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News & Events
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New park fine place for a music festival Posted in the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday, July 22, 2005 Written by Rick DelVecchio One look at Oakland's new waterfront park and musician Khalil Shaheed knew he'd found an ideal place for a concert. "I was like, 'Whoa,' Shaheed said, recalling his first glimpse of Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. "I envisioned the whole thing as I was sitting there. So I sat down right at a picnic table and started calling people." The thing Shaheed envisioned was a free music festival, with thousands of people enjoying world music and complimentary food served up against a backdrop of the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. Shaheed hooked up with associates at the Port of Oakland and the East Bay Regional Park District, and the Portfest World Music and Jazz Festival was born. "The fundamental thing about this is the location," said Shaheed, a musician and music teacher since he moved to Oakland 25 years ago. "This is one of the most beautiful parks I've ever seen. You're standing in the park and from the stage you'll be looking at the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco skyline." The event will feature 10 international food vendors and 30 other booths. The musical headliner is flugelhornist and composer Hugh Masekela, who was playing world music before the term was invented. A powerful voice in the struggle against apartheid in his native South Africa in the '70s and '80s, Masekela blends African musical traditions into his own brand of Afro-soul- jazz. Shaheed has also lined up jazz quartets led by alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett and saxophonist, composer and educator Dave Ellis, formerly of the Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble. Shaheed and Moroccan doud player Yassir Chadly will front their Mo'rockin' Project, blending Moroccan melodies with a jazz quintet. The Oakland Jazz Workshops Band will open the festival. All the musicians range from 12 to 18 years old. "This cross-section of entertainment is going to be a great draw," Shaheed said. "It's been important for me to try to get some free music to the people of Oakland." Shaheed plans to expand next year's Portfest to two or three days. "By having free concerts like this, a lot of people will get to hear free music if they don't have the money to go to Yoshi's or Kimball's," he said. "The first year is free and I'm going to fight to keep if free as long as possible." The San Francisco Chronicle
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Related links: - San Francisco Chronicle - Portfest World Music and Jazz Festival |
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