Patti LaBelle’s performance at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest on Saturday night had its share of memorable moments. The 82-year-old legend accepted a bouquet of flowers from a fan near the stage, made a costume change midway through the show, and even got a jab in on Celine Dion, pointing out that she was the first to sing the hit, “If You Asked Me To.”

But nobody knew what was coming when five men from the audience were ushered onto the stage toward the end of the show as LaBelle and her band launched into her 1970s hit, “Lady Marmalade.” LaBelle handed a mic to each guy, encouraging them to either sing to the beat or dance along.

Then she got to Daniel Davinci.

Daniel Davinci, left, and former 49ers player Anthony Dixon pose together at the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest in downtown San Jose on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. Davinci was brought up to the stage during Patti LaBelle's set on Aug. 8 and performed a freestyle rap for the R&B legend. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) 

The 35-year-old musician and content creator — LaBelle said he looked 15 — went into a freestyle rap that seemed to thrill LaBelle so much that she encouraged him to go on. A day later, Davinci said he had no idea what was going to happen when he went on stage but thought it was amazing for the music icon to share the spotlight the way she did.

“I thought it was just going to be background vocals or something,” Davinci said. “I love these moments for San Jose. It’s not too often, but I feel like experiencing a different viewpoint — on stage — viewing San Jose from that aspect is just incredible.”

Bryan Rodriguez, another guy brought on stage, energetically danced and sang a modified version of the lyrics, giving himself the title, “Mr. Marmalade.” Rodriguez, who is is 50, said seeing someone more than 30 years his senior exhibiting so much energy on stage was an inspiring sign that getting older doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down. “If she can do it, so can I,” he said, adding, “Maybe I can’t do that, but I can do something.”

JAZZY TRIBUTE: Many people had a hand in starting the event now known as San Jose Jazz Summer Fest back in 1990 and sustaining it in those early, tenuous years. But if there’s one person who has remained synonymous with the festival for its entire history, it’s Artistic Director Bruce Labadie.

He’s stepping down after this year’s festival and is being succeeded by Christian Vela, who has been booking the festival with Labadie for the past few years. On Sunday, San Jose Jazz Board President Julie Ramirez paid tribute to Labadie on the Jay Paul Main Stage before the festival’s final headliner, Trombone Shorty, took the stage.

Surrounded by family members, as well as San Jose Jazz staff members, board members and volunteers, Labadie acknowledged everyone who had been a part of making the festival a success, including his brother, Dean, who has worked at the event for 30 years and his daughter, Lauren, who started there when she was just 6.

San Jose Jazz Artistic Director Bruce Labadie, center, was honored by family members, as well as San Jose Jazz staff, board members and volunteers during the 36th annual San Jose Jazz Summer Fest in downtown San Jose on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) 

“I don’t know if this would have worked anywhere else,” he said, crediting, “the ethnic community, the weather, the great park here, and all the community leaders, and all the staff and thousands of volunteers, and board members, board presidents and everybody else over the years.”

GETTING SAUCY: We’ll see whose tomatoes make the grade Sunday when “Boss of the Sauce” returns to San Jose’s Little Italy district on Sunday. Eight Bay Area restaurants, including returning champ Locanda Restaurants, will compete in the tournament-style contest in the piazza in front of the Little Italy Cultural Center and Museum at 323 Sharks Way.

The other sauce slingers are Bibo’s, Mio Vicino Pasta and Pizzeria, Paesano Ristorante Italiano, Famiglia Meduri’s Poor House Bistro, Sorelle Italian Bistro, Tony & Alba’s and Vito’s Trattoria.

The festivities start at noon, and you don’t have to take the judges’ word for whose sauce is the best. For a $25 ticket ($30 at the door), you can sample all the sauces accompanied by freshly cooked pasta. It’s “all you can eat,” of course, so you can make an informed decision and vote for the “People’s Choice.” Get tickets at littleitalysj.com/events.