Harry Goldson Memorial JazzFest

Bob James Trio headlines July 8th in Suttons Bay

The Harry Goldson Memorial JazzFest will celebrate the legacy Harry brought to American Classic Jazz with talented musicians who played with him along with fine food and wine from the Leelanau Peninsula. Internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, and producer Bob James headlines the event that will also include Steve Sandner & Friends, the Jeff Haas Trio, David Chown Combo, and the Interlochen Student Jazz Band.

Harry got his start as a jazz musician at age fifteen on the mean streets of Chicago’s West Side, playing clarinet and saxophone with nationally-recognized bands during the 1940s “Golden Age of Big Band.” He left music to serve in military intelligence during the Korean conflict which was followed by an illustrious career in finance and banking in Chicago and Los Angeles in addition to becoming a founding director of a midwest medical management corporation before returning to classic jazz in 1989. When one of his nine CDs was chosen to fly aboard the United States Shuttle ‘Endeavour’ to the International Space Station in 2008, Harry became one of very few to have his music heard in outer space!

The Lineup

Bob James Trio from 6-9 PM - Internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, and producer Bob James with whom Harry Goldson had the pleasure of performing several concerts will be the headliner. Bob is undoubtedly regarded as a musician’s musician . . . with a career spanning more than five decades.  Discovered by Quincy Jones in 1963, Bob recorded ‘One’ within a decade, launching his career and leading to his creation of Tappan Zee Records. In 1980 James received a Grammy for his ‘One on One’ collaboration with Earl Klugh, elevating him to the gold standard for the sound of the ‘70’s – 80’s genre.  By 1991 James released his first ‘Fourplay’ album which was greeted as a major success, and he continued with seven additional albums.  In 2013, James released ‘Quartette Humaine’ a Grammy-winning album with David Sanborn . . . celebrating a 25-year encore of their ‘Double Vision’ album of 1986.   

With numerous awards to compliment his lifetime of spectacular achievement, critics and jazz aficionados alike agree that a Bob James concert is a not-to-be-missed musical experience.  Appearing with Bob James are Jack Dryden on bass and Randy Scott Marsh on drums.

The Harry Goldson Memorial JazzFest will also include performances by:  

Steve Sandner and Friends at 4pm  led by Steve Sandner, pianist, currently holding court as pianist at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  Featured with Steve are Elgin Vines, bass, Jim Cooper, vibes, Jon Lindineau, drums, and Steve Girko, clarinet.

Jeff Haas Trio at 3pm Jeff Haas, pianist and composer was brought up on classical and Judaic music. Jeff’s music is engaging and energetic, and he has for decades celebrated a very successful career experimenting in wondrous genre-bending forms that have always been eagerly awaited and warmly welcomed by a broad audience spectrum.

David Chown Combo at 2pm led by pianist, teacher, and producer David Chown who has entertained audiences both locally and nationally. David will soon approach four decades with nearly a dozen CDs to his name; several with vocalist Miriam Pico. Featured with David are Laurie and Bill Sears, quintessential saxophone artists,  Jon Lindineau, drums,  and Glenn Wolff, bass.

Interlochen Student Jazz Band at 1pm leads off the event under the direction of Josh Lawrence.

Award-winning Leelanau Peninsula wineries and restaurants will provide superb selections of fine food and beverage to enhance the enjoyment of listening to an afternoon and evening of continuous live classic jazz.  (No Coolers Please)  Plan to join this grand celebration to honor the legacy that Harry Goldson brings to American Classic Jazz.  Proceeds from JazzFest benefit area students to attend Summer Music Camps including Interlochen, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and CMU as well as non-profit community projects.  

The Harry Goldson Memorial JazzFest is sponsored by the Suttons Bay JazzFest Foundation  501(c)3, Chatham Capital Corporation,  Bahle’s of Suttons Bay,  Bonek Insurance, WNMC 90.7FM,  Interlochen Public Radio, WBLV Blue Lake Public Radio w/Lazaro Vega as MC,  CMU Public Radio,  and with support from Professional and Corporate Underwriting.  

Tickets for this limited-seating under the Big Tent  are $25 Advance or $35 at the gate.

JazzFest poster: Jazzfest.pdf

Jazzfest website: https://www.suttonsbayarea.com/jazzfest

Suttons Bay JazzFest Foundation  

Piper Goldson, President

P O Box 15   Suttons Bay  MI  49682

231-499-4850