February-March 2023

Publisher and Managing Editor

Melanie Maxwell

Operations & Distribution Manager

Craig Collier

Copy Editors

JoAnn Armke

Barbara Knox

Brad Sondak

Contributors

Ken Capobianco Cashmira

Marcia Luttrell

Darcy Peters

Graphic Design

Gina Mancini

Contributing Photographers

Cover photos:

Boney James: Describe The Fauna

Brian Culbertson: Daniel Ray

Paul Jackson Jr.: Arnold Turner/ Eclipse Content

JJ Sansaverino: Aaron Rebaza aricthompson.com

Michael Becker

Pat Benter

Arnold Turner/Eclipse Content

Fernanda Kenfield Photography

Cooper Hardwick

Shervin Lainez

Tim Llewellyn

Raj Naik

Paul Perez

Shane Peters

Aaron Rebaza

F. Scott Schafer

Lori Stoll

Smooth Jazz News

5519 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., #134 San Diego, CA 92117

858-541-1919

smoothjazznews@aol.com

www.smoothjazznews.com

We will publish five issues of Smooth Jazz News in 2023: February-March, April-May, June-July, August-September and October-November-December.

The publisher assumes no responsibility for claims or actions of its advertisers. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher, staff or advertisers. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher.

©2023, Smooth Jazz News | All rights reserved

Smooth-Jazz News/123513291125001 @SmoothJazzNews

Warm up your winter with hot concerts, festivals and brunches galore. Check out our calendar, beginning on page 19, for details and more.

8 Notes from the Publisher An insider update on Smooth Jazz News content

9 DISCover New Music

Interesting instruments and stories of a new generation of smooth jazz stars

10 Meet JJ Sansaverino

This New York-based guitarist, with reggae roots, is a rising star on the smooth jazz radio charts and festival stages

12 Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest

The 10-day, countywide extravaganza in Reading, Pennsylvania, features smooth jazz, traditional jazz, R&B, funk, blues, art and education

14 FREE-CD offer

Receive a FREE CD when you renew or subscribe to Smooth Jazz News at the 32nd Annual Boscov’s

16 Paul Jackson Jr.

The in-demand composer, arranger, producer and guitarist for pop, jazz and hip-hop music’s mega stars is revving up his solo career

19 Calendar of smooth jazz events Concerts, festivals and brunches nationwide

25 How they met: The creators of romantic music share their love stories Lynne and Eric Darius ............................

29 Smooth Jazz News merchandise

Cool concert apparel: hoodies, plus hats, fleece jackets, golf shirts, T-shirts and tank tops

30 Book Review

“Feels Like Home: A Song for the Sonoran Borderlands,” by Linda Ronstadt and Lawrence Downes

30 Cashmira’s Starguide Winter horoscopes

new editorial approach spotlights more musicians

ave you ever wondered how we choose which artists and events to feature? It’s evolved over the 23 years I’ve been publishing this niche magazine, but within the last decade we’ve followed a specific formula.

Each edition is focused on a festival or theme: February-March is the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania; April-May, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach, Florida; October, the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival. And, recently, in June, the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival. These are established events that attract large crowds of jazz fans, and also where we have a booth, sell subscriptions (and sometimes merchandise) and distribute nearly half of that current issue’s magazines. We also publish our Annual Jazz Festival and Cruise Guide, as well as the Jazz Concert Series Guide. Then, we choose a marquee act from each festival, preferably one who has released a new CD and also has something newsworthy or of interest to our readers going on. And, that’s our cover story.

I loved it in the early days when we could include five to 10 CD reviews, two or three additional articles with up-and-coming artists or

fan favorites, and nearly every concert series, festival and cruise. In recent years, though, our editorial budgets––which are funded entirely by advertising revenues––simply couldn’t accommodate the expense.

So, we strive for headliners and well-established stars who appeal to the majority of our readers. But we also created our DISCover New Music advertorial package (see page 9 of this issue) for musicians and artists to promote their latest releases and tour dates to our nationwide readership.

Fortunately, post-pandemic advertising increased, affording us the budget to add articles about other artists also performing at the featured festivals we covered in 2021 and 2022.

And, we’re kicking off this year by continuing that trend!

