Wayne Wallace with nineteen

The Tabard Theatre Company continues its popular series of Jazz Nights with nineteen on February 25th at 8pm at Theatre on San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose. Bay Area trombonist Wayne Wallace joins nineteen, formerly San Jose Jazz Orchestra, for this one night only at this intimate, cabaret-style venue.

San Francisco born and a five-time Grammy nominee, Wayne Wallace is a complete entertainer who has performed with all the great ones, from Pearl Bailey, Ray Charles, and Sammy Davis Jr. to Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, Stevie Wonder and many more. The fertile musical environment of the Bay Area shaped his career in a unique way. His studies of Afro-Latin music and jazz have included several trips to Cuba, New York, and Puerto Rico.

Wallace is widely respected as a teacher and historian and is currently an instructor at San Jose State University, Stanford University and the Jazzschool in Berkeley. He has conducted lectures, workshops and clinics in the Americas and Europe since 1983. Currently he is a member of the advisory committees of the San Jose Jazz Society and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. As the head of his own record label, Patois Records, he has created a unique company with a passionate mission of developing and chronicling the multi-lingual styles of the Bay Area music scene.

Nineteen, directed by Gus Kambeitz, is one of the South Bay's premier jazz orchestras. Most of its 19 members are working musicians and music teachers, but they are also engineers, marketers, a financial advisor, and a CEO. The band evolved over 30 years from the semiprofessional community jazz band at West Valley College. Next, after starting their seasonal guest-artist series in 2002 and performing in several downtown venues, they became the West Valley Jazz Orchestra, outside the auspices of the college.

In 2009 the group became known as the San Jose Jazz Orchestra, the official musical voice of the San Jose Jazz Society, founder of the San Jose Jazz Festival. Finally in spring 2011, they emerged as an independent entity named nineteen. Along the way, they also served as the house band for Tabard’s highly acclaimed Stompin’ at the Savoy and initiated the annual Local Composer's Showcase, wherein the finest new works, selected by a panel of distinguished composers and educators, are given public performance. (Tabard will present this year’s showcase on April 28th at Theatre on San Pedro Square.) Tickets for Wayne Wallace with nineteen are $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Seating is limited, and reservations are strongly recommended; call 800-838-3006 or go online to tabardtheatre.org. Theatre on San Pedro Square is located at 29 North San Pedro Street, downtown San Jose.