5 minute read
Jazz Buzz
Christmas Concerts
By Melanie Maxwell
THE WINTER HOLIDAYS are an especially wonderful time for smooth jazz fans. That’s when the stars of smooth jazz transition from outdoor festival stages to indoor venues to capture the coziness of the season in a way that sends most of us over the top bursting with so much holiday spirit that we want to wear silly Christmas sweaters all month long.
San Diegans are lucky that two of the three most popular Christmas tours will be making a stop at the Balboa Theatre again this year: Dave Koz and Friends on Dec. 17, and A Peter White Christmas on Dec. 21. However, Southern Californians will have to trek up north to catch the newest tour on the holiday circuit, Norman Brown’s Joyous Christmas, in Oakland, California. Here are some details on this year’s nationwide tours.
Dave Koz and Friends Christmas tour
ave Koz is spreading holiday cheer over 27 dates in 30 days. The 21st Annual Dave Koz and Friends Christmas tour Dfeatures South African guitarist-vocalist Jonathan Butler (who recently released his latest album, Close To You), keyboardist Keiko Matsui, saxophonist Mindi Abair, and introducing singersongwriter Sheléa. The tour––which began Nov. 23 in Florida, and ends in California on Dec. 23––includes a band comprising Randy Jacobs, guitarist and music director; Brian Simpson on keyboards; Nathaniel Kearney Jr. on bass; and Jay Williams on drums. For tickets or more information on the Dave Koz and Friends Christmas tour, visit www.davekoz.com. Mindi Abair
Photo: Monica Orozco
After taking last year off
to tour with the original Dave Koz ensemble, Peter White is back on the road for the holidays with A Peter White Christmas featuring trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Euge Groove.
The 22-day tour––which started on Nov. 24 in Austin, Texas, finishes in Las Vegas on Dec. 22––also includes a band comprising Stevo Theard on drums and vocals, Ron Reinhardt on keyboards, and Nate Phillips on bass. For tickets and more information on A Peter White Christmas tour, visit www.peterwhite.com.
A Peter White Christmas
Norman Brown’s Joyous Christmas
Euge Groove, Peter White and Rick Braun performing A Peter White Christmas at the Balboa Theatre in San Diego, California, in 2016
Last year, GRAMMY-winning
guitarist-vocalist Norman Brown debuted a Christmas tour. It went so well that he’s doing it again
this year. Norman Brown’s Joyous Christmas, once again, features vocalist/ multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Bobby Caldwell and saxophonist Marion Meadows. Brown’s longtime music director and keyboardist, Gail Jhonson, will lead the band with Traviso Milner on keyboards and vocals, Rob McDonald on bass, and John “LJ” Holifield on drums. Their 14-date, nationwide tour kicked off on Nov. 24 in Las Vegas and is scheduled to end with a four-night stint at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in Seattle on Dec. 23. For tickets and more information on Norman Brown’s Joyous Christmas tour, visit www.normanbrown.com. Marion Meadows
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Rick Braun’s New Year’s Eve Getaway
or nearly a decade, Rick Braun fans have danced their way into a new year with the dynamic trumpeter and a stellar lineup at his New Year’s Eve Getaways. At least those who planned early Fenough to buy tickets before this year’s event at the JW Marriott
Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona, sold out (which they have for the past four years). The two-day Getaway starts on Dec. 30 with a celebrity golf tournament, followed by a “Start the Party Early” concert featuring Peter White at 8 p.m. The “Rat Pack”-themed main event on Dec. 31
Rick Braun
Photo: Lori Stoll begins with a reception, silent auction (which, along with other activities, raises money for families affected by autism) and entertainment. Musical performances, featuring Braun, Boney James, The Sax Pack (Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Jackiem Joyner) and Selina Albright, happen from the time dinner is served through the midnight champagne toast. Tickets for the 2019 Getaway––which is part of Rick Braun’s Signature Events produced by Braun and his business partner, Sandy Riser––will go on sale next spring. For those who would like an international travel experience with Braun, check out Rick Braun’s River Cruise 2020, which sails through Provence from Arles to Lyon, France, with AmaWaterways. As of press time, there were still a couple of cabins available on the week-two sailing, scheduled for August 13-20, 2020 (the week-one 2020 sailing and the 2019 sailing have already sold out). Rick Braun’s New Year’s Eve 2018 Getaway––which also features Randy Jacobs on guitar, Ron Reinhardt on keyboards, Franklin “Third” Richardson on drums, and Nate Phillips on bass––is scheduled for Dec. 30 and 31, at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., in Tucson, Arizona. For more information, visit www.RickBraunNewYearsEve.com (where you can sign up to receive an email alert when 2019 tickets go on sale), or call 520-219-3381. For more information on Rick Braun’s River Cruise Getaways, visit www.rickbraun.com.
ainbow Promotions, in partnership with Payne Pest Management, is bringing back New Year’s Eve smooth jazz style to San Diego. R This two-day event, held at The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, starts Dec. 30 with a “Kickoff Celebration” featuring Eric Darius, Monty Seward and Rebecca Jade. It also includes a silent auction at 6 p.m., and a live auction onstage at 10 p.m.; proceeds from both are slated to benefit The Ol’Loreece Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity that contributes to men’s health issues. (If you’re interested in making a donation for the auction, please call Willie Payne at 858-277-2228.) On Dec. 31, The Champagne Life includes dinner at 7 p.m., followed by concerts featuring Gerald Albright, Nick Colionne and The L.A. Collective, with party favors and a midnight champagne toast. The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel As of press time, tickets were available. The San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival New Year’s Eve Gala is visit www.rainbowpromotions.com, https:// scheduled for Dec. 30 and 31 at The US Grant, a Luxury Collection sdnewyearseveweekend.brownpapertickets.com, Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, California. For tickets or more information, or call 562-424-0013. Gerald Albright
