If there’s anything I look forward to more than the State Fair or the first day of rain after a blistering summer, it’s the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. Celebrating its 35th year, the Jubilee is not just a fun local event, it is the biggest jazz festival in the West, and one of the biggest traditional jazz festivals in the world. That’s right, the world. The Jubilee is, by far, the biggest tourist attraction in Sacramento, the biggest event in Old Sacramento, and, other than not being able to close out the Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, the event that Sacramento is most known for around the country.
Despite all this, I talk to people throughout our fair city who have never attended a Jubilee. I’m flabbergasted by this. I know it can’t be because they’re not crazy about the music; I find that empirically impossible. It’s probably because they usually have other plans on Memorial Day weekend. If you’re one of those who tends to head for the hills after work on Friday, take advantage of the Jubilee pre-party tonight at 7pm in Old Sacramento. In the site known as Freeway Gardens, (a sometimes parking lot right off the K Street pedestrian underpass) The Evolution Jazz Band, Jazzin’ Jacks, and the Bohem Ragtime Jazz Band will be performing for the low-low price of $10 ($12 at the door). No excuse this year, pal.
If you’re thinking about attending the festival proper, I’m here to offer up, in a few minutes, everything you need to know when attending this year’s Jubilee. Read on to discover common misconceptions, popular myths, tips on eating, parking, viewing, and finally a sample schedule that will enable you to enjoy one, two, or four days of some the best music our country has to offer.
Myths and misconceptions:
The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee features only Dixieland jazz.
False. This year’s festival features performers of blues, zydeco, cajun, swing, western swing, and latin jazz.
It’s too expensive.
False. One day tix are $40. $20 for the young’ins. You can watch music nonstop from 10am to 11:30pm. If you take advantage of the whole day, that’s less than $3 an hour for musical enjoyment in your own backyard.
It’s only for old people.
False. It’s mostly for old people.
It’s too hot.
Come on, let’s get real. If you’re from Sacramento, you know what real heat is. And, If Dirk Verdoorn is right, we should be getting some gorgeous weather this weekend, high 70s and low 80s.
Every year wild biker gangs terrorize the patrons.
False. By the way, these myths are really easy to contradict when the writer gets to choose the myths.
Tips for parking, eating, resting:
Parking
-Don’t park in the Holiday Inn parking lot off of 3rd Street; it’s the most expensive parking option in the area.
-Your two basic parking options in Old Sac are the brick garage off of Capitol or the under the freeway lot on I Street.
-Both will cost you a few shekels, but you’ll be happy at the end of the day when you don’t have to walk ten blocks to get to your car.
-Be warned, these lots fill up early.
-If you’re planning to show up after 11am, think about parking at the Amtrak lot or farther afield.
-One last tip, if you’re only coming down for one day, try Sunday. All city street parking is free on Sunday.
Eating and drinking
-You can choose to eat at Old Sac establishments like Joe’s Crab Shack, California Fat’s, or Fanny Anne’s. These are familiar and predictable. Be warned, however, that prices may be 10-20% higher for the Jubilee. Whatever you do, though, don’t go to La Terraza.
-You can also choose to eat at the Jubilee vendor tents. This is basically good, grubbin’ fair food. Fried things and barbecued things and things with cheese and things with fried cheese and things with baked fried cheese. You’ll have to buy tickets first from one of the ticket tents, but they’re ubiquitous, and easy to spot. Note that you’ll also need tickets to buy drinks from the alcohol tents.
-Drink tents offer strong pours on cocktails and a decent lineup of brews–Coors, Blue Moon, Alaskan Amber, etc.–all for reasonable prices.
-Be careful when watching events at the Holiday Inn, Firehouse, Pyramid, and other private restaurants as their drink prices will probably be 50% higher than the tents that are in the outdoor venues.
-ABC rules prevent you from carrying anything other than a water bottle out of any venue, so bring a bottle from home and only order clear liquids if you like having a ‘roadie.
Resting
-Who are we kidding? Jubilee comes once a year. Drink all day and let the paramedics sort it out.*
*The Sac Rag does not promote irresponsible drinking, drunk driving, or any obnoxious behavior due to intoxication.
