Summer Music Concert Series returns to Nut Tree Plaza
By Richard Bammer - The Vacaville Reporter
June 6, 2024
Third annual series starts Saturday with nine-piece Spy Band Show and continues to every Saturday to July 13
Famed New Orleans jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong said there are only two types of music: good and bad.
And by all accounts, it is the former that will rule during the Nut Tree Plaza third annual Summer Music Concert Series in Vacaville.
During six weekends, beginning Saturday and through July 13, expect to hear jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, Latin jazz, swing, patriotic favorites, blues, and folk music. All the two-hour concerts are free and start at 6 p.m. in the plaza’s breezeway, 1661 East Monte Vista Ave.
Nut Tree Plaza will start the grand opening series kickoff day with family-friendly activities beginning at noon Saturday at the Nut Tree amusement park. The fun — for parents, too — includes arts and crafts, a jump house and face painting.
The performance schedule:
Saturday: The Spy Band, an evening of spies, detectives, secret agents. The group, aka the Band With The Golden Gun, boasts nine members who play tunes from James Bond films.
June 15: An Evening with Sabrina “The Songstress” Jazz Quartet, featuring songs from The Harlem Renaissance era and beyond. Expect jazz and Pop music standards, ranging from Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” to Nat “King” Cole’s “Smile” to Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” plus covers of tunes by Nancy Wilson an Sarah Vaughan. Local musicians supporting Sabrina include Jimmy Malone, piano; Ahaguna Sun, drums; and Ken Stout, saxophone.
June 21: Jazz and rock ‘n’ roll with Live Music Center students. The concert will feature the center’s Jazz Combo, The Licks, an ensemble of students and instructors playing side by side, giving the students a chance to learn next to professionals.
June 29: An evening of Latin Jazz with pianist Delbert Bump’s SAZIL Latin Jazz. His Latin ensemble will perform various salsa and Brazilian styles, along with other Caribbean musical forms. Bump’s music exemplifies an influence of jazz concepts as well as an interpretation of traditional styles.
July 6: Fourth of July weekend celebration with the AMO Big Band. It will feature vocalist Frank Salamone & the Harmony Singers. Alive Music Orchestra is a 22-piece jazz orchestra with singers and musicians performing Big Band, rock ‘n’ roll, and various Pop music styles. Singers in Harmony include Leah Walker, Brette Stout, Terrie Stout, and Art and Jujle Stout, under the direction of Ken Stout, the band leader and jazz educator. The AMO’s presentation is meant to remind people that the Fourth of July celebration “is a season of freedom, liberties, peace, and families,” Stout said in a press statement.
July 13: An Evening with Kindred Spirits Band. The group performs classic rock, blues, folk, and jazz. It features three singers, three guitar players, electric violin, mandolin, flute, soprano and tenor saxophones, plus bass guitar and drums.
For more information about the free Summer Music Concert Series or Nut Tree’s Summer Kickoff events, call (707)447-6000, visit https://www.nuttreevacaville.com or visit www.vacajazzsociety.org.