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Sonoma County's storied "wine country" will again become "jazz country" when the 15th annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival takes place from May 31 through June 9, 2013 at various indoor and outdoor venues around Healdsburg.
The 2013 festival lineup so far includes a two-day tribute to jazz bassist Charlie Haden and other headliner performances by Charles Lloyd with Jason Moran, and the Fred Hersch Trio.

Described as "the best boutique jazz festival in the country," the Healdsburg Jazz Festival has become a much-anticipated event every year, where internationally acclaimed musicians take over center stage in Healdsburg, with acts playing playing on the Healdsburg Plaza, at the historic Raven Theater, as well as more casual and intimate settings among the town’s wine tasting rooms, restaurants, art galleries and outdoor settings.

On the first weekend, a two-day tribute June 1-2 will honor Charlie Haden with the 12-piece Liberation Music Orchestra featuring Carla Bley, Quartet West with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, along with performances by guitarist Bill Frisell, pianists Geri Allen and Gonzalo Rubacalba, saxophonist Lee Konitz, and more artists to be announced.

The second weekend of the 2013 festival will host an exclusive US engagement with the Charles Lloyd-Jason Moran Duo, a special evening with the Fred Hersch Trio, and the Marcus Shelby Orchestra with the HJF Freedom Jazz Choir.

Under the continued direction of founder Jessica Felix, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival is respected for its dedication to jazz. Festival attendees have shared in performances and tributes to many NEA Jazz Masters, as well as emerging talents like Esperanza Spalding, Jason Moran, Julian Lage and Vijay Iyer.

Past festivals have showcased many jazz greats such as Dave Brubeck, McCoy Tyner, Roy Hargrove, Randy Weston, Roy Haynes, John Handy, Kenny Garrett, Joshua Redman and many others.

Each year — and again this year — the 10 days of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival offer jazz in its myriad forms, from Dixieland to Latin rhythms, and from straight-ahead classics to convergences with hip-hop and jazz's rising stars.

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival is partially supported by the James Irvine Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Local volunteers and corporate sponsors are also essential ingredients for the non-profit organization that presents year-round jazz performances and continuing music education programs in several local schools.

More festival performers will be announced over the next few months.