In addition to the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, we’re featuring Paul Jackson Jr., one of the most prolific, in-demand, guitarists on the music scene; and JJ Sansaverino, an established New York-based guitarist, whose multiple radio hits has landed him on major festival stages.

I hope you welcome this change in editorial approach, and that it leads you to discover new artists who expand your list of favorites.

ARTHUR THOMPSON • “SMILE” (SINGLE)

(Arthurized Productions)

Arthur Thompson, drummer for the late Wayman Tisdale, is releasing a new single, “Smile,” on Feb. 1. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native, who now resides in San Diego, California, said he wrote the lyrics to this song while walking through his neighborhood and talking on the phone to someone very special to him.

“I was expressing how I felt about her, and the lyrics were created,” he said. “The music came later in the shower. I ran, soaking wet, to my piano, towel wrapped around me, and picked out the chord structure. It took awhile between mistakes and mishaps with my towel to get enough recorded on my phone to complete ‘Smile.’

“And, I’m honored to feature my dear friend Mindi Abair on this song,” he added.

Thompson also created a video to accompany this release, both of which will be available on Feb. 1, via his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@arthurized64.

In addition to being a drummer, percussionist, singer, songwriter and producer, Thompson is a published author and humanitarian. Deeply moved by the realities at-risk children face, as well as the reduction in music and arts education in schools, Thompson created the Math & Music© curriculum. This program has been taught in Oklahoma, Texas and California schools, and to children in Uganda, Africa, and Nicaragua, as part of the Power of a Nickel medical global outreach. He has also published several children’s books, including a new one coming out this year.

AvAilAble At: all streaming platforms, including iTunes, https://cdbaby.com and https://open.spotify.com

Website: www.arthurthompsondrums.com

KIM SCOTT

• SHINE!

(Innervision Records)

SHINE!, Kim Scott’s fifth album on the Innervision Records label, is a collection of songs that will definitely keep your toes tapping. Notable features include Jonathan Butler, Althea Rene, Ragan Whiteside and Blake Aaron, with songs co-written by Scott and Adam Hawley, Greg Manning, Kelvin Wooten and others.

Catch her live performance at the Sunday Jazz Brunch on March 5, at the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel. See brunch calendar on page 24 for details.

AvAilAble At: www.amazon.com, iTunes, https://music.apple.com, https://cdbaby.com/ and other online retailers

Website: www.kimscottmusic.com

MARIEA ANTOINETTE

• “SO AMAZING” (SINGLE)

(MAH Productions)

Gloriously and sensually making the harp an extremely vibrant and a melodic smooth jazz lead instrument, Mariea Antoinette is now setting our hearts afire with a divine sprinkling of Luther Vandross classic “So Amazing.” Pure joy from start to finish with string melody sweetened with gospel flavored backing vocals. A vA il Able At: iTunes, https://cdbaby.com, www.apple.com/ apple-music/ and all digital platforms

Website: www.marieaantoinette.com

By Ken Capobianco

IT’S

TAKEN NEARLY 30 YEARS

, but New York-based guitarist JJ Sansaverino is finally seeing his dream of success as a solo artist becoming a reality.

Sansaverino has been a staple on the Manhattan jazz club scene and the guitarist for British reggae superstar Maxi Priest throughout this century. Now, thanks to three consecutive musically diverse albums over the last three years and a chart-topping single, Sansaverino is making the smooth jazz community take notice.

His latest album, Soul Energy, which followed hot on the heels of 2021’s Cocktails & Jazz and 2020’s International Groove, is the most accomplished of his five albums. Soul Energy is certain to build on the momentum of his No. 1 Billboard-charting single, “Style and Elegance.”

“A lot of hard work is paying off, and even though there were tough times, and there’s a lot of work to do ahead, I can’t be happier about the way things have turned out. I’m excited about the music, and I can feel people are responding. It’s what you dream about,” Sansaverino said via phone two days before Christmas from his home in Queens, New York, just outside of Manhattan.

The spirited and kinetic Soul Energy is a bit of a departure from the more club and urbane sophisticated vibes of the guitarist-composer’s previous four efforts. The album has a brighter sound with a heavier emphasis on Caribbean rhythms and upbeat tunes.

