Winter Fest doesn’t just bring some of the world’s greatest musicians to the South Bay. It infuses the entire region with a welcome jolt of energy as many of the artists presented by San Jose Jazz play other gigs while in the Bay Area.
There are several opportunities to hear five of the most interesting acts on the program this season. For tickets and more information on Winter Fest, go to sanjosejazz.org/festivals/winter-fest. Here’s a look.
Harriet Tubman: A protean trio featuring drummer JT Lewis, guitarist Brandon Ross and bassist Melvin Gibbs, Harriet Tubman delivers a liberational gumbo of funk, soul, avant-jazz and rock. The group also performs as part of Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding’s opera “Iphigenia” at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Feb. 12 (calperformances.org) and Brandon Ross joins drummer and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington at the SFJAZZ Center Feb. 19 on a program inspired by Shorter’s album “Emanon”). Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 18; SJZ Break Room; $25-$35.
Jacám Manricks with Mike Clark: A top-shelf New York improviser who relocated to Sacramento in 2014, multi-wind player Manricks has assembled a prodigious quintet featuring Headhunters drum great Mike Clark, pianist Joe Gilman, bassist Hans Glawischnig and veteran guitarist Barry Finnerty, who made his mark during stints with Miles Davis and the Crusaders. The group also performs Feb. 20 at San Francisco’s Black Cat. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 19; SJZ Break Room; $25-$35.
Sasha Berliner: A rapidly rising New York-based vibraphonist from San Francisco, Berliner recently released her debut album, the lushly orchestrated “Azalea.” Her electro-acoustic band features drummer Jonathan Pinson, bassist Maximilian Gerl, keyboardist Paul Cornish and powerhouse alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw. She brings the same band (minus Shaw) to Yoshi’s Feb. 21. Details: 4 p.m. Feb. 20, SJZ Break Room; $25-$35.
Marquis Hill New Gospel Revisited: A decade after the release of his heralded 2012 debut album, Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition-winner Hill reimagines his own work on his upcoming release “New Gospel Revisited.” After a three-night residency at San Francisco’s Black Cat Feb. 17-19 he brings his talent-laden quartet to the Break Room with SFJAZZ Collective drummer Kendrick Scott, bassist Joshua Crumbly and keyboardist Jahari Stampley. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 20; SJZ Break Room; $25-$35.
Oscar Peñas: Barcelona-born, New York-raised guitarist and composer Oscar Peñas plays original music that draws deeply from jazz, European classical music and his Catalan heritage. His equally well-versed band includes violinist violinist Sara Caswell, bassist Moto Fukushima, and drummer Richie Barshay. Before playing Winter Fest’s concluding concert he performs two shows Feb. 25 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 27; SJZ Break Room; $25-$35.
