This weekend in Santa Clara, CA

Hosted by Benson and Gordon, this rally gathers at Antipasto by De Rose before setting off for a drive to Mt. Hamilton. The plan includes routes to the mountain as well as to Narrative Fermentations. Fuel is available at Chevron and restrooms can be found at Wendy's or McDonald's. Please arrive with a full tank, tires checked, and FRM radios charged. This is not a Norcal MINIs sponsored event.

Soulful Sunday brings a mini-brunch and a free jazz set to Urban Sanctuary and neighboring Recovery Café in downtown San Jose, a short walk from the San Jose Jazz Fest grounds. This edition features The Art of the Protest Song, with jazz arrangements of eight protest songs performed by a quintet with Neil MacPherson on Hammond B3, Adam Astrup on guitar, Dan Robbins on bass, Mike Shannon on drums, and vocalist Miranda Perl. Coffee and light bites are offered before the music, followed by the concert and a coffee hour in the café. Recovery Café San Jose welcomes visitors before and after the performance to share its work with people recovering from addiction, homelessness, and mental health challenges. The concert and coffee hour are free, and a Sunday collection benefits the programs of Recovery Café.

The festivities continue after Chutney Fusion Festival 2026 with the official after party at Aura Nightclub, bringing nonstop music and dancing. The lineup features DJ UD, Nimal, Dizzy D, Suraj S, Ash The DJ and Jovan The Quick Fixx, and there may be special guest appearances. This event is for ages 18 and over. Tickets are R200 via Howler or R250 at the door, with 50 percent off for CFF ticket holders and free entry for VIP Seated ticket holders. Set during Women’s Day weekend, it carries the Fusion Life energy into a memorable finale.

Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra delivers a 20-piece, all-star lineup rooted in the West Coast ska community, driven by a horn section far larger than the norm. More than fifteen years on, this traditional ska juggernaut continues to top festival bills and play renowned stages across the United States and Europe. The ensemble includes musicians linked to The Aggrolites, Hepcat, Gogol Bordello, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and more, and has featured guest turns from Angelo Moore of Fishbone, Greg Lee and Alex Desért of Hepcat, and Vic Ruggiero of The Slackers, a reflection of their influence in ska and reggae. Their fifth studio album, Fire & Water, arrived in 2025 with sixteen tracks that blend originals and covers inspired by early 1960s Jamaican sounds, arranged with sweeping orchestration that even brings in a full string section. Expect a towering, roots-conscious ska experience that honors vintage style while pushing it forward.

Alto saxophonist, MC, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin brings a rich, resonant sound often likened to Johnny Hodges, along with a vibrant blend of jazz, funk, and R&B that connects classic tradition with socially aware expression. A five-time nominee for Grammy honors, she developed under the guidance of Clark Terry and Terri Lyne Carrington before becoming an in-demand collaborator for Gregory Porter, Anita Baker, and Robert Glasper. Her 2020 release, Pursuance: The Coltranes, gathered artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Regina Carter, and Reggie Workman. The 2023 follow-up, Phoenix, produced by Carrington, earned three Grammy nominations and drew wide acclaim. After a serious car accident in 2021 that resulted in multiple injuries, she returned with renewed strength and perspective, approaching the stage as a place to keep growing and to draw inspiration in many forms. Her latest project, Phoenix Reimagined, captures Phoenix performed live in the studio at The Bunker in Brooklyn, adds three new pieces, and pairs spontaneous performance energy with high-fidelity sound, turning the music into a celebration of life.

Combo Tezeta, a Bay Area ensemble, delivers a vibrant mix of instrumental cumbia, chicha, and tropical grooves shaped by the psychedelic wave that swept Peru in the late 60s and early 70s. Reverb-soaked surf guitar rides atop cumbia foundations, bringing vintage textures into the present with a sound built for dancing. Their music lifts up the rich melodies and hypnotic rhythms of the Afro-Latin diaspora through both classics and original compositions, reflecting deep respect for world traditions and diverse cultures. Appearances on the 2024 NPR Tiny Desk Concert Tour and at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass widened their reach, and performances alongside Los Mirlos, Son Rompe Pera, Thundercat, and Lee Fields highlight their momentum in the alternative Latin arena.

