Jazz in Bloom: A Jazz Aid Fund Benefit Honoring Henry Schiro

About the Event

Join us for an elegant afternoon to celebrate our vibrant local music community and to raise support for SJZ's Jazz Aid Fund. Hosted by San Jose District 6 Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, the event honors Henry Schiro, San Jose Jazz's executive director from 1988-2004. Henry's commitment to local artists, through the organization and with his leadership at the Garden City, San Jose's premier jazz venue at the time, continues to inspire us. You'll enjoy music, delicious food and drink, silent and live auctions and more. 

We'll be serving the fine wines of Kirigin Cellars, a family-owned boutique winery in Gilroy, CA and we've turned to downtown's high-end Oaxacan restaurant Mezcal to provide elegant passed hors d'ouevres and a hearty buffet of Mezcal's favorites including their famous Chicken Mole, Vegan and Cheese Enchiladas Suizas and their signature Tricolor Romaine Salad with Radish, Jicama and Avocado, dressed in a light Cilantro Vinaigrette. 

Performances

As you enter, you'll be greeted by the smooth jazz/funk playing of one of our High School All Stars U19s combos. If you've never heard the group you'll be amazed at the skill and poise of these young players. 

Our featured performer is 2025 Jazz Aid Fund artist Ryan Trujillo, one of the most versatile and sought-after bassists in the Bay. We'll be treated to a performance by his Ryan Trujillo Latin Jazz Quartet, with Jeff Goodkind on piano, Melky Sédec on percussion,  Emilio Davalos on drums and Ryan on electric bass. 

About Jazz Aid Fund

Conceived as a direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Jazz Aid Fund provides direct support to Bay Area musicians and stimulates one of their most important activities-the creation of new work.

Building on a lead gift by Jan DeCarli, SJZ's Board of Directors established the Fund, providing a grant for each of the selected artists to create a new work. Artists are chosen through recommendations from a broad cross section of the Bay Area music community, including critics, presenters, artists and curators. Since 2021 we have provided 120 Bay Area musicians with $160,000 in grants and performance fees, and it's exciting to see some of these artists go on to bigger stages and national recognition, like Javier Santiago, featured in the video above. SInce his Jazz Aid Fund commission, Javier was accepted in the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA and is on an eight-city tour of the midwest this spring. 

Event Sponsors

TABLE SPONSORS

Melissa & Dan Gordon
Kimberly & Michael Mulcahy 
Kathy Hall & Leslie Murdock
Nederlander Concerts
Jason & Susan Papier
Raul Peralez & Victoria Ramirez
Timothy & Cathryn Reiber
Maria & Jeff West