Carl Jefferson; Started Concord Jazz Festival

Carl Jefferson, who brought international jazz to the Bay Area when he founded the Concord Jazz Festival, has died of liver cancer. He was 75.

Jefferson, who died Wednesday, also founded the Concord Jazz record label and was instrumental in the founding of the Concord Pavilion.

Friends described Jefferson, a onetime auto dealer, as a caring, bright, passionate, plain-spoken, sometimes cantankerous man with a gift for success that he shared with others.

“We liked him because Carl was above all other things a music fan,” said singer Mel Torme, who was performing in Seattle. “Unlike the jerk lawyers and accountants who run other companies, he absolutely loved the music.”

Jefferson produced 10 albums before starting the Concord label 23 years ago. The company collected 40 Grammy nominations and won eight. The company’s artists included Ray Brown, Rosemary Clooney, Stan Getz, Scott Hamilton, Emily Remler, Cal Tjader, Woody Herman, George Shearing and Concord native Dave Brubeck.

Jefferson, who sold the record company in December, is survived by his wife of 35 years, Nancy; two daughters, four sons and five grandchildren.