Concord Jazz Festival concert marks 50 year anniversary -

The 50th Anniversary Concord Jazz Festival concert brought jazz lovers, young and old together at the Concord Pavilion Saturday night. The Concord Summer Festival debuted in August of 1969.

Presented by Live Nation and Concord Jazz, Saturday’s stellar lineup included Dave Koz & Friends, Chick Corea, Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Jazz Band, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra and many more. The festivities began early in the afternoon with pre-concert music plus beer, wine and arts and crafts booths.

If you missed out on last night’s concert or were left craving more Jazz, there’s a free concert at Todos Santos Plaza today (Sunday, Aug. 4) to continue Concord’s 10 days of Jazz. The scheduled musicians include the Mary Fettig Quartet, Steve Snyder’s Big Band, The John Santos Sextet, Soul Sauce and L.O.V.E. Music starts at 1 p.m.

Jazz Festival Photo Gallery

Jay Bedecarré, Concord Records president (and De La Salle alum) John Burk and Ellen Findlay Herdegen.

John Burk and Concord mayor Carlyn Obringer in tribute to Carl Jefferson, who developed the idea of the festival and guided it through the early years.

Tags: Concord Jazz Festival, Concord Pavilion, music