“When I was looking back at my previous CDs––as basic as the album covers––my first CD was called Sunshine After Midnight, and the picture was taken at midnight in the streets of Manhattan. For my second album, Waiting for You, the cover was taken at nighttime in the streets of Los Angeles, and I realized they were all dark, nightclubby street vibe. My wife makes fun of me because I wear black all the time. I wanted to get away from that and have more of a feeling of the earth, beach and sun.

“Here, I wanted to create music with bright colors. Songs you could play while driving with the top down on the Pacific Coast Highway or here on the beach in Brooklyn or Queens. I used musicians from all

JJ SAN SAV ER I NO

This prolific recording artist leaves his fingerprints on radio airplay charts and in his new fans

hearts

Photo: Tim Llewellyn

over the world instead of the usual smooth jazz cats for this, and it gave the sound a different feel. If the song had a Caribbean or reggae vibe, I wanted musicians who play that so we bring out the true essence of the genre.”

Soul energy is an apt way to describe Sansaverino, who is an engaging and lively conversationalist. He is good humored, humble and genuine. Throughout an engaging extended conversation, he talked on numerous topics, including his love for the New York Yankees, Knicks and Giants, and his experiences as a bartender in two Manhattan bars, where he used to work 80 hours a week during fallow times in his music career.

What stands out on all of Sansaverino’s albums is his distinct, clean and brisk playing with a rich guitar tone. He’s a savvy musician with style and grace. His leads elevate the songs––they are free of gratuitous grandstanding that calls attention to itself.

“My two favorite guitar players are George Benson and Carlos Santana, and the two of them couldn’t play more differently from each other,” he said.

“But they had a huge influence on me. For me, it’s been a constant parallel approach with maybe a rock sound with some blues or fusion or jazz with blues or smooth jazz. Merging two sounds together because you are essentially creating moods.

“A mood of a song might be a little bit more mellow; it doesn’t need a crunchier sound, so it needs something smoother or delicate. I try to get a clean sound that breathes. It depends on the song––I approach them differently. If the music hits harder, you add a little more dirt to it.”

Before becoming a solo artist, Sansaverino worked extensively with artists in the hiphop and reggae communities. He has toured the world with Priest and played with Shaggy and New York hip-hop bands in the 1990s.

“I love reggae, and found myself sitting in with reggae bands in the ’90s and playing with some of the best musicians. I ended up touring with The Meditations, and that led to playing with Freddie McGregor, Junior Reid and Dennis Brown,” he reminisced.

“I started with Maxi Priest and did 22 years on tour with him. We played every corner of the world. To me, it’s the most international music in the world. You could

“ I t’s t he most internati onal music in the world. You could travel anywhere, and if you walk into a cave someplace, there would be a caveman with a club. If you say, ‘Bob Marley,’ he’s going to say, ‘Yeah, ‘mon.’”

travel anywhere, and if you walk into a cave someplace, there would be a caveman with a club. If you say, ‘Bob Marley,’ he’s going to say, ‘Yeah, ‘mon,’” he said, laughing. “The music is loved everywhere.”

The guitarist has music in his Italian American blood. He grew up in New York in a household filled with music and a family of accomplished musicians.

“My grandmother on my mother’s side was an opera singer who studied at Juilliard. And, my grandfather on my father’s side was a well-known singer in New York,” he said. “A lot of my uncles were doo-wop singers. I always heard music in the house.

“You’d have thought I’d have been a singer, but I ended up playing guitar. There was this old, beat-up guitar in the closet. I just started messing around with it, playing along to records and taking a few lessons.”

He took a deep breath after recalling childhood memories. “I realized I wanted to be a musician,” said the honors graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of

Music. “Of course, my parents didn’t think that was a feasible job because all of the doo-wop singers in my family had other jobs like bus driver to support themselves. But I felt like I could make a career out of music.”

And he made good on that promise. He’s been a remarkably prolific recording artist over the past few years, and he tours as often as he can in the vanishing jazz club circuit across the country. The guitarist has also been playing festivals, and will appear at the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in March.

Sansaverino said he is constantly writing and recording. He has two CDs ready to be released––one is a reggae album.

“I had 50 songs to choose from for this CD––some just didn’t fit the soul energy sound I was going for,” he said about his intense productivity. “I’m always writing. I probably have another 50, 60 songs that are nearly finished or completed.