ICC and Javanika present the Bay Area’s biggest Antakshari competition at India Community Center, bringing the classic family music game to a lively stage. Friends and families can trade living room sing offs for spotlight moments packed with nostalgia, fun, and friendly rivalry. Entry is $50 for a team of four and $15 for an individual, and cash prizes are on the line. Surprising vocal talent may emerge from self proclaimed shower singers, and lighthearted bragging rights could spark new family rivalries.

Cory Wong brings the groove-forward precision and creative spark that fuel his Grammy Award nomination and multifaceted career in guitar, production, and band leadership. Known for his roles with Vulfpeck and the Fearless Flyers, he has built a standout solo presence defined by rhythmic drive and high-energy performances. His artistry extends well beyond the instrument, with writing, arranging, and producing at the core of his approach. Recent projects include the richly crafted album Lost in the Wonder and an orchestral collaboration with the Metropole Orkest titled Starship Syncopation. His reach also spans television and anime, from composing the theme for the CBS late night series After Midnight to a song for Spy x Family Season 2 that reached number one in Japan. With a signature line of gear and ongoing work as a variety show and podcast host, he brings the same infectious momentum to the stage. Expect a performance that is playful, polished, and musically formidable.

Free Shakespeare in the Park presents Antony and Cleopatra in a production directed by Katja Rivera.

An evening devoted to music and spirituality features Kerala vocalist and violinist Vivekanandan alongside the Bay Area Music Team. The program supports the vision of the Guruvayoorappan-Ayyappan Temple Project in the San Francisco Bay Area. Expect live performances with a full orchestra, interactive musical moments, and songs in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu presented in a calm, spiritual setting. Welcoming devotees, music enthusiasts, and those wishing to support a meaningful community effort, this celebration of melody and faith contributes to a lasting spiritual legacy for future generations.

Instant Alter showcases a boundary-blurring sound from a quartet led by New York saxophonist Emilio Modeste and Los Angeles vocalist Natasha Agrama, both of whom have performed with Stanley Clarke’s band. Their approach weaves jazz, rock, soul, vivid storytelling, and the joyful energy of Brazilian Tropicália into a fresh statement in contemporary music. Modeste, recognized for his work with the late trumpet great Wallace Roney, is touring with Stanley Clarke, Cindy Blackman Santana, and Kassa Overall. His distinctive tone and melodic focus can be heard on Steve Turre’s Generations and Dezron Douglas’ Atalaya, and he also appears on Stanley Clarke’s upcoming album. He studied with drummer and producer Lenny White, bringing an exploratory spirit to every project. Agrama is a vocalist, composer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist who describes her voice as carrying the triumph of love and the journey toward belonging in a new world. The granddaughter of Chilean crooner Antonio Prieto, she has performed and recorded with Kamasi Washington and the West Coast Get Down, and her 2017 release The Heart of Infinite Change features Thundercat, George Duke, Austin Peralta, and Stanley Clarke. With rising talents Brandon Rose, Jermaine Paul, Miguel Russell, and Myles Martin in the lineup, Instant Alter shows how progressive music can be both adventurous and restorative.

Experience a celebration of Hawaiian music with four-time Grammy winner George Kahumoku Jr., six-time Grammy winner Daniel Ho, and two-time Grammy winner Tia Carrere. Together they share slack key guitar, ukulele, and traditional songs that have reached audiences around the world. Kahumoku, a multiple Na Hōkū Hanohano Award recipient, is a vocalist, storyteller, songwriter, author, teacher, sculptor, and farmer, and he produces the weekly Slack Key Show on Maui, a series that has highlighted Hawai‘i’s finest musicians for more than two decades. His work draws on roots from the early 19th century, when Portuguese arrivals introduced the ukulele and Mexican cowboys brought guitars and ranching knowledge to the islands. Multi-instrumentalist Daniel Ho performs on ukulele, slack key guitar, piano, and vocals, earning four of his Grammys as producer of Kahumoku’s award-winning projects and two more in partnership with Tia Carrere. Carrere, known internationally for her screen roles in productions such as Wayne’s World, Lilo & Stitch, and Jo Koy’s Easter Sunday, returned to her Hawai‘i heritage through Grammy-winning albums with Ho. Their performance blends time-honored tradition, musical virtuosity, and lively compositions, a combination praised for capturing the spirit of aloha.