Sonoma Valley Jazz Society keeps it cool, man

The regular Tuesday Night Market music at the Plaza has stopped. Except for next Saturday’s Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, and the occasional urban guerrilla drummer who sets up his kit on the horseshoe, there will only rarely be live music at the Plaza until the farmers market resumes next June.

Four of the nights during the farmers market feature live jazz wafting around Grinstead Amphitheatre, while the horseshoe lawn hosts another band. The jazz is performed by world-class musicians on the second Tuesday of each month and is presented by the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society.

The SVJS has been an active organization in the Valley for some 34 years. Current SVJS President Janice King, reflecting back on those blissful days of 1987 (a great year for Ronald Reagan, the Minnesota Twins and The Simpsons), said, “It was a collection of jazz lovers who started a little group to present some small concerts the first couple of years, then they moved into the Plaza.”

Those very popular concerts at the Plaza have been going on for 32 years. The SVJS began to expand again, this time with events like “little one-off concerts. We did jazz at the Lodge for a while, jazz in the back room of the Plaza Bistro for six years or so,” King said. The SVJS has been producing shows, called Jazz in the Barn at Many Moons Ranch, during the summer months the last eight years.

King has been involved with SVJS for “30-something” years. She began as treasurer, was promoted to vice president for one year, and has been at the helm more than 20 years. Current Vice President Lina Perlas held the gavel for a couple years, then King stepped up again.

King’s singular vision of providing live, high-quality jazz to the music lovers of Sonoma Valley has driven the organization. As a not-for-profit organization, the SVJS exists for the community and strives to make jazz more widely available in our area.

King said, “We try to have some jazz going on at least once a month.” Those shows are possible because of contributions of many members and sponsors of the organization. Those pay for the shows in the Plaza, its most obvious gift to the community.

“A lot of musicians try to make a living playing music. They put a lot of time and effort into practice, learning music and all that…so we really try to pay well,” King said. The jazz musicians who play on those great Tuesday nights often travel quite a distance and are happy to make some dough on what is typically an off-night for performances.

The monthly concerts at the Plaza have provided some great memories. King recalled one concert in particular from about 15 years ago. Jazz great Mose Allison brought his band to play for the Sonoma crowd. “We made a mistake on that one. The DJ on KCSM, (local jazz pianist) Dick Conte, mentioned it on his radio show. Oh, my god, we had so many people. The Plaza was packed like the Fourth of July. The City Hall people were really upset. Many times after, if we had a meeting with the City, they’d say ‘You’re not going to do one of those concerts anymore!’”

King mentioned one particularly overzealous Allison fan. King said, “One woman came up to the stage with an old album of his and wanted him to sign it, while he was playing.” They realized then they had to rope off the stage.

“That night was pretty memorable. It was great, people loved it,” King added.

In addition to the members and sponsors who are so very important to keep the Society solvent and vibrant, King made a point of naming a loyal crew of volunteers who have been very supportive. They are, alphabetically, Bill Casey, Victor Conforti, Debbie Mulcahy, Lina Perlas, Tim Randa, Bob Vargas and Sue Vargas. Janice King herself puts in beaucoup hours of necessary work.

King also said, “We always do a thank-you concert for our members and sponsors, with some tickets for the general public,” yet another reason to join the Society. This year’s concert, with the George Kahn Quartet, is this Sunday, and is sold out. But if you are inspired to join the SVjS and secure a seat at next year’s thank-you show, visit sonomavalleyjazzsociety.org for information about how to do so.