“I told my record company [Innervision Records] that I want to put out a CD every year. I don’t want to put out five songs a

Photo: Aaron Rebaza

3 2ND ANNUAL

Boscov’s Berks Jaz z Fest

READING, PENNSYLVANIA • MARCH 24-APRIL 2

By Melanie Maxwell

Brian Culbertson is kicking off this year’s Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest with his Trilogy Tour, and Boney James is closing it out. Throughout the 10-day run, which begins on March 24 and ends on April 2, a plethora of other headliners will grace the stages of two main venues, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading and the Scottish Rite Cathedral, located within 2 miles of each other. These include Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Peter White, The Manhattan Transfer, Chris Botti, Gerald Albright and more.

Presented by Berks Arts, this 32nd annual event, in Reading, Pennsylvania, located approximately 65 miles north of Philadelphia, features 40-plus major, multi-genre concerts, including smooth jazz, traditional jazz, R&B, funk and blues. The lineup also features four late-night jam sessions hosted by bassist Gerald Veasley; and two brunch performances: Acoustic Alchemy with Jeff Kashiwa on March 26; and Brian Simpson, Jackiem Joyner, Jessy J, Veasley and The Berks Horns on April 2.

Live music and some free events will also fill nearly every corner of town in dozens of establishments, including an opening-day luncheon with performances by The Groovemasters at Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar Restaurant. This local institution, which has peanut shells scattered all over its floors, serves delicious crabcakes, chicken schnitzel, lemon-Parmesan flounder and cheesesteak. Its bar menu includes signature cocktails such as Blueberry Lemontinis and Fiery Mules (Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and Reading Ginger Beer).

“The Fest presents over 50 concerts at local indoor venues, clubs, restaurants, community centers and churches,” said John Ernesto, manager of the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest.

Ernesto partners with Berks Arts Executive Director Justin Heimbecker and his staff—Tish Davis, Gary Spencer and Amanda Ehst—to coordinate the festival’s vision and artistic programming.

Mindi Abair

Vincent Ingala

Peter White

Richard Elliot

Photo: Lori Stoll

Photo: Michael Becker

Photo: Lori Stoll

Photo: Shervin Lainez

This also includes the getJazzed Night RMF Project Penske Jazz Jam, scheduled for March 27, where “Young musicians are invited to participate in a special jam hosted by Mike Eben and artists from the Fest,” Ernesto explained. “This year, Gerald Veasley, Albert Rivera, Andrew Neu, Bobby Lyle and Tony Moore will work with the students and also jam with them,” he added.

GetJazzed is the festival’s official music education program, which, according to its website, is “Dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance and developing new audiences. It provides opportunities for students of all backgrounds to learn, perform, enjoy and become inspired by professional musicians as a centerpiece of the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, paying it forward to future generations.”

That scholastic festival will expand this year. “Plans are underway for activities, including performances, workshops, clinics, master classes, competitions, opportunities for interaction with professionals and much more,” Heimbecker said. “Band directors from local and regional middle schools and high schools will be invited to participate. There’s going to be a place for every type of group, at every level, from beginners to advanced players, in this festival.”

connections and to help Berks County become a more creative, desirable and resilient community, it has definitely expanded beyond its region. Each year, the festival attracts nearly 30,000 visitors from all over the world.

“Fans from 32 states, along with international guests from Canada, the U.K., Holland, Switzerland and Italy come to Reading for Fest,” Ernesto said.

“Our goal is to present a fest that offers our fans an overall positive experience––from unique concerts that they will only get to see at Berks Jazz Fest to opportunities for fans to interact with artists in a friendly, familylike atmosphere,” Ernesto said.

“When people come together to enjoy a concert or an art exhibit or a play,magic happens.Suddenly,the whole gathering is focused on that art, and while everyone in the room experiences it slightly differently, all are reacting together to something beautiful, inspiring, thought-provoking, maybe deeply emotional.”

—Berks Arts

Plus, to complete Berks Arts’ mission “To inspire, engage and unite our community through arts education, collaboration and presentation,” the 19th Annual Frank Scott Memorial Art Show: The Art of Jazz, a juried art exhibit featuring works by local artists, will be on display in the lobby of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, March 24-29.

