April 6, 2022
San Francisco Chronicle Datebook
Lily Janiak
Paula West, Marcus Shelby among Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s 2022 lineup
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, the 22-year-old free event series (and CMC partners), is returning to its eponymous South of Market city park on May 7, which kicks off six months of weekly programming in music, dance, theater and more.
The outdoor event’s lineup, announced Wednesday, April 6, also includes Bay Area favorites such as veteran jazz contralto Paula West and San Francisco bassist and composer Marcus Shelby (CMC Teen Jazz Orchestra director), along with a spate of world premieres including Shelby’s Blues in the City with the Marcus Shelby New Orchestra.
“The festival is proud to commission new musical and performance programs specifically designed for the Gardens,” Linda Lucero, the festival’s executive and artistic director, said in a statement.
Included in the Festival programming are performances by CMC’s New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus, and a world premiere celebrating the CMC Centennial, A Song of Triumph: The History of Black Music a new work by faculty member Maestro Curtis, featuring Maestro Curtis Ph.D, the Curtis Family C-Notes and special guests.