Schedule
If you’re only going to the Jubilee one day, make it Sunday. Here are the highlights of the Sunday schedule (note, the Jubilee schedule can be found in Friday’s Bee, online at http://www.sacjazz.com, or by buying a program at the event):
10am- Igor’s Jazz Cowboys and Voices of Faith (nothing like Western swing and gospel together on a Sunday morn) at the Convention center
11:30am- Mighty Aphrodite (a talented and comely group of ladies) convention center
12:30-duck out of the Mighty Aphrodite show a little early and wander down K Street or grab a shuttle to Old Sac. Maybe pick up lunch on the way through the mall or wait until you get to Old Sac.
1:00pm- Hal Smith’s Hayriders (the pre-history of Rockabilly) at the Depot (J and Front)
4pm- La Candela (Salsa anyone) at The Depot
5:30- Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums (swing with style and humor and a couple of ripping sax players) also at The Depot
7pm- Shelly Burns quintet with Bob Draga (Burns is a local vocal standout and Draga is a world-renowned clarinetist) at the Firehouse Courtyard (great sport for a relaxing twilight concert)
8:30pm- if you want a taste of New Orleans, go acorss the alley to the Firehouse lot to see the Creescent City’s own Kermit Ruffins. While there, suck down some oysters.
10pm- Bill Dendle and Eddie Erickson at the Delta King. Bill and Eddie are two of the best banjo players in the world, and two of the funniest guys in music.
Now, if you’re going to go out Saturday as well, here’s a few things not to miss:
11:30am- Holiday Inn Ballroom, Tribute to Count Basie
5:30pm- Convention center, Three trombones, featuring John Allred and local jazz educator and the best trombone teacher west of the Mississippi, Shelley Denny.
7pm- Tom Rigney and Flambeau (Cajun goodness) at the Firehouse lot
8pm- Jim Martinez tribute to Oscar Peterson at the Crest
If you’re going to splurge, get the $100 four day pass, then you probably don’t need my help telling you who to see. All you know is that if you come on down to have some good times this weekend, you’ll see me there! Yay jazz!
The Sac Rag 
You find it “empirically impossible” to believe that people would avoid because the Jazz Jubilee just because of the crap-lousy music? Believe that shit!
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Aw shucks, and I was hoping you’d add your sunny disposition to the proceedings.
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What age do they begin charging for youth? In other words are under 5 free? thanks this wasnt on the jubille website and the record store downtown doesnt know
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I won’t deny the music has its place. That would be Straw Hat Pizza back in the day while they ran silent film classics of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy to accompany caterwauling kids out for dinner. But to subject myself to an entire day, let alone an entire weekend, of plinkity plink banjos and clarinets, and pay handsomely for the privilege? I think not. And expanding to include authentic blues acts like Mick Martin and His Freakin’ Houserockers? If I want to hear an old fat guy wheeze, I’ll walk up a flight of stairs thank you very much. But have a good time 🙂 I’d rather drive the 2,200 + miles to the Jazz & Heritage Fest. /snark
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historical revisionism can suck it
I mean – I’m not a fan of ANY jazz – give me Slayer over trumpets any day, but wasn’t it called the DIXIELAND Jazz Jubilee for years and years?!?!
what next? will people deny the existence of the fountains in the old k street mall?
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A little late, but youth badges start at age 7. All chillun under age 7 are free.
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Don’t forget the Light Rail option. Yeah, you have to walk through Downtown Plaza and under the freeway, but you can park & ride from a long ways away and not even worry about parking.
I’ve actually never been, but that’s always been due to conflicting plans, often out of state. This year, for example, we had a Dude. Someday, perhaps.
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Aww, nice Dude.
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So…how was the zydeco? Great?
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The zydeco was fine, but the real surprise was in the Western Swing area where Billy Mata and his band from San Antonio came in and really classed up the place.
Almost all the changes the STJS made for this year’s festival were for the better. They kept things compact between Old Sac and the convention center–the whole transportation and shuttle system worked really well. They featured good bands at the free sites up and down K street rather than the subpar groups they typically feature at free sites–which is, I think, why so many casual observers have such a low opinion of the Jubilee, since if all you see is poor music, you probably figure the rest of the festival is poor as well. More than anything, though, the volunteers were great, friendly, and accommodating.
If I had one suggestion it would be this: fewer hot dogs, more tacos. A few taco trucks in Old Sac would have been a godsend.
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Sounds as if the folks knocking the Jubilee are the ones who have never been. Its the best thing in Sacramento. People come from all over the world for it.
The Bohem Ragtime Jazz Band from Hungary were fantastic. The Fulton Street Jazz Band from right here in Sacramento were great. Come see the Swing Dancers. You haven’t lived until you have seen the Ophir Prison Band.
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