Although the nonprofit organization’s vision is to support community and economic growth, promote positive change, create more

Some of the “unique concerts” Ernesto refers to include the Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jam featuring Braun, Eric Darius, White, Adam Hawley, Patrick Lamb, Veasley and more; Eric Marienthal & The Jazz Cruises All-Stars with Mindi Abair, Keiko Matsui, Randy Brecker, Larry Braggs, Vincent Ingala and White; “Celebrating the Women in Jazz II” with Regina Belle, Maysa, Jazmin Ghent, Kayla Waters and others; Darius with Eric Roberson and Avery*Sunshine; Albright, Larry Carlton and Paul Brown; the Andrew Neu Big Band with David Benoit, Aubrey Logan and Ilya Serov; and Veasley’s “Unscripted Jams” featuring a variety of ensembles, including Oli Silk, Art Sherrod Jr., JJ Sansaverino, Darren Rahn, Rob DeBoer, Tony Grace, Phillip “Doc” Martin, Hawley, Ghent, Waters and other combinations of musicians.

“Since the Fest started in 1991, our mission has been simple––take care of the artists; take care of the fans; and everything else will take care of itself. That philosophy has served us well for 32 years,” Ernesto concluded.

Photo: ©aricthompson.com

The Manhattan Transfer

Eric Darius

Rick Braun

Photo: ©aricthompson.com

Photo: F. Scott Schafer

Photo: Raj Naik

continued from page 13

When

March 24-April 2

Where

Various venues throughout Berks County, Pennsylvania. Main venues include: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, 701 Penn St., Reading; Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. 7th Ave., W. Reading; and Miller Center for the Arts, Reading Area Community College, 4 N. 2nd St., Reading.

Getting there

Flights are available to the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), approximately 65 miles from Berks County.

Staying there

www.berksjazzfest.com/hotel-information

Tickets and information

Visit www.berksjazzfest.com

Lineup

Below is a partial list of the major concerts. For the complete lineup, visit the festival website. For smooth jazz concert listings, see our calendar section, beginning on page 19.

Friday, March 24

Opening Night Celebration featuring Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour

7 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral

Pieces of a Dream with special guests Bobby Lyle and Carl Cox 9:30 p.m. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom

Saturday, March 25

Gerald Albright, plus Larry Carlton and Paul Brown

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom

The Manhattan Transfer 50th Anniversary & Final World Tour with special guest Diva Jazz Orchestra

1 p.m.

6 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral

Jazz Funk Soul featuring Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp and Paul Jackson Jr., plus Raul Midon

6 p.m. Miller Center for the Arts

Sunday, March 26

The Andrew Neu Big Band with David Benoit and Aubrey Logan, and introducing Ilya Serov

3 p.m. Miller Center for the Arts

An Evening With Chris Botti

6 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral

Thursday, March 30

The Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jam featuring Rick Braun, Eric Darius, Peter White, Gerald Veasley, Patrick Lamb, Adam Hawley, Karen Briggs, Curtis McCain, Chris “Big Dog” Davis, Will Donato, Eric Valentine, Ron Reinhardt, Nate Phillips, Gerey Johnson, and special performance by Regina Belle

7 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom

Friday, March 31

RnR featuring Rick Braun and Richard Elliot with special guest Peter White

6 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral

Eric Darius and Eric Roberson with special guest

Avery*Sunshine ...............................................................................

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom

Saturday, April 1

9:30 p.m.

Celebrating the Women in Jazz II presented by Chris “Big Dog” Davis, featuring Regina Belle, Avery*Sunshine, Maysa, Lori Williams, Karen Briggs, Kayla Waters and Jazmin Ghent..................................

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom

1 p.m.

when

you renew or subscribe to Smooth Jazz News at our booth during the

Eric Marienthal & The Jazz Cruises All-Stars featuring Peter White, Keiko Matsui, Mindi Abair, Randy Brecker, Larry Braggs and Vincent Ingala

6 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral

Adam Hawley’s West Coast Groove featuring Marcus Anderson, Darren Rahn, Greg Manning, Rebecca Jade, Darryl Williams, Tony Moore and Curtis McCain

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom

Sunday, April 2

Boney James

9:30 p.m.

SMooth Jazz News

March

continued from page 11 year––I’m thinking let’s put out 50, so I met the record company in the middle. The records you put out are your fingerprint––what you leave behind. I’m in my mid-50s, and I want to put out as much music as possible while I can.”

