It was a swingin’ time Sunday in San Jose’s Rose Garden neighborhood, where about 200 people packed into the decked-out backyard of Gordon Biersch co-founder Dan Gordon and his wife, Melissa, for a music-and-memory-filled fundraiser for San Jose Jazz.
Besides being a warm-up for August’s Summer Fest, the party also was an opportunity to honor Henry Schiro, an early supporter of what was then known as the San Jose Jazz Society who served as its executive director for more than a decade.
Schiro, a pianist himself who also ran the jazz club at Garden City Casino, brought on big sponsors like Southwest and Comcast for the San Jose Jazz Festival and built it into the biggest free jazz festival around. San Jose City Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, Schiro’s stepson, recalled that Schiro checked the weather every festival, not for the comfort of performers or audiences — but because he knew that the optimal temperature of 82 degrees maximized revenue-generating beer sales.
In 2003, Schiro was forced out — he later helmed the Steinway Society before his death in 2008 — and that was a sensitive issue for both sides for some time. But Sunday’s event may have gone a long way toward healing that wound. Mulcahy and Stephanie Schiro Ronco, Schrio’s daughter, shared memories with the crowd about his legacy, his passion for promoting young artists and his love for San Jose.
“Having the organization recognize him today helps him complete one of the most important chapters of his life,” Mulcahy said. “Thank you for the show of support and love. The impresario that was Henry Schiro is beaming today for sure as the result of this great recognition.”
The tunes were grand, of course, thanks to the talents of San Jose Jazz’s high school all-star band and the Ryan Trujillo New Beginnings Quartet. The event was a benefit for the Jazz Aid Fund, which was started during the COVID-19 pandemic and now supports musicians in creating new work. Trujillo, who was a 2024 recipient of a Jazz Aid Fund grant, also sat in on a set toward the end of the night with local favorite Oscar Pangilinan on saxophone and Gordon on trombone.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli’s middle name might be “coincidence.” She flew back to New York for the Tribeca Film Festival a couple of weekends ago to attend the premiere of “My Mom Jayne,” a documentary about Jayne Mansfield by “Law & Order” star Mariska Hargitay, who is Sardelli’s half-sister through their father, Nelson Sardelli.
That, however, wasn’t the big coincidence, as the sisters are close and have known about their relationship for many years. The actual coincidence? That happened when Sardelli met Cher, who starred in the play and film version of “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.” TheatreWorks presented the world premiere of the new musical version of the show last weekend, with Broadway actress Stephanie Gibson in the role Cher created.
Cher, left, poses with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on June 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy TheatreWorks Silicon Valley)
Sardelli hopes she persuaded Cher to visit the Bay Area for the show, and if anyone — including her — needs a reminder, the show runs through July 13 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at theatreworks.org, though I’m guessing Cher has a seat saved for her.
GETTING COLORFUL: Some older adults — that’s 50 and over, if you’re wondering — will have a lot of fun and get a little color this Friday at Lake Cunningham Park in San Jose. That’s because city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department is hosting a Color Walk and Resource Fair, starting at 10 a.m.
Related Articles
Robots abound at the new Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in Mountain View
San Jose calls off a popular July 4 fireworks show for safety concerns
Guys stroll Santana Row in heels for YWCA’s Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
From festivals to protests, it’s going to be a full weekend in San Jose
San Jose’s 3Below Theaters makes a big bet on big-screen entertainment
If you’re not familiar with the idea, walkers get some fitness in by strolling along a defined course and at certain spots they’re doused with colorful, non-toxic powder. Most participants wear something white to show off the vibrant hues, and if you prefer not to get colorful, you can get a special “no color” sticker.
Sorry to say there isn’t a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow walk, but there is a resource fair with more than two dozen community organizations offering information on health, wellness and social services aimed at the 50-plus crowd. You can register by going to www.sjregisration.com (search for “Color Walk”), and the first 150 registrants get a T-shirt.