• Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble
• Merola's Schwabacher Summer Concert
  
• Patrick Ball
• The Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
• San Francisco Mime Troupe's Red State
• The Nice Guy Trio
• Yosvany Terry: Ye-dé-gbé – The Afro Caribbean Legacy
• TODCO Poets
• The Stairwell Sisters
• San Francisco Theater Festival
• Le Jazz Hot
• Children’s Garden Series
• *BUZZ*ing Around the Gardens
• YBGF on MySpace

Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble
Thursday, July 3, 12:30-1:30pm
Directed by John Calloway, the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble is an audience favorite. These young people both compose and perform with flair and total poise that belies their youth. LJYE has also performed at Masonic Auditorium, Oakland's Day of the Dead Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, Lafayette Jazz Festival, and San Francisco Carnaval.

"From the first bars… you know you are in for a special treat of succulent Latin jazz… Dramatic arrangements and phenomenal improvisations prevail throughout..." – Rudy Mangual, Editor-In-Chief, Latin Beat Magazine

Merola's Schwabacher Summer Concert
Sunday, July 6, 2-4pm
Bring your friends and family to enjoy the perfect opera experience – with cool grass underfoot and the sun overhead. Artists from the acclaimed Merola Opera Program will perform semi-staged, extended excerpts from I Pagliacci, La
Traviata, Manon and Don Pasquale. Bring a picnic, sunscreen and see and hear tomorrow’s opera stars with a full orchestra! Please visit the Merola website for more information.

“As usual, the Grand Finale was an impressive parade of young artists… Also as usual, there was all-around high quality and some memorable highlights.” – Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice

Patrick Ball
Thursday, July 10, 12:30-1:30pm
Patrick Ball is one of the premier Celtic harp players in the world and a captivating spoken word artist. Playing the ancient, legendary brass-strung harp of Ireland and telling marvelous tales of wit and enchantment, he not only brings new life to two cherished traditions, but blends them in concert to create a richly theatrical and hauntingly beautiful performance.

"These extremely delicate and gracefully measured melodies shone like constellations over a moonless heath." – The Boston Globe

Patrick Ball

The Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
Jazz Orchestra 101
Saturday, July 12, 1-2:30 pm
The 15-piece MSJO explores the unique range and dynamics of a jazz orchestra through compositions by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie and Marcus Shelby. Featuring Shelby’s Peaceable Kingdom, the program provides a musical exploration of the individual instruments of the jazz orchestra and their roles as well as the larger sections of reed, brass and rhythm instruments, allowing the audience to compare this structure to that of a classical orchestra. (Narrated program.)

“The material Shelby addresses in his compositions and arrangements… is socially pertinent in a way that has largely gone missing in jazz in recent years.” – Derk Richardson, SF Gate

San Francisco Mime Troupe
Red State
Sunday, July 13, 2pm, pre-show music at 1:30pm
Fasten your seatbelts for another wild yet thought-provoking ride with the world-renowned San Francisco Mime Troupe, featuring the ensemble’s annual new musical addressing contemporary America, Red State. Prepare for laughter, tragedy, snappy dialogue, and live music.

In their newest work, a small, neglected town in a Red State suddenly finds itself at the forefront of a political storm! Due to an Electoral College tie – and a voting machine glitch – the entire Presidential Election comes down to the one district that didn't report any results. Bluebird, Kansas is the most important town in America! But as they are pressured to quickly revote, some Bluebirders, surrounded by their crumbling, forgotten town, wonder: What is their quick revote worth to America? Funding for a new sidewalk? A rebuilt school? But others question: Should one town hold an entire nation's election hostage in order to get long lost federal funding? And is a new library in a small town worth one less tank in Iraq? And would the government keep its promises to help the voter insurgents in a… Red State?

"You're never only watching a political theater piece, but rather a double barreled re-invention of politics and theater at once." – The Boston Globe

The Nice Guy Trio
Thursday, July 17, 12:30-1:30pm
The Nice Guy Trio is Darren Johnston on trumpet, Rob Reich on accordion, and Daniel Fabricant on bass. Together, they create a sound that is intimate and spontaneous as they navigate through a uniquely diverse collection of original compositions and songs from folk traditions around the globe.

