For 38 years, this Party has brought together some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, and we’re thrilled to
continue that tradition with this year’s outstanding lineup. We’re delighted to welcome back many familiar faces, introduce exciting new artists, and celebrate our 2026 Jazz Legend, Jon-Erik Kellso. Thank you to our donors and musician sponsors — your generosity makes this weekend possible. Our sponsorship program continues to be one of the most meaningful ways to support the Party and connect with the artists who bring this music to life. We are also grateful to Dan Barrett for his guidance, humor, and steady hand in shaping the music you’ll hear throughout the weekend. And we remain committed to our educational mission through master classes, in school clinics, and scholarships supported by the Dan Reid Fund and our dedicated patrons. Thank you for being part of the San Diego Jazz Party. Enjoy the music!
Russell King 9:00 am - 4:45 pm Salute to Jazz Icons and an unforgettable, jazz-infused finale 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Dinner in Derby Room Musicians & Musician Sponsors Only SUNDAY February 22
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
FRIDAY February 20
SATURDAY February 21 B ig Band Brunch (10:30-noon) Wake Up Call Jazz Favorites 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Morning Sessions
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Let’s Get This Party Started - 20th Century Jazz (Located in Jazz Party Reception Area) 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Dinner Break 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm Gatsby Night - Come swing with jazz from the 20’s & 30’s
12:30 pm - 5:00 pm Afternoon Sessions 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Dinner Break 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm A Taste of Jazz Classic Jazz of the 1930’s & 40’s 2026 LEGEND PRESENTATION
7:00 pm - ??? – Jam Session in Hotel Lobby
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS - PAST & PRESENT Your generous contributions help make the San Diego Jazz Party possible. LEGACY
CHAMPION $40,000 - $50,000 Sandi Joyce
BENEFACTOR $25,000 - $40,000 Jennifer Reid Michael Wilson Estate Ellis M. Wyer
$100,000+ Dan Reid Trust
Shelly Gallichio & Ken Arnold Diana Gould & Martin Koczanowicz John Grubenhoff & Deborah Love Earl & Cathy Jackson ADVOCATE $1,500 - $25,000
Bruce Athon Norma Baldwin Dorothy Darling Anthony & Berit Dobrski Don & Janet Fall Joe Galetovic
Bill & Terri Jones Carol Laveroni Bradley Lund Deborah Morrison Don Reid Josef & Bonnie Sedivec Terry & Alice Tran Mike & Donna Wolsted
SUPPORTER $1,000 - $1,500
Jan & Ellie Buhlert Susan Colross Gail Fliesbach John & Marsha French Ed & Norma Halvarson
Gurdan Hornor Russell King Carl Maggio Peter & Patricia Matthews Phil Moody
Carol Quidort & Gary Chapman Jeannett Roberts John & Darby Tanko
FRIENDS $250 - $1,000
Nancy & Edward Arrieta Ed & Linda Best Harold & Elke Best Jim & Libby Branson Rob Briner George & Barbara Bryant MaryBeth Chruden Sharron Coontz Dina & Irl Cramer
Doug Hill & Charmin Michelle John Hollenhorst Joanne Hutchinson Bob & Lynne Jaseph Terri & Bill Jones Marge Kakara Charles & Josefina Kenyon Jeannie Mann Deanna Mintz Dave & Janet McLaughlin Jerry & Sue Moore Gregg & Debbie Oppenheimer Matthew Kellso Karen Maddock
Dan & Janet Ostrom Ken Paulson & Zhany Yahong Alan & Sue Percival Pat & Linda Pfiffner Janice & Tom Redfield Tom & Pat Roberts Ann Sewell Mary Lou Smith Donna Sobel Claude Stemp Stevie & Henk Vigeveno Nancy Waters Joseph Whitecotton Doug & Sherri Wickman
Kathryn Crossin Barbara Dorsey Karen Downs Barry Hensley Cindi Hill
THE PARTY NEEDS YOU
As a proud 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we rely on you for your support in sustaining the vibrant legacy of jazz in our community. Your contributions play a critical and vital role in keeping this vibrant musical tradition alive. We can't do this without you. Thank you for supporting the San Diego Jazz Party.
