“In an effort to highlight Downtown Berkeley’s burgeoning music scene, the festival foregoes a central venue, instead utilizing the many different spaces that already present music…”
– jazz critic Andy Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle

“All one has to do is look at the line-up for the Downtown Berkeley Jazz Festival 2005 – “A Celebration of Latin jazz” – happening this weekend to see how deeply imbedded Brazilian music is on our local jazz scene. Artists like Marcos Silva, Celso Alberti, Weber Iago, Carlos Oliveira, Ricardo Peixoto and others come with excellent resumes and apprenticeship.
– Latin jazz aficionado Jesse “Chuy” Varela, San Francisco Chronicle

“While many festivals are held in all-inclusive venues, such as fairgrounds or amphitheatres, the Berkeley “happening” takes place in a plethora of settings, giving festival-goers a chance to explore the many niches of Downtown Berkeley.”
-- Jim Harrington, Oakland Tribune

“Susan Muscarella likes to think big…she is launching the first Downtown Berkeley Jazz Festival this Thursday with no less than 40 indoor and outdoor jazz and correlated cultural events spread over four days.”
– Jason Victor Serinus, East Bay Express