Lecaro as “the kind of infectious, rhythmic, multilayered Latin music that makes even the most timid wallflower abandon all restraint and give it a whirl on the dance floor.”

July 22, 2011 The Soul of John Black
Chicago-born soul man John “JB” Bigham blends feel-good grooves of R&B, rock, pop, and electronica into his musical alter-ego, The Soul of John Black. JB’s love of classic soul and blues, old-school funk bass lines, and most importantly, his family, anchor his graceful songs about the joys of domestic bliss. First honed in his eight years on guitar and keyboards in the pioneering ska-funk-punk band Fishbone, JB’s unique fusion has won praise from Rolling Stone and NPR, and he’s toured and recorded with fellow trailblazers such as Miles Davis, Dr. Dré, Nikka Costa and Eminem.

July 29, 2011 Mofo Party Band
Mofo means “More fun!” to brothers John and Bill Clifton, who grew up as well drillers in California’s Central Valley. “Drilling wells is a cold, thankless and dangerous job,” notes singer and harmonica player John, but the experience helped to shape the band’s blue collar sound, retro look and energetic music. “People say they like us because we look like we’re always having fun on stage,” says lead guitarist Bill Clifton. “That’s because we are!” They’ve shared the stage – and their party music – with the likes of Bo Diddley, Charlie Musselwhite, Los Lobos, Otis Rush, Huey Lewis, and many others.

Calavera Hills Park
2997 Glasgow Dr.
On the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive. Free shuttle service will operate between 4:30 and 9 p.m. from Hope Elementary School, 3010 Tamarack Dr. and from Calavera Hills School, 4100 Tamarack Dr. at College Avenue.

Aug. 5, 2011 Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Big Sam’s Funky Nation, led by trombone powerhouse “Big Sam” Williams, formerly of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, is an established presence at the forefront of the New Orleans music scene. The energy level is always high voltage when BSFN takes the stage with its masterful blend of rock, improv-jazz styling and horn-heavy front section. Between the raucous good times you can hear slivers of Hendrix, old Steely Dan and even a little Dave Brubeck “Take Five” – all demonstrating why this ensemble is a leader of the next generation of the New Orleans funk movement.

Aug. 12, 2011 John Nemeth
John Nemeth is a singer steeped in the tradition of B.B. King, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, and a harmonica player of riveting intensity and virtuosity who evokes comparison to Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter. In 10 short years, he’s moved up to opening for Robert Cray, Keb Mo’, and Earl Thomas. With his smooth, emotive voice and stellar harp playing, John’s uncanny blend of retro-modern blues and soul music delights purists and young hipsters alike. On top of all that, he writes his own songs. Take it from Charlie Musselwhite: “Boy! John Nemeth can really belt it out!”

Aug. 19, 2011 Monette Marino-Keita
San Diego-based Monette Marino-Keita began drumming as a kid on her dad’s sparkle blue Ludwig drum set. When he introduced her to the congas, she fell in love with the contact of skin on skin and immersed herself in the world of hand drumming, exploring Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian and traditional Korean rhythms and instruments. Her music blends African and Latin rhythms and melodies inside funk and rock grooves and her all-star band includes Grammy and Emmy award-winners Larry Mitchell on guitar, Allan Phillips on keyboards and Mike Holguin on drums.