Jazz, History, and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival with Marcus Shelby

How jazz, history, and live performance come together at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival — with Marcus Shelby.Jazz is more than music — it’s a way of telling American history. In this episode, Marcus Shelby, composer, educator, and artistic director of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, joins the show to explore how history, storytelling, and live performance shape his work.Marcus shares his path from engineering student to bandleader, composer, and educator, and explains why studying legends like Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn is essential to understanding jazz today. He discusses how historical narratives — from Harriet Tubman to the Negro Leagues — influence his compositions, and why jazz remains a powerful lens for social justice and cultural memory.The conversation also previews Marcus’s upcoming performance of the Harlem Nutcracker Suite at the Raven Theater on December 20, along with insights into the Winter Jazz Festival and early plans for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival’s 2026 season.The episode closes with a reflective tasting from host Allo Gilinsky, the Craft Beer Concierge, featuring Brother Thelonious Abbey Ale from North Coast Brewing Company — a jazz-inspired Belgian-style ale that pairs perfectly with thoughtful listening.🎷 Perfect for jazz fans, live music lovers, and anyone curious about how music and history intersect in Sonoma County.Featured Guest:Marcus ShelbyResources Mentioned in the Interview:Healdsburg Jazz Harlem Nutcracker Suite performance at the Raven Theater Healdsburg Jazz FestivalHealdsburg Jazz Winter FestivalWynton MarsalisDuke EllingtonBilly StrayhornLedisiCount BasieHarriet TubmanDr. Martin Luther King Jr.Negro LeaguesPrison ReformThundercatMiles Davis, Kind of BlueFeatured Beer:Brother Thelonious Abbey Ale