Ticket sales cover only a small portion of what it takes to produce a high-quality, large-scale San Diego Jazz Party. To keep this event thriving, we need increased support from donors and sponsors.
Your generous contributions help make the San Diego Jazz Party possible— supporting the musicians, production, venue, and the overall experience you’ve come to love.
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHTS
Brad Lund Lund is the CEO and founder of Purely Storage, Inc., a self- storage investment and management firm. Lund and his family are long time advocates of, and aficionados of classic traditional jazz, and a trusted supporter of the San Diego Jazz Party .
Michael Wilson He was a longtime attendee and supporter of the San Diego Jazz Party. Michael left a most generous bequest from his trust to the party, which reflects his longstanding support and commitment, leaving a lasting impact.
Dan Reid As the past president of the San Diego Jazz Party, Dan was not only a true Jazz lover, he was also most generous in his life, supporting the party through numerous donations and funding for the Scholarship Program.
Josef & Bonnie Sedivec The Sedivecs are ardent supporters of the San Diego Jazz Party. Today the Sedivecs are enjoying retirement and furthering the cause to maintain and grow classic traditional jazz and other music genres.
PERFORMING MUSICIANS
Harry Allen Saxophone
John Allred Trombone
Dan Barrett Trumpet
Josh Collazo Drums
Danny Coots Drums
Jason Fabus Saxophone
For complete biographies on our musicians, please scan the QR code that goes to our website. Scroll to the musicians’ pictures and click on their image to see their biographies. Or go to: www.SDJP.org
Duke Heitger Trumpet
Jim Jedeikin Saxophone
PERFORMING MUSICIANS
Jon-Erik Kellso Trumpet
Ken Peplowski Sax & Clarinet
Dawn Lambeth Vocalist
Vinny Raniolo Guitar
Sam Rocha Bass Guitar
Chuck Redd Drums, Vibes
SPONSOR A MUSICIAN
Friends and attendees of the San Jazz Party have the opportunity to sponsor musicians. We need your contributions to continue the San Diego Jazz Party. The cost is $500 per musician, qualifies as a contribution, and is tax- deductible, as allowed. Sponsors are invited to the Musicians’ Dinner Party on Sunday evening and are recognized in the program and on the San Diego Jazz Party website. Sponsors will be photographed by our own talented photographer, Scott Randall, right before the dinner in the Derby Room. If you would like to participate in this rewarding program, please contact Sandi Joyce, at 619.787.8792 or email: sajoyce@cox.net. Forms for sponsorships are available at the Jazz Party check-in desk. IF YOU SPONSOR A MUSICIAN, AND PLAN ON ATTENDING THE SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER, PLEASE LET US KNOW BY 5PM SATURDAY NIGHT
PERFORMING MUSICIANS
Richard Simon Bass
Bryan Shaw Trumpet
Rossano Sportiello Piano
For complete biographies on our musicians, please scan the QR code that goes to our website. Scroll to the musicians’ pictures and click on their image to see their biographies. Or go to: www.SDJP.org
Jason Wanner Piano
Peter Washington Bass
SPONSOR A MUSICIAN
IT’S NOT TOO LATE! WHILE AT THE PARTY, PLEASE LET STAFF KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPONSOR A MUSICIAN(S). DEADLINE: WE NEED TO KNOW BY 5:00 PM SATURDAY NIGHT IN ORDER TO INCLUDE YOU FOR THE MUSICIANS’ DINNER SUNDAY NIGHT
JON-ERIK KELLSO 2026 JAZZ LEGEND
Jazz reviewers and critics have referred to Jon- Erik Kellso as “one of today’s most fulfilling main- stream trumpeters and cornetists,”--- “a master of traditional styles who has the capacity to transcend the genre,” --- and “as preferring lyrical sound-paint- ing to brass exhibitionism.” The late Jack Sohmer, who was a musician as well as a jazz critic, wrote: “Jon-Erik Kellso’s poignant, rounded-tone suggests a seamless combination of Buck Clayton, Bill Coleman, Cootie Williams, Frankie