Even though his career is on the rise, the guitarist still bartends on and off in Manhattan to keep his connection to friends. He also makes sure to maintain quality family time with his wife, Sharon, and their two children.

“I think I might be OCD at times,” he laughed. “I’m trying to get everything done, but I’ve been with my wife 27 years now, and our oldest daughter is 26. She has her own place in Queens, and my youngest daughter is 22, and at home, as she’s about to finish up college.

“I’m lucky because they always come to my shows. When they were younger, I’d come off the road and shut my cellphone off and say, ‘What do you want to do? You want me to cook or do you want to go out or watch a movie?’ I wanted to be present. We have an amazing, tight family that means everything to me.”

While his life might change as more success comes his way, Sansaverino maintains his balance. He’s powered through difficult times and understands that life’s seesaw is often hard to navigate.

“The word faith only has five letters, but it has a tremendous amount of meaning,” he said, pensively. “Life has peaks and valleys. One day, things go wrong. And, then I can have a Billboard hit. So, there’s a whole lot of sway between the peaks and valleys.

“When you have faith, if you are in the valley, you know you are going to climb the next peak. And when you do, they could be different heights, but they are still peaks.

“You know you are going to come down again, but you have to know it’s temporary. It’s part of life. I have faith––and I’m very grateful. We woke up today. A lot of people didn’t. I have 10 fingers and toes, food on the table, my health, my family and a career. I’m so blessed. Everything I ever dreamed of. When you have that, you are beyond grateful.”

For more information on Sansaverino, including his complete tour schedule, visit www.jjsansaverino.com.

March 24

Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest (as special guest of Four80East and with Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jam)

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading

Reading, Pennsylvania

www.berksjazzfest.com

March 25

Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest (with Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jam)

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading

Reading, Pennsylvania

www.berksjazzfest.com

July 29

Marcus Anderson’s Jazz AND Coffee Escape

North Carolina Central University

Durham, North Carolina

https://jazzandcoffee-escape.net/

The sustained melody that is the storied career of

PAU JAC K SON JR.

By Ken Capobianco

Career longevity is a rare commodity in the music business

.

Too often, talented musicians succumb to burnout, self-destruction or descent into irrelevancy. Guitarist-composer Paul Jackson Jr. has defied the odds and flourished for more than 40 years in various musical genres as a go-to session player, touring sideman, songwriter, producer and solo artist with an 11-album canon.

He currently plays in the jazz group Jazz Funk Soul with his friends, keyboardist Jeff Lorber and saxophonist Everette Harp, and recently released a fine, spirited EP, Stompin’ Willie Presents More Stories, Part 1, featuring Jackson’s lyrical guitar playing and stellar compositions.

Photo: Arnold Turner/Eclipse Content

While Jackson has toured and recorded with a who’s who of the pop and jazz world, including Michael Jackson, George Duke, Celine Dion, Daft Punk and Patrice Rushen, among dozens of other superstars, he’s sustained his career as a solo artist with versatile, memorable records and galvanizing festival appearances around the globe. His success is a testament to great talent and perseverance.

“It’s the grace of God that allows me the musical opportunities and gifts, but there’s always something to work on and learn,” the affable Jackson said about his longevity. “Music is something you will never master, so if you keep that in mind, you are always going to be trying new and different things. It’s always important to try a different sound or approach. Those are the things that allow me to keep working. It’s important not to spin your wheels. My longevity can be attributed to all of this. You have to keep moving forward.”

And push ahead he does with Stompin’ Willie Presents More Stories, Part 1, which continues in the vein of his previous bestselling album, 2016’s Stories From Stompin’ Willie. He gets funky with a jazzy spin on Faith Evans’ dance hit “Love Like This,” and seductively romantic on “Quiet Time Love,” while showcasing his patented, dexterous fretwork on the breezy “City of Refuge.” The five-song EP is a precursor to the series’ next installment, “Part 2,” which is scheduled for release in February. As always with Jackson, the music is multidimensional and evocative.

“People like groove and rhythm, but the thing people always remember is melody,” said the 62-year-old musician from his home in Los Angeles. “For me that’s always the most important thing, and that’s the emphasis you will hear on these songs. My goal is to come up with melodies that will stick with people.”

