Notes from the Publisher

Gregg Karukas performing at Festival of Arts during the “Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate” series on July 25, in Laguna Beach, California

Gregg Karukas and Susan Davis (director of special events and member services at Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach) with band members (back) Keith McKelley, Darryl Williams, Eric Valentine and Brian Price

During the summer, there are some wonderful concerts and festivals, stage plays, art shows and craft fairs, but there is nothing quite like Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, California.

While browsing works from 140 of Orange County’s finest artists (25 of which are new this year) exhibiting a variety of media, including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, glass, paintings, photography, handcrafted wood and furniture and more, daily musical performances add to the enchantment, especially for jazz fans.

Family perusing paintings at Festival of Arts

Photo: Pat Benter

87 years after the festival first launched, the music schedule includes series such as “Concerts on the Green” on Saturdays, and “Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate” on Thursdays.

Pageant of the Masters (this year’s theme is “The Time Machine”) afterward in the Irvine Bowl behind the art show. For the concert, my guests and I sat at a table in the top level of the reserved seating section (which cost an additional $35 per person, based on availability). This area, left of the stage, along with the entire concert area, was remodeled in 2018 with two levels, including stage-front reserved tables and tiered general admission seating built into the perimeter on the lower level. The canopies over the venue and large eucalyptus trees veiling the stage created a cool and comfortable atmosphere to enjoy music, wine, chocolate and the picnic lunch and cold beverages I brought during that week’s heat wave. Karukas’ natural instinct and skill for making hit songs and producing some of the best records in the smooth jazz genre were on full display that day. He was accompanied by an incredible band comprising Eric Valentine on drums, Darryl Williams on bass, Brian Price on guitar, and as a wonderful surprise, saxophonist Keith McKelley, whom I had never seen perform before (although audiences of Babyface, Usher, Bob James, Mary J. Blige, David Foster and others have).

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When timed right, you can catch a smooth jazz concert, have a picnic, dine at the onsite restaurant, take a hands-on art class (including “Pints, Pinot & Painting”), go on a guided tour, create your own masterpiece in a workshop, do yoga, talk about art over tea, see a fashion show, peruse artistic creations, and, when inspired, purchase a treasured showpiece for your own collection. You can then cap off your outing with the magic of Pageant of the Masters, a unique theatrical production that transforms real people into life-sized re-creations of famous works of art, accompanied by a live 26-piece orchestra ... all in the same day! I chose to attend Festival of Arts on Thursday, July 25, when “Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate” was happening and GRAMMY-Award-winning keyboardist-composer Gregg Karukas was performing, and to also see

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“You picked a great night to come to the Festival of Arts,” exclaimed Susan Davis, director of special events and member services at Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach. “Greg Karukas is a wonderful performer, musician, composer and producer.” Davis is in charge of booking the bands for the entire run of the festival, which started this year on July 5, and ends on Aug. 31. She said that music was a part of Festival of Arts before she started working there 20 years ago, but on a much smaller scale. Now, 87 years after the festival first launched, the music schedule has expanded to include series such as “Concerts on the Green” on Saturdays, and “Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate” on Thursdays. In addition to Karukas, these series have featured Greg Adams and East Bay Soul, Slim Man, Russell Ferrante and Bob Mintzer from the Yellowjackets, and saxophonist Grace Kelly in July. The Eric Marienthal All-Stars, Brian Simpson and Terry Steele are among dozens of artists scheduled to perform in August. According to Davis, the various concert series concepts evolved over time in collaboration with Sharbie Higuchi, the festival’s marketing, public relations and merchandising director, and her marketing team. “I have personally worked hard to push the whole music program forward and raise the bar on bringing great music and performers

Display for Pageant of the Masters theme “The Time Machine”

to the Festival and to Laguna Beach,” said Davis, who utilizes a variety of avenues to find the best-suited acts for their musical roster, including attending live performances at other venues around the Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego areas. “Social media is a great source of music sharing,” she said. “Sidemen with some of our scheduled performers is another place to find some amazing performers. As our music program has grown, I now have had some outstanding musicians reach out to me,” Davis added. Music is a perfect partner for the other creative works and performances they showcase, she said. “Our amazing theatrical production of Pageant of the Masters and our extraordinary art exhibit––it is very much a part of what we do here at the Festival of Arts, shine a spotlight on a variety of art forms and that certainly includes music. Music and live music performance also brings an energy and vibrancy to the whole place.” Davis said that the attendance for their concerts is always growing. “This encourages us to continue to bring great music to our patrons. I believe music provides a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy the art show,” Davis concluded. And, unlike Marty McFly in “Back to the Future,” a nod from the Pageant’s theme “The Time Machine,” most of us humans here on earth can’t travel back to the past or into the future. We can, however, live in the present and enjoy what is happening now, like Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters. Just make sure you get there before it ends on Aug. 31. Festival of Arts is open daily until 11:30 p.m., and Pageant of the Masters starts nightly at 8:30 p.m. through Aug. 31, and is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. For more information, visit www.foapom.com or call 800-487-3378.