Notes from the Publisher

s a writer and magazine publisher, I try to convey through printed words the music I hear, the performances I see, and the travel destinations I visit for concerts and festivals. I then rely on vivid photographic images to complete my stories. This effort makes “Don’t believe me? Just Watch!” more than a verse from the Bruno Mars hit song “Uptown Funk.” It’s also a basic fact of influential communication. People believe and connect more immediately with what they experience personally. Connecting genre enthusiasts with all things smooth jazz through the various platforms of this magazine has become my life’s mission, and, thankfully, my occupation. Building bonds with our readers by distributing Smooth Jazz News at concerts and festivals as well as circulation at outlets throughout San Diego County, other venues nationwide, paid subscribers and online, is a top priority. This month, we will have booths at the 20th Annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach, Florida, and the 28th Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania. Our April issue will also be circulated at Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. However, one of our most popular bonding activities is our annual anniversary brunch parties and jam sessions at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California. There, we invite our advertisers (from the prior year) and guest artists to enjoy brunch and live music in our reserved section of the performance lounge. The rest of the lounge and the entire restaurant are open to the public, and, they always sell out. During the first of two 18th anniversary brunch parties at Spaghettini

Angela Puchala and Adam Sanchez from Catalina Express Saxophonist Justin Young with Fran and Dean Willis and Canadian guitarist Rob Tardik

in January, I was chatting with saxophonist Justin Young before all of our guests arrived. Suddenly, two of our loyal subscribers, Fran and Dean Willis, joined the conversation with hugs and smiles. It turns out that when Young lived in Southern California, he and Dean were co-workers at The Boeing Company, his day job. I also discovered that Young, who currently lives in Seattle and works as a global sales and marketing manager for Boeing (where he has been employed for more

Brunchgoers enjoying the vibe during the Smooth Jazz News 18th Anniversary party at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California

Bill Dudley interviewing Peter White during 94.7 The WAVE’s live broadcast at the Smooth Jazz News 18th Anniversary Brunch Party & Jam Session on Jan. 28

Willie Payne (Payne Pest Management), Craig Collier Smooth Jazz News) and Peter White

Saxophonist Justin Young, keyboardist Patrick Bradley and guitarist Rob Tardik

than 11 years), holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University, and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Young got to indulge his passion of playing music when he and his band performed at company Christmas parties, where Dean became a big fan. Our second celebration on Feb. 25 was timed perfectly for Jazmin Ghent’s studio recording session in Los Angeles with Euge Groove, who

is producing the Florida-based saxophonist’s third CD. Although we featured the now 26-year-old rising star in the April 2016 issue of Smooth Jazz News, her mesmerizing live performance sitting in with DW3 at our party’s jam eclipsed that magazine article. I was not surprised to hear the audience’s cheers and see the standing ovation she earned from just one song. Ghent made such an impression on Cary Hardwick (Spaghettini co-owner) and Q (Spaghettini entertainment director) that they are booking her for her own show in the lounge! During that same Sunday brunch, I finally got to meet in person Rebecca Milkey, Hornblower Cruises & Events’ director of marketing for Southern California. All of the advertising business we have conducted together over the past year promoting Hornblower’s jazz brunch cruises in Long Beach, Marina del Rey, Newport Beach and San Diego, had been via email and phone. So, sitting together enjoying face-to-face conversations with champagne, piles of pasta and other dishes from the buffet, Parmesan-crusted sea bass ordered off the menu, and music was so fun! Plus, with Kim and Ozzie Benoit of Rainbow Promotions (producers of the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival and Long Beach Jazz Festival) and Kathy and Willie Payne of Payne Pest Management (sponsors of both festivals) seated at the same table, there were definitely some business opportunities to chat about. By the time DW3 finished their last set, we all seemed like old friends chatting away as we sipped coffee and leaned in to hear Milkey explain the changing migration patterns of West Coast whales and the delightful sightings of them and dolphins during recent Hornblower winter whale-watching sailings. I posted several images of both brunches on

Spaghettini entertainment director Q, Facebook, to which we received hundreds of with saxophonist Jazmin Ghent and

Cary Hardwick, Spaghettini co-owner “Likes” and comments from people wishing they were there. For 18 years, Smooth Jazz News has connected genre enthusiasts with the best festivals, concerts, cruises and CDs through advertisements, editorial and, now, social media platforms. However, nothing beats the in-person intimacy and soulful feelings we all enjoy when we are experiencing connections live and in the moment. Don’t believe me? Just watch, smile and, if you’re feelin’ it, dance! The 19th annual Smooth Jazz News anniversary

Debra Harner (Bud Harner’s wife), Bane brunch parties and jam sessions at Spaghettini in Grove (Euge Groove’s wife) and Lisa Singer Seal Beach, California, are in the planning stages for 2019. Stay tuned for dates to be announced in this magazine and posted on our social media pages, all of which can be accessed on our website, www.smoothjazznews.com.