Newton and Roy Eldridge, a synthesis of which anyone may be justifiably proud. From the listener’s point of view, it is difficult to think of anyone, save Ruby Braff, who so successfully embodies the best traditions of the past while at the same time bringing them convincingly into the present. He is telling his story in the hallowed tradition of great yarn-spinners throughout history. He entertains, informs and keeps our interest whetted for the next installment.” Critic Will Friedwald argues “Where some brassmen vary their approach by switching between trumpet and flügelhorn, Mr. Kellso employs a veritable painter’s palette of mutes (consisting of everything from cloth to rubber to metal) that make him sound as though he’s playing at least five different instruments. He is such an eloquent and expressive player on the horn.” Fellow jazz journalist Michael Steinman points out, “Like his hero Ruby Braff, he is a great subversive, digging inside the music to find what others have missed. And he is a model bandleader/on-the-spot arranger, adding intuitive telepathy to any ensemble. His singular individuality has made him admired worldwide.” I made sure to include him in my second book of profiles of contemporary musicians (JAZZ BEAT, More Notes on Classic Jazz, published in 2019) where I chronicled Jon-Erik’s impressive career as follows. Jon-Erik Kellso: A Propitious Phone Call Sometimes life’s opportunities are due to a stroke of luck or a flip of a coin. Or it could just be a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Jon-Erik Kellso’s big opportunity was the result of a series of phone calls back in 1989. Vince Giordano was in need of a replacement for Randy Reinhart in the trumpet section of his Nighthawks Orchestra. He heard there were a couple young horn players in the Midwest who played old-style jazz. Their names were Duke Heitger and Jon-Erik Kellso. Giordano made his first call to the Heitger household. Duke’s dad, Ray, answered the phone. After hearing Vince’s proposition, he replied, “Sorry, Duke’s still in college. Besides, he’s in my band. Try Jon-Erik Kellso up in Detroit,” which Vince promptly did. Giordano knew of Kellso from his work in James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band, so when they connected, he offered him a tryout. Jon’s growing reputation had also resulted in an offer to join the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans to re- place Frank Trapani, who had died. “So I had two weeks of tryouts, one in New Orleans and one in New York City, and both resulted in job offers,” Jon said. “It was a tough decision since I loved both cities, but I finally chose The Nighthawks because I enjoyed playing with that
band and looked forward to delving into the challenging music they play. I also felt New York offered more possibilities and variety in the long run.” Thirty-seven years later, he is still a fixture in Giordano’s 11-member aggregation on Monday and Tuesday nights at Birdland. Detroit Upbringing Jon-Erik Kellso grew up in the Detroit suburb of Allen Park. When he auditioned for his elementary school band, Jon opted for the trumpet, not knowing that his father had played trumpet in swing and polka bands as a youth. So it followed that his father gave him his first lessons. He had become intrigued with his parents’ collection of 78rpm Swing records. His buddy Mike Karoub (who went on to become a highly-regarded cellist with the Royal Garden Trio and various jazz and symphonic groups), turned him on to Bix, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and the Eddie Condon gang as the two youngsters shared their musical discoveries. “Dad dug out his old horn and taught me the B flat chromatic scale the first day, which might normally take weeks or even months. I was anxious to learn to play, and he got me started on the right foot before turning me over to a series of fine private teachers. My folks were very supportive and encouraging in my musical education. I needed no prodding, and they would often tell me to stop practicing and go to bed.” In junior high school, the two boys downsized the big swing band they had assembled in elementary school, and for two summers, they played five hours a day, six days a week outside the Henry Ford Museum in Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. “When we auditioned for the job, we knew about six tunes, so we had to learn new ones in a hurry, either by ear or from commercial arrangements that we were able to pick up. This was a great learning experience and chops-builder, and I even tried my hand at arranging and composing.” During his junior high and high school days, Jon also studied classically, playing with the International and Michigan Youth Symphonies and various com- munity orchestras. When he was 16, he joined the musicians’ union. This opened the door for him to play with older professionals, and he soon was playing with the Tailgate Ramblers and Red Garter Band. He enrolled at Wayne State University to study music which gave him the