The good vibes started building when Grammy-nominated vocalist José James started things off on the Jay Paul Company Main Stage, getting the Plaza de Cesar Chavez crowd energized with his music and a few shoutouts about how much he appreciated being in San Jose. That energy continued through a set by Ghost-Note that followed and and all the way up through the climax of the night, a 90-minute performance by Grammy-winning rapper Common.
The Jazz fest website is here.
Read Sal Pizarro’s story here.
Common performs during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
The stage is prepped for the next performance during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Steve Ketzler and Ann Brown, both from Livermore, dance during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
La Marisoul and the Love Notes Orchestra performs during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Kiefer performs during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Ghost-Note performs during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Ghost-Note performs during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Wade Daniels, of San Francisco, left, and Wane Han, of Los Angeles, cook for Yakitori Yado during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Esteban Vasquez, from San Jose, dances during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Draenmhar “Drae” Dadivas, of Drae’s Lemonade, makes lemonade during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
People look at wooden giraffes at a pop-up at the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
A drummer performs with Kiefer the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
People dance during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
People look a cars during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Ghost-Note performs during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
People attend the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
People clap and dance during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Common performs during the 35th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)