Bill Frisell (L) and Julian Lage at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
L to R: David Weiss, Bobby Watson, and Azar Lawrence at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
L to R: Gerald Clayton, Charles Lloyd, Harish Raghavan, Eric Harland, Bill Frisell, and Julian Lage at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
Charles Lloyd (L) and Bill Frisell turn the page, with Julian Lage looking on, at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo by George B. Wells)
The Healdsburg Festival All-Stars—L to R: George Cables, Chico Freeman, David Weiss, Bobby Watson, and Essiet Okon Essiet—at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
George Cables at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
The Marcus Shelby Orchestra performs with the Healdsburg Jazz Festival Freedom Jazz Choir at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
L to R: Ravi Coltrane, Dave Holland, and Terri Lyne Carrington during the "Celebrating Geri Allen" concert at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
Singer Ruth Naomi Floyd performs with Adam Schulman (L), Bobby Watson, and Marcus Shelby at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
Trio da Paz perform with singer Claudia Villela and clarinetist Anat Cohen at the 2018 Healdsburg Jazz Festival (photo: George B. Wells)
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, which takes place every year in Healdsburg, Calif., close to the heart of Sonoma County wine country. The 2018 edition of the festival, stretching over 10 days in early June, featured a wide variety of events, including a Bill Frisell/Julian Lage duo set; a Fred Hersch Trio/Trio da Paz double bill; an all-star celebration of Charles Lloyd’s 80th birthday; a tribute to Geri Allen with Ravi Coltrane, Dave Holland, and Terri Lyne Carrington; and a performance by the George Cables Trio.
Cables, 73, who also played a set with the Healdsburg Festival All-Stars (filled out by Chico Freeman, David Weiss, Bobby Watson, Essiet Okon Essiet, Billy Hart, and Babatunde Lea), was making his first concert appearance since having his left leg amputated in March due to a serious ulcer condition. We’re happy to report that despite his recent travails, the pianist was in excellent spirits and good playing form at the festival.
Photographer George B. Wells was there to capture the highlights of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and you can check out a selection of his images in the slideshow above.
For more information about the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, go to healdsburgjazzfestival.org.
Read a 2016 JazzTimes Overdue Ovation feature on George Cables.