opportunity to travel to Europe with their concert band and jazz ensembles. As his reputation grew, his work load expanded and included big bands led by Johnny Trudell and legendary drummer, J.C. Heard, as well as a salsa band and Motown acts that came to town. Breaking In Cornetist Tom Saunders, clarinetist Bill Roper, trumpeter Nate Panicacci and ragtime pianist Bob Milne were among those who encouraged and hired Jon and introduced him around the Detroit jazz scene. “Mike Karoub and I enjoyed going to the Presidential Inn where Saunders led his Surfside Six for many years, and he eventually let us sit in,” Kellso recalled. “We would sip Coca-Cola, and if we were lucky, beer out of coffee mugs trying to look like we were older. We dressed like we imagined college kids dressed – tweed or camel hair jackets with sweaters underneath, with bow ties, and Mike would sometimes smoke a cigar or pipe.” “Tommy brought Wild Bill Davison in as a guest once or twice a year, and it was a thrill listening to him share anecdotes. When I was 17, Tom included me in a “Four Generations of Jazz Cornet” concert with himself, Wild Bill and Paul Monat. That was quite a thrill!”
“Years later, Saunders had me put a group together for the Central Illinois Jazz Festival in Decatur, and I had Mike on bass and cello, Scott Robinson on clarinet, C-melody sax and bass sax, Jeremy Kahn on piano, and Joe Ascione on drums. A very versatile group, we did everything from the Hot Five and Morton to Ellington and Ben Webster.” Moving to New York, he quickly became involved in The Nighthawks’ busy schedule of regular gigs, private parties, weddings, concerts, recordings and movie soundtracks as well as becoming acquainted with the top players in town which led to more work along with being invited to jazz parties both in the States and overseas. Chapter One , the first recording under his own name, was with Arbors Records in 1993 and included Milt Hinton on bass. Since then, he can be heard on over 100 recordings, including six as leader. “Playing with The Nighthawks meant that I really had to step up my game. It was total immersion, like a doctoral study of 1920s and 30s jazz. Vince’s standards are very high, and The Nighthawks’ book is quite demanding. I might be asked to sight-read a Red Allen solo on one tune and then do a Red Nichols solo on the next. From there, I could be expected to play in the style of a society band lead trumpet, improvise on a traditional jazz tune, fake a Latin song or a Jewish hora for the dancers– all within the same set. Vince has always been very helpful, and I’ve learned a ton playing with him over the years.” Leads The EarRegulars Since 2007, Jon has been leading The EarRegulars featuring guitarist Matt Munisteri, and various guest artists on Sundays from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Ear Inn in the Soho section of Manhattan. The building dates back to 1817 and has a warm and friendly vibe. Fellow musicians often show up after their gigs, and the place is always packed. “We’ve had some magical nights there,” Kellso recalls. There’s no cover charge, but there is a bucket for tips called “Phillup DeBucket.” The latest recording, “Jon-Erik Kellso and The EarRegulars: Live at the Ear Inn”, is on Arbors Records. Jon can be heard on several television and movie soundtracks, including “Ghost World,” “The Aviator,” “Mildred Pierce,” and “Bessie” with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks. He can also be seen in “Revolutionary Road,” “Boardwalk Empire,” for which The Nighthawks won a Grammy, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Notable engagements included: a week in Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola with Wynton Marsalis celebrating Louis Armstrong’s Hot 5s and 7s, leading The EarRegulars at the Detroit Jazz Fest, Moab Music Fest, the Bohém Ragtime and Jazz Fest in Hungary, as well as jazz festivals and concerts in New Orleans and all over the world. Reflecting on his long career, Jon-Erik Kellso declared, “I’ve surpassed all my childhood goals and had to set some new ones, which is the kind of problem you want to have. I’ve never had another job, and it’s been everything I’ve ever wanted to do. As long as the phone keeps ringing, I’ll just keep-on doing what I’ve always enjoyed doing.” Lew Shaw The San Diego Jazz Party thanks Lew Shaw for his exemplary Jon-Erik Kellso story and the many contributions he has made to our party and the Jazz community. .