On the EP, Jackson continues to use his playful alter-ego moniker Stompin’ Willie, a nickname that appeared on his previous record but was given to him by his musical and life mentor George Duke many years ago.

“George had nicknames for everyone, so one day I walked in, and he started calling me PJ, and then he called me PJ Wiggles,” he said. “He had a song called ‘Wiggles,’ so he made the association. The nickname turned into PJ Wiggles Stomp. That transformed into Stompin’ Willie, and from that point on, that was what he called me. I use it because he was my mentor, my friend and a great encourager who meant so much to me.”

The release of a series of EPs (An “Extended Play” is longer than a single but shorter than an album. It typically features two to five songs and is under 30 minutes in length.) is a strategy that many jazz and pop artists have adopted over the past decade as a way to adapt to new technology and seismic shifts in the music industry. Jackson predicts that if his EPs are well received, he will probably go into the studio and record a full-length project.

For veteran artists, it’s often difficult to sell records or get streams for new music, and with people having less free time and

shorter attention spans, focusing more on songs and EPs is a smart way to market songs.

It’s a lesson Jackson has learned well. “Twenty years ago, you had one way of getting your music to the public,” he said. “You had to sign to a major or major independent record label, and they would produce the product and make sure it was in retail or record stores and then you would get airplay on radio stations. Well, there are no more record stores and radio is now almost nonexistent. The landscape has drastically changed, but social media has progressed to where you can get your product to just about anyone for virtually free. Things change, and you better adapt.”

Jackson will be playing an array of solo shows over the course of the next year as well as appearing with Jazz Funk Soul at major jazz festivals, including the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in March and the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in April.

He maintained that he gets a charge from playing more intimate club or theater solo shows while also enjoying the festival experience with its more laid-back ambiance and convergence of so many of his performing peers and friends.

“The key thing about festivals is you get to play for a lot of people at once and receive great exposure,” he said. “It’s so important for any artist to have that kind of reach. You also get to see friends, some of whom you haven’t seen in awhile, so they are usually joyous events.

“I recently played a festival with Gerald Albright. Gerald is someone I’ve known since I was 15 years old. We grew up in the continued on page 18

“Music is something you will never master, so if you keep that in mind, you are always going to be trying new and different things. It’s always important to try a different sound or approach.”

Paul Jackson Jr. with Art Good during the 2022 Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

Jackson performing at Descanso Beach during the festival

continued from page 17

same area [in Los Angeles] about 10-15 minutes away. So did his wife, Glynis. He’s a buddy from way back, and we toured together with Patrice Rushen for years. It’s a joy to see him and other musicians I’ve known throughout the course of my musical journey.”

After two albums and numerous live dates, Jazz Funk Soul continues to delight fans, and Jackson maintained that he, Lorber and Harp will continue to play together if there is still a demand for their sound.

“As long as people keep loving the music and showing interest, we’re going to keep going. In today’s vernacular, we’re going to

rock it until the wheels come off. We have a lot of fun together and great camaraderie, so why not continue?

“What makes a group like ours work is relationships. I’ve known Everette for a lot of years—we worked a lot together with George [Duke]. Jeff is someone I’ve known for 30 years. Jeff and Everette are two of the finest musicians with whom I’ve ever worked. It’s a blast being with my friends and such fine musicians.”

Jackson has worked on film soundtracks throughout his career (“Zootopia,” “Sing,” “Get on Up” and “La La Land,” among dozens of others), and he has performed at the Grammy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Academy Awards. His upcoming appearance at the Oscars in March will be his fourth.

Of all of his numerous performances at special ceremonies and awards shows, he cited his visit to the White House during former President Barack Obama’s administration as one of the most memorable gigs he’s played.

“I appeared with my friend Rickey Minor. The White House is the pinnacle of locations. Meeting the president and first lady was something I’ll never forget. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

He also noted a special concert appearance he made as a highlight of his storied career. “Another memorable event was playing with Whitney Houston in South Africa in front of 100,000 people in a soccer stadium. That’s something that’s hard to put into words. It was breathtaking.”

A multifaceted and deeply spiritual man, Jackson is a muscle car and motorcycle enthusiast when he’s not playing music. It’s not a need for speed that inspires him.

