End-of-summer treat has had its moments

Former local boy Eric Lindell revisits his roots at this weekend's Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival. (photo by Marc Millman)

Over the past three decades, Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival fans have witnessed classic moments that range from paying $8 to hear Dizzy Gillespie in the 1970s to Dr. John and the Neville Brothers playing in the rain in 2009.

There was the year Craig Chaquico stood knee-deep in the river, wailing on his guitar while rafters kicked back in the front row. Or Etta James reaching into the vaults for a 5,000-strong sold-out crowd in 2005.

One year, Ledisi turned on a video camera that ventured too close. And Jonny Lang made return visits to sweat bullets in the sun while blistering guitar frets.

The annual Indian summer tradition has become the season finale every September, pulling curtains on the end of summer and ushering in the fall.

Before the first song travels across the water Saturday morning, here are the Top 5 reasons to get to the Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival this year:

Robert Randolph

1. Robert Randolph: He might not take top billing, but this church-trained, pedal-steel guitarist is as talented as anyone to play this festival. From gospel to soul and funk, he always plays with a fire inside. Look no further than his latest studio album, “We Walk This Road,” produced by T-Bone Burnett.

2. Support Clare Harris: The 92-year-old music lover offers up his Johnson Beach resort for free every year. In return, he rents kayaks and sells beer and burgers. Harris is a local legend, buying the beach resort with his late brother Herbert back in 1967. His favorite festival pairing ever? Les Brown and Dizzy Gillespie.

3. A Tale of Two Georges: Benson one day and Thorogood the next. A recent review of the legendary jazz guitarist summed it up this way: “Benson tore through his hits at faster tempos and higher energy levels than a large and enthusiastic audience may have been expecting.”  Still playing all the hits, from “Bad to the Bone” to “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” Thorogood, who features Charlie Musselwhite on the title track of his new album “2120 South Michigan Avenue,” chalks up his over 40-year run to “the three Ds” – desire, demand and delivery.

4. Local Boy Comes Home: Eric Lindell returns to his old stomping grounds to mix up classics with new tracks from his latest album, “I Still Love You.” The Sonoma County native, who calls Florida home these days, has put so many miles (200,000 in the past year alone) on his old Blue Goose van that he’s finally retiring the road warrior. That means he’s taking donations on his website to “support our travels.”

5. Beat the Recession Blues: If you can’t afford a ticket this year, try dropping in at Vacation Beach a little over a mile downstream (off Beach Road) and kayaking or canoeing to the concert for free. Or, there’s a pullout across the river on Neeley Road where a lot of people hang out and watch the show. From there, a trail winds down to the river, putting you right across from the festival.

Bay Area freelancer John Beck writes about entertainment for The Press Democrat. You can reach him at 280-8014, john@sideshowvideo.com and follow on Twitter @becksay.

IN CONCERT
What: The Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 9/22 and Sunday 9/23
Where: Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville
Tickets: $50 single day/$80 two-day pass
Information: www.omegaevents.com/russianriver
Lineup:
Saturday – George Benson, Tower of Power, Brian Culbertson, David Sanborn.
Sunday – George Thorogood, Taj Mahal, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Eric Lindell