But, there's another element to summertime in Los Gatos that makes the town a destination—live music.

It's time to give those old dancing shoes a quick shine, because the 16th annual Music in the Park series and the second annual Jazz on the Plazz program, both organized by the town's arts commission, are right around the corner.

"This is truly going to be an exciting year for Music in the Park," says Teri Hope, co-chairwoman for the event. "It seems to be getting bigger and better every year. Part of the reason is that the caliber of the musicians has improved. And we always try to get a good eclectic mix of musicians that would appeal to all types of audiences."

If there's one thing that sets the program apart from others, it's the variety. The lineup of featured artists is sure to please listeners of various types of music and fans of different decades.

The 10-week Music in the Park concert series will kick off on June 27 at 5 p.m. on the Civic Center lawn with a lively performance by popular Joe Sharino Band. Featured on Showtime and the ABC and NBC television networks, the band reinvents tunes in all types of musical genres, including pop, rock, Motown, country and swing. The band has performed in concerts with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, B.B. King and The Drifters—to name a few.

The band is one of six groups that will be performing at Music in the Park for the first time. Other newcomers include the The Hit Men, Hurricane Sam and The Hot Shots and the Kaye Bohler Blues Band. Returning by popular demand, based on surveys filled out during concerts, will be the San Jose Wind Symphony, Opera San José, Sidesaddle and Company, Sage and Mariachi Tapatio.

Hope, who has helped organize the past six summer concert series, says Music in the Park has grown significantly, not only in the quality of the performances, but also in attendance and the level of financial support from individual residents and local businesses.

"It's amazing seeing how big the program has evolved over the years," Hope says. "But at the same time, I'm not surprised considering the town's history of fostering art education and appreciation. Los Gatos is a haven for artists."

When the program first started, 700 people at most would attend the concerts, according to Hope. But as the audiences continued to grow, so did the need for a larger venue. Up until the most recent move to the Civic Center two years ago, concerts took place in the Town Plaza.

Hope says she expects a turnout of 1,000 to 1,200 people, mainly residents of Los Gatos.

Joanne Bergmann and her husband, Alden, say they look forward to Music in the Park every summer. Both retired engineers, the Bergmanns say they prefer Music in the Park over watching television any day.

"What's not to like about it? You get to hear wonderful music for free and sit in a wonderful setting with people who share the same interest," Alden says. "If I had it my way, it would be a year-round event."

"This is a good way to introduce people, especially aspiring musicians, to various types of music and to keep music appreciation alive and strong," says Joanne.

Music in the Park is made possible by financial contributions from several local supporters. This year, the arts commission was able to make everything work with approximately a $35,000 budget, a majority of which goes to paying the performers and the remainder covering the cost of printing programs, upgrading the sound system, licensing and staffing the event.

But perhaps even more impressive is the budget for Jazz on the Plazz, a program that was borne out of the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club. In its first year, the arts commission worked tirelessly under a tight budget of $15,000 to bring six concerts to the program—not bad for the first year. This year, thanks to support from the community, the commission, given a $50,000 budget, was able to add four more concerts to the program.

"Many wonderful businesses stepped up to the plate to help make this possible, and we're truly grateful for that," Hope says. "In return, we hope that people will enjoy the powerful performances we have lined up."

San Francisco­based jazz vocalist Paula West will start the Jazz on the Plazz program on July 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Town Plaza. Other performers featured throughout the 10-week series include the Kaye Bohler Jazz Quartet, pianist Lao Tizer, two-time Grammy Award-nominated singer Karrin Allyson and Andy Bey, the voice behind the jazz CD titled American Song.

Both Music in the Park and Jazz on the Plazz are equally successful, but unlike Music in the Park, which attracts mainly Los Gatos residents, Hope says Jazz on the Plazz has a broader outreach and tends to draw in residents from all over the Bay Area.

To ensure the audience's comfort, the arts commission will be selling lawn chairs with either the Music in the Park or the Jazz on the Plazz logos written on them. However, visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs.

"People can come and go whenever they want and have a picnic while listening to good music," Hope says. "It's an affordable, stress-free luxury. What can be better than this?"

Music in the Park

The 10-week program will feature a variety of music of different genres from popular bands. Concerts will take place every Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m., June 27 through Aug. 9, on the Los Gatos Civic Center lawn. Special times will apply for the annual Fourth of July event, co-hosted by the town of Los Gatos. The program for Music in the Park is as follows:

June 27—The Joe Sharino Band

July 4—The San Jose Wind Symphony (1:30­3:30 p.m.)

The Hit Men (6­8:30 p.m.)

July 11—Hurricane Sam and The Hot Shots

July 18—Opera San José

July 25—Kaye Bohler Blues Band

Aug. 1—Sidesaddle and Company

Aug. 8—Molly's Revenge and Rosemary Turco Irish Dancers

Aug. 14­15—Fiesta de Artes

Aug. 22—Sage

Aug. 29—Mariachi Tapatio

Jazz on the Plazz

The 10-week program will also feature distinguished musicians. Concerts will be held at the Los Gatos Town Plaza every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The lineup is as follows:

July 7—Paula West

July 14—Kaye Bohler Jazz Quartet

July 21—Charsette Powell Quartet

July 28—Lao Tizer Band

Aug. 4—David Ladd's Downtown Allstars

Aug. 11—Giacomo Gates with Anton Schwartz Quartet

Aug. 18—Karrin Allyson

Aug. 25—Frank Martin Quartet with Alex Acuna and Abraham Laboriel

Sept. 1—Andy Bey

Sept. 8—Danny Hull, Cliff Coulter and The All Stars

For more information about Music in the Park and Jazz on the Plazz, check out www.losgatosca.gov.