Is Los Gatos like San Francisco, without the bridge and the fog? Is Los Gatos like Hawaii, without the ocean and the hula? No, our exceptional town of Los Gatos, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, is uniquely just Los Gatos. And every summer it becomes an island of jazz for six weeks.
Since late June, Wednesday evenings our Town Plaza has been a center of cool jazz respite. How cool? Way cool! Hats off to all who attended and supported Los Gatos Music & Arts. This small organization did it again this summer.
The exceptional talent at Jazz on the Plazz
Beginning with Mads Tolling & the Mads Men, followed by Full Spectrum Big Band featuring Kyle Hernandez, our Ren Geisick, the outstanding youth vibrancy of the Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Band and Vocal Ensemble, Heidi Evelyn with her Dance Orchestra, and—most recently—the Jazz Mafia. Whew, are you reading what is happening here?
Cool jazz on hot summer evenings right here in town.
Tonight’s act is vocalist Clairdee. And next week’s grand finale? Mr. Tony Lindsay and the Soul Soldiers. Then, Jazz on the Plazz will come to an end. Wow! Rock on, Los Gatos, with the best jazz in the area. Clairdee’s velvety smooth voice will charm your inner jazz soul, while the former Santana lead singer and his Soldiers will take you to a place you only dreamed of going. See you there.
A cool evening out
Plagued with weekend beach back-up traffic, Los Gatos rocks on Wednesday evenings. To the LGM&A’s Teri Hope (some call her St. Teri), the affable Jonathan Knowles and the vivacious Ginger Taylor McDonald, thank you. And they made it seem easy while also raising funds for youth education.
Hope, with her superb organizational skills, schedules in the entertainers for the six-week series way ahead of time. After all, she has been providing our town with Jazz on the Plazz for over 20 years. St. Teri has already started on next year’s schedule and perhaps the year after. Mr. Jonathan Knowles, with his genial demeanor, makes sure all logistics are in place, and that all are safe.
In addition to this dynamic duo, Ginger Taylor McDonald, with the Morning Rotary team, keeps the VIP area running smoothly by serving up delicious local foods, wines, beers and treats. All of this while also selling tickets for the reserved seating area and the exclusive lounge. This dream team displays the meaning of “community coming together.”
Saying goodbye to summer is never easy
With the late summer winding down we have the Endless Summer Fund-Friendraiser to look forward to on Aug. 22, also in the Town Plaza. And on Sept. 20, the GALA will be held this year at the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center.
Since last year, Endless Summer has been held after the last performance at Jazz on the Plaza series. Say goodbye to summer while supporting students and changing lives. The Endless Summer event raises funds for the nonprofit group Counseling And Support Services for Youth (CASSY).
So, you better keep that foldable lawn chair handy for this end-of-the-summer gathering. Featuring the Summit Sisters & The Hitmen, it’s a fundraising party for all ages. This event is supported by the Los Gatos Morning Rotary and generous sponsors. Raffle tickets will be available at this last plaza blast.
CASSY mission and vision
CASSY provides mental health services for students in Bay Area schools. What the organization does is provide students with on-campus individual family intervention and treatment. In addition to this, it provides proactive mental health education and peer mediation—all while working with on campus staff and conducting parent outreach. Crisis intervention is also available. These days, with Covid lockdowns in our not-too-distant past and the computer taking over a huge portion of children’s worlds, it is more important than ever to engage with our kids, our future.
According to the organizers, “For fifteen years, CASSY has been where the need is—where kids are—in schools. We believe all young people deserve access to professional, compassionate mental health care without barriers or delays. Join us at Endless Summer Fund-Friend-Raiser. Help us raise awareness and support to ensure no youth is left behind.”