HONORARY LEGENDS What makes a San Diego Jazz Party musician a Legend, and what does it mean? The musicians chosen by the Board of the San Diego Jazz Party have achieved Legend status, not only by their incredible talents, but also their passion. We thank them for continuing to share their gifts with appreciative audiences. Past recipients of Legend Status: 2026 Jon-Erik Kellso 2025 Harry Allen 2024 Rossano Sportiello 2023 Ken Peplowski 2022 Chuck Redd 2022 Dan Reid (1939-2020) 2022 Dave Cooper (1933-2020) 2017 Eddie Erikson 2016 Rebecca Kilgore (1949-2026) 2015 Butch Miles (1944-2023) 2014 Mundell Lowe (1922-2017) 2013 Johnny Varro (1930-1982) 2012 Houston Person 2011 Bucky Pizzarelli (1926-2020) 2010 Jake Hanna (1931-2010) 2009 Ed Polcer 2008 Dick Hyman 2007 Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham (Jimmy 1924-2007) 2006 Joe Wilder (1922-2014) 2005 Barney Kessel (1923-2004) 2020 Richard Simon 2019 Eddie Metz, Jr. 2018 Dan Barrett
SUPPORTING THE MUSIC COMMUNITY
Last year, on Friday before the party started, a number of our musicians graciously shared their time to hold master classes at the Hilton Del Mar Hotel for area high school musicians.
Last year on Monday, the day after the party, Danny Coots, Jason Wanner, Richard Simon, Vinny Raniolo, Duke Heitger, and Dan Barrett performed and mentored classes at the Preuss School, UCSD. This event was underwritten by the San Diego Jazz Party.
This year, on Monday following the party, musicians will mentor and perform at Mission Bay High School. Music teacher, JP Balmat, has some amazing jazz musicians under his guidance. After observing the professional musicians play, the students will perform and be coached to help them improve their skills.
The San Diego Jazz Party Scholarship Fund was established in 2017 by Dan Reid. It was Dan’s vision to create a Scholarship Program to encourage young jazz musicians to pursue higher education to expand their talents and follow their dreams of furthering mainstream jazz. The San Diego Jazz Party awards scholarships to students who have attended high school in the San Diego area and are enrolled as full time undergraduates studying Jazz at a College or University in the United States. Past Scholarship Recipients: SCHOLARSHIPS
IN MEMORIAM
Jazz vocalist extraordinaire, Rebecca Kilgore, passed away January 7, 2026. Rebecca was born September 24, 1949. Rebecca was a treasured friend and a remarkable talent whose impact on the world of jazz—especially the San Diego Jazz Party—will never be forgotten. We celebrate Rebecca and the life she lived with such fullness and grace. She will forever live on in our hearts. Rebecca was honored as the San Diego Jazz Party Legend in 2017.
SAN DIEGO JAZZ PARTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
T he San Diego Jazz Party Board of Directors are the people who work hard behind the scenes to make the San Diego Jazz Party successful.
Russell King President
Sandi Joyce Vice President
Deborah Morrison Secretary
Don Fall Treasurer Marketing
Jennifer Reid Volunteer Coordinator
Janet Fall Member at Large
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