“Johnston is a resourceful improviser who writes vivid, episodic themes…” – Andrew Gilbert, Downbeat Magazine

Yosvany Terry:
Ye-dé-gbé – The Afro Caribbean Legacy
Saturday, July 19, 1-3pm
Ye-dé-bgé in the West African language Fon, means “with the approval of the spirits.” Composer/musician Yosvany Terry consciously communicates his African and Cuban lineage through sounds that originated in Africa and inspired new music in the Caribbean, Brazil, and the American South. Terry traces the roots of the Arará musical tradition, originally brought to Cuba by slaves taken from West Africa. While in Matanzas, famous for its dedication to folkloric music and dance traditions, Terry commissioned a set of rare and massive Arará drums, crafted specifically for Ye-dé-bgé. Performing today is an all-star line-up including pianist Osmany Paredes, bassist Yunior Terry, Pedro Martinez on lead vocal & percussion, percussionist Roman Diaz, Justin Brown on drums, dancer Felix "Pupi" Insua, drummer Sandy Perez, and of course Yosvany on sax and chekeré. Presented in association with La Peña Cultural Center and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. (Narrated program.)

“[Yosvany Terry] provides a nice cross-section of the scene’s multifarious concerns; dense matrixes of cross-cutting rhythms, virtuosic velocity and a bracing reinvention of classic Afro-Cuban tropes.” – Peter Margasak, Down Beat Magazine

TODCO Poets
Tuesday, July 22, 12:30-1:30pm
Proving that creativity is ageless, the TODCO Poets wax eloquent on romance, sex, friendships, family, politics, aging and other topics that have occupied poets since time immemorial. Under the direction of Nancy Deutsch, the Poets bring wit and wisdom to their original works of poetry. Their group poem, Dare We Dream In Concrete is engraved in granite at the entrance to the Yerba Buena Gardens.

The Stairwell Sisters
Thursday, July 24, 12:30-1:30pm
The Stairwell Sisters crank out acoustic old-timey music with a "punk rock intensity." They have appeared on stages from the nationally syndicated radio show A Prairie Home Companion to Lincoln Center (NYC), Celtic Connections (UK), Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (SF) and many points in between. This summer they are celebrating the release of their third album Get Off Your Money, produced by Austin's Lloyd Maines.

“Five women who attack string instruments with a veracity that rivals some of rock's most venerated fret-burners… played with a gospel spirit and an expressive playfulness... rarely have songs taken from the public domain sounded so modern and vital.” – Dallas Observer

San Francisco Theater Festival
Sunday, July 27, 11am-5pm
This colorful and exciting festival of short performances by over 100 theater companies and solo artists on 14 outdoor and indoor stages celebrates the Bay Area’s lively theater world. The largest theater event of the year, the SFTF showcases performances of all styles: Shakespeare, musical theater, comedy, drama, new works, solo performances, children's shows, improv, and more!

“The San Francisco Theater Festival is unique. This is the only showcase for Bay Area live theater, presenting the full spectrum of theater groups.” – SF Gate

Le Jazz Hot
Thursday, July 31, 12:30-1:30pm
Le Jazz Hot celebrates the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s pioneering Hot Club de France, often called Gypsy jazz. Borrowing from the all-string instrumentation of violin, bass and guitar from the original Hot Club, the ensemble breathes new life into the music with innovative arrangements of classic tunes and original compositions from the group’s superb guitarist Paul Mehling.

“The joyous music here evokes the glitz and glamour of a bygone time in the City of Lights – les années folles of the Jazz Age, alive with Art Nouveau finery, backstreet Montparnasse cabarets, and crazed dancing through the night…” – Michael Dregni, Riverwalk Jazz

Jackie Rago of VMP


The Unique Derique


Balamcoatl

Children’s Garden Series

Join us for a fun series of interactive performing arts designed to delight and entertain children under 10 and their adults. This year we have doubled the number of performances! Programs take place in the Children’s Garden, Howard & Fourth Streets, near the historic Zeum Carousel and the Learning Garden. Except where indicated, there are two performances per show date, each running about 30 minutes.

“Wonderful opportunity to introduce children to the world of real music, and to appreciate live performances.” – Audience Survey 2007

Venezuelan Music Project
Saturday, July 5, 11am & 12:15pm
Led by Jackeline Rago, VMP performs a wide range of music, from folklore driven songs executed with traditional instruments, to more contemporary urban dance compositions complimented by the addition of the electric bass, flute, and saxophone. Combining Indigenous-Venezuelan, West African and Spanish-European influences, VMP is a dynamic ensemble full of vibrancy, energy, and color.

The Unique Derique
Friday, July 11 & Saturday, July 19, 11am & 12:15pm
Turning his agile limbs into a drum set or a harpsichord keyboard, the Unique Derique delights audiences of all ages. His interactive performance – percussive, syncopated, and dynamic – will leave you smiling for the rest of the day.

“Very funny – great for the kids!” – Audience Survey 2007

Balamcoatl: Mesoamerican Music & Dance
Saturday, July 12, Noon-1pm (one presentation)
Balamcoatl takes audiences on a journey of movement and experimental sound from the South to the North of Mexico, using traditional regional costumes and instruments. Balam (jaguar in Maya), and coatl (serpent in Nahuatl), unite to weave Mesoamerican themes into a tapestry of colorful legends, drawing audience members into the story through participatory song and dance. During the interactive presentation, children have the opportunity to dance inside the jaguar’s paper mâché costume and play instruments such as turtle shells with deer horns, maracas, drums, and rattles. (Narrated Program.)

California Sing-Along with Charlie Chin
Friday, July 18, 11am & 12:15pm
Join folksinger Charlie Chin as he plays the guitar and banjo, taking us on a sing-along journey through California history. We'll visit the Gold Rush, the building of the Trans-Continental Railroad, pass through the Golden Gate and find our hearts in San Francisco.

Chelle! & Friends
Friday, July 25, 11am & 12:15pm
Chelle! & Friends perform music from New Orleans, one of the most musical, fun-loving cities in the world. The land where Jazz was born, New Orleans is home to many famous musicians and has played an important role in the development of American music. Join the party, move your feet, sing-along, and join a Mardi Gras parade to celebrate this great city. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

“Feel the love. Feel the joy. Hope and dance. That's what Chelle! & Friends is all about.” – Amazon.com Review

Caterpillar Puppets
Saturday, July 26, 11am & 12:15pm
Top stars of the Caterpillar Puppets are the Three Little Bla-bla-blas, a baby orangutan, and a rainforest monster whom the audience must help sing peacefully to sleep.

“The show was FANTASTIC! :-)” – Audience Survey 2007

Charlie Chin


Chelle! and Friends

Moon Alice in Union Square






Praba Pilar,
Church of
Nano Bio Info Cogno
at Bay Area Now 5

*BUZZ*ing Around the Gardens

Please check out these events sponsored by Gardens Festival partners!

Union Square Park
80 FREE events over the summer in the heart of downtown San Francisco, including Lindy in the Square, Night Caps Blues Band, Moon Alice, Diego’s Umbrella, and Film Night!

Can’t get enough Yosvany Terry? Check out his additional performances co-hosted with our residency partners:

Descarga at La Peña
July 18
Yosvany Terry and the Afro-Caribbean Legacy will throw down for an inspiring and energetic evening of Afro-Cuban Jazz.

Stanford Jazz Festival 2008 Concert
July 20
Yosvany Terry performs at this world-renowned festival of budding artists and established jazz musicians.

Lecture/Demonstration at La Peña
July 22
In this program, Yosvany Terry and the group will demonstrate Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms, in particular from the Arará tradition.

Stanford Jazz Workshop 2008
June-August
Featuring summer classes, the world-renowned Jazz Festival, Jazz Camp, and Residency.

Bay Area Now 5 at YBCA
July 19-November 16
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’s multidisciplinary triennial features emerging and established local artists and is the most expansive survey of contemporary art in the San Francisco Bay Area. Opening night party, July 19, 8pm - midnight!

YBGF on MySpace
Will you be our friend? Find pictures of artists, video clips of performances, and up-to-date information on our season. Check us out at www.myspace.com/ybgfestival.

Season Sponsors

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
We can’t thank 2008 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival sponsors enough
for supporting all the FREE public programming in Yerba Buena Gardens.

In-kind and Pro-Bono Contributors: John Spicer Photography, MJM Management Group,
Millennium Partners, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Latino Entertainment Partners,
David Wong, ProPiano, Copy Central

About the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents classical, world and jazz music, contemporary and traditional dance, theater, children’s and family programs, and cultural events reflecting the rich cultures and creativity of the region. Artistic excellence, inclusion, diversity, and innovation are at the heart of our mission. As the only curated arts park fully dedicated to the long-term presentation of free arts and cultural programs, Yerba Buena Gardens has a unique place in the cultural landscape of San Francisco.

Yerba Buena Gardens is located on Mission between 3rd & 4th Streets in downtown San Francisco, approximately 2 blocks from the BART/MUNI Powell or Montgomery Street stations. MUNI bus lines, CalTrain, Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans, and AC Transit all make convenient stops near the Gardens.

All programs are free with open seating; however, chair seating is limited. We recommend attendees dress in layers and bring blankets, picnics, and low lawn chairs for optimum comfort. YBGF hats and new limited edition t-shirts designed by world-renowned SF artist Michael Rios (1st in our series of artist-designed t-shirts) are available for a small donation.

NO PETS PLEASE. ADA accessible.

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival | Yerba Buena Arts & Events
760 Howard Street | San Francisco, CA 94103 | 415-543-1718
www.YBGF.org | www.myspace.com/ybgfestival