MUSIC NOTES
Annual concert series jazzes up San Antonio's Japanese Tea Garden
A crowd gathers to watch Buttercup at the Japanese Tea Garden
Once again, the Japanese Tea Garden in Brackenridge Park will resonate with the sounds of jazz thanks to the return of the Jazz in the Garden concert series. This year's acts include Nina Rodriguez and the Curtis Calderon Quintet.
The series is presented by the San Antonio Parks Foundation and KRTU 91.7 FM, the latter of which is celebrating 50 years of independent jazz broadcasting in the San Antonio area out of Trinity University. The Jazz Protagonists, who host their show, Jazz Party, on KRTU, opened the series last Friday.
Nina Rodriguez and her band will take the stage on Friday, April 10 from 6:30-9 pm. The Grammy-winning percussionist and lead facilitator with Drum Cafe is known far and wide for her Rumba-influence style that is sure to get people dancing. She brings a laid back groove to most performances, connecting with audiences in a rhythmic back-and-forth.
On Friday, May 1, the Curtis Calderon Quintet will play. This set should be a treat for more traditionalist jazz fans as they will be performing a tribute to the legendary Miles Davis. The genius who gave the world the iconic jazz album Kind of Blue is one of the first people that comes to mind when the average person thinks of jazz. Calderon and his band are sure to play some of Davis's hits from the 1950s like "So What."
The Japanese Tea Garden is actually a perfect venue for jazz. As any fan of 21st Century anime will tell you, jazz has a long and proud tradition in the Land of the Rising Sun. From Cowboy Bebop to Blue Note Tokyo to Blue Note Tokyo, jazz has been thoroughly woven into Japanese culture.
The concert has a suggestion donation of $5 to attend, with proceeds going to benefit the Park Foundation's mission to expand and maintain Alamo City's outdoor community spaces. Leashed pets are welcome and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Outside food and drink are not permitted, but refreshments will be available from the Jingu House Café. Portions of those sales go to help maintain Brackenridge Park.
