When you think of Healdsburg, a few words surely bubble straight to the surface.  In fact, bubbles might just be one of them.  Wine and fine dining, of course, being the more obvious ones.  Jazz, however, has quickly inserted itself into the conversation.  Thanks, in part, to the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, our town has become a cultural hotspot for the influential American art form.  Now in its 12th year, the annual music fest once again draws some of the biggest and brightest stars in jazz.  Think bassist Charlie Haden, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, pianist Geri Allen, tenor saxophonist Craig Handy, and of course, the ever-enchanting Esperanza Spalding.  So successful has this local event been that David Rubien of the S.F. Chronicle claims that it’s “probably the best small jazz festival in the country, if not the world.”

We tend to agree.

And we’re excited to participate yet again.  This year, the Hotel Healdsburg will be hosting three must-see events.

On Monday, June 7th, come to the Dry Creek Kitchen for our “Jazz and Wine Dinner” with the Kai Devitt-Lee Trio.  Even though he’s only 16, guitarist Kai Devitt-Lee is already a local fixture who has soaked up experience sitting in with various groups around town. With his fleet fingers and mature approach to improvising, the Healdsburg native is at the start of a promising career. This year he was chosen out of the entire state to be the guitarist with the Californian 2010 All State Honors High School Jazz Band.  Don’t miss Kai in his Festival debut.  No cover, but reservations are highly recommended. (7-10pm, 707 431-0330)

And the following weekend, don’t miss “Festival Jazz in the Lobby.”  All year long on weekend nights we host jazz in duo or trio combinations — sometimes larger — for relaxed yet intriguing musical evenings in our Hotel Lobby.  But during the Festival, these “Jazz in the Lobby” nights are all the more special.  On Friday, June 11th (9-12pm), enjoy your favorite cocktail or glass of wine while the Lorca Hart Trio w/ Craig Handy fills our fireside lounge with their all-star sounds.  Lorca Hart is a brilliant drummer who has worked with some of Southern California’s finest musicians.  And on Saturday, June 12th (9-12pm), we’re thrilled to welcome Craig Handy Quartet with Special Guests.  As anyone who has ever heard Craig Handy perform knows, the tenor sax player is a wonder to behold.  And since it’s not uncommon for some of the other Festival superstars to drop by to play informal sets with the scheduled band, we’re rather curious as to who his “special guests” will be.  Stop by to find out for yourself.

Oh, and in case you missed it, here’s a recent story in the Press Democrat about the local jazz scene, and our weekly “Jazz in the Lobby.”

And be sure to check out the Healdsburg Jazz Festival website for complete info about the events and lineups.

We’ll see you here!