“I’d say it’s an affinity for the way cars were when I was growing up,” he said. “I like new cars, but the old cars were simpler and easier to fix. I like the way they are built, and in a way, overbuilt. I got into it by watching my dad. He had a 1937 LaSalle that I restored. That gave me the bug for cars.”

The musician spoke fondly about his father, mother and childhood. “My father was a great, great man––he was an electrical engineer at Northrop Grumman for years.

“Both he and my mother were very supportive of me and my career. I had a great upbringing in South Central Los Angeles. Going into music is more of an intangible than becoming a doctor, lawyer or CEO of a company, but they backed me, and bought instruments for me and my brother and sisters, so you can’t ask for more.”

The love and support he received from them and his wife, Michaela, have informed how he has approached fatherhood and family. “Right now, my children are 30 and 34, but when they were younger, I made sure to be home for school programs or sporting events or help do homework.

“Even though you are a working musician who travels, you have to set your priorities, and my family is a priority for me. I took things that allowed me to work and stay home, instead of going on the road, so I could be there for graduations and other major events. That’s so important.”

For more information on Jackson, including his complete tour schedule, visit www.pauljacksonjr.com.

On Tour

(with Jazz Funk Soul featuring Jeff Lorber and Everette Harp)

FEBRUARY

2

The Dave Koz Cruise House Band featuring Rebecca Jade & Ken Turner, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

5

Spencer Day, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

6

Music Monday featuring Ray Fuller, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining

CONCERTS, FESTIVALS AND CRUISES

& Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

8

Justin-Lee Schultz & The JLS Experience Birthday Bash, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

9

DW3, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

10

Erin Stevenson, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment,

3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

12

Althea Rene, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

16

Mindi Abair Wine & Jazz Tour, 7:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

17

Gerald Albright, 7 & 10pm, Soiled Dove Underground, 7401

E. 1st Ave., Denver, Colorado, www.soileddove.com, 303-830-9214

Mindi Abair Wine & Jazz Tour, 7:30 & 9:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

18

Gerald Albright, 7 & 10pm, Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1st Ave., Denver, Colorado, www.soileddove.com, 303-830-9214

Grooves Jazz at The Westin presents Peter White & special guests TBA, 7pm, The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa, Westin Grooves Backyard, 71333 Dinah Shore Dr., Rancho Mirage, California, https://groovesatthewestin.com, 951-696-0184

continued on page 20

continued from page 19

NILS, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

Mindi Abair Wine & Jazz Tour, 7:30 & 9:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

19

Mindi Abair Wine & Jazz Tour, 7:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

20

Music Monday featuring Jeff Lorber Fusion, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

23

The Dave Koz Cruise House Band featuring Rebecca Jade & Ken Turner, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

Dotsero, 8pm, Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1st Ave., Denver, Colorado, www.soileddove.com, 303-830-9214

Jeff Kashiwa, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

26

Gregg Karukas featuring Michael Paulo, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

28

Bob James Quartet, 7:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

MARCH

1

Bob James Quartet, 7:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

2

Marcus Anderson, 7:30pm, St. James Live, 3220 Butner Road, Atlanta, Georgia, www.stjamesliveatl.com

The Dave Koz Cruise House Band featuring Rebecca Jade & Ken Turner, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

3

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra, 7 & 10pm, Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1st Ave., Denver, Colorado, www.soileddove.com, 303-830-9214

4

Greg Adams & East Bay Soul, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

6

Music Monday featuring Poncho Sanchez, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

10

Erin Stevenson, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

11

Acoustic Alchemy, 8pm, Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1st Ave., Denver, Colorado, www.soileddove.com, 303-830-9214

An Evening with Marcus Anderson, Julian Vaughn & Lin Rountree, 8pm, John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, 501 Crescent St., New Haven, Connecticut, https:// lymancenter.org, 203-392-6154

Grooves Jazz at The Westin presents The Mighty Music All-Stars featuring Brian Simpson, Steve Oliver & Jackiem Joyner, 7pm, The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa, Westin Grooves Backyard, 71333 Dinah Shore Dr., Rancho Mirage, California, https://groovesatthe westin.com, 951-696-0184

Chris Standring, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach,

California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

16

Daytona Jazz Weekend hosted by Mindi Abair, featuring Abair, Peter White, Eric Darius, Keiