This is the first Jazz Fest Jubilee for me. I moved to Sactown three years ago from  Washington state. Six years ago I retired from a weekly newspaper. I was a photojournalist. I make a better photographer than a wordsmith. I just can't help myself - I just can't stop shooting. As I meandered through Old Sac today, I found myself smiling. The Jazz Fest had a good feel to it. The volunteers were helpful and excited, it seemed well organized and the music was great. Hopefully this narrative will tie in with the photos accompanying this; My first stop was under the freeway. Cornet Chop Suey was playing to a large crowd. They have great syle playing traditional jazz, swing and also the  b

The world famous Count Basie Orchestra, led by trombonist Bill Hughes, kicked off the 2009 Sacramento Jazz Fest in a special concert on Thursday, May 21 at the Radisson Hotel. The Special Count Basie Festival Kickoff Concert was broadcast live and streamed by KXJZ, Sacramento Capital Radio's news and jazz station, May 21, 2009 from 8 to 9 pm. For information, go to www.capradio.org. The 19-piece Basie Orchestra, founded by legendary pianist Count Basie, sailed comfortably through the late-'40s decline of big band popularity and, although no longer led by the Count, has gone on to garner 17 Grammy awards and to be included 11 times in the Down Beat Reader's Poll as 'Best Big Band.' The orch

The above photo is of another dance team, the Eastern Ways Lion Dance Team It had reached 100 degrees by 4:30 Sunday afternoon, and seven-year-old Caleb Mai disappeared beneath a massive red and black lion headdress the size of his body. Moments later the drums began, and a line of lion dancers appeared on the stage, leaping and shaking beneath their bright costumes. They then each hopped onto the ground and scattered into the audience, standing on chairs and bobbing their oversized lion headdresses up and down. One lady laughed uncontrollably as a dancer shook its grinning masked face in front of her's. Every now and again Mai could be seen as he held the weight of the lion head high ab

The Pacific Rim Street Festival had Old Sac teeming with activity even though the heat was unbearable. With camera in hand, I mainly concentrated on the stage activities. Opening ceremonies featured colorful, large costumes operated by two people of all ages. Pearl of the Pacific had young girls belly dancing and one young man shaking his stuff. premiere Japanese drumming ensemble in the greater Sacramento region. My favorite was Sacramento Taiko Dan, a premiere Japanese drumming ensemble in the greater Sacramento region. More of a photographer than a writer, hopefully the photos included tell the story!        

Last Sunday, I took the photographer's tour of the Gladding McBean factory.The tour guide took my group through the old factory, pointing out firing kilns (some actually in use), old molds and models, tiles, old papers and paperwork and art exhibits. It's an old factory with lots of history. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership is offering walking tours showcasing buildings created using the high quality clay from Gladding McBean. My brother-in-law Michael Winn told me the building his office is in - the Elks Building along J - was built with bricks from the factory. Please see Leona Reber's full feature on the Feats of Clay:http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/7592/TwentyTwo_years_of

 Sacramento's Friday Night Concerts in the Park came on strong for the huge crowd in Caesar Chavez Park in downtown Sacramento. Here are some photos taken of The Fortunate Few, an Americana / Rockabilly / Country band featuring Michael Ray Strauch - vocals, Guitar -  Bob Wood,  Todd "Uncle Buck" Hinton - Upright Bass. and  Todd Lewis - Drums. The main event was Rick Estrin and the NightCats. Estrin is singer/harmonica player/songwriter with Hansen on drums; Lorenzo Farrell, bass and Kid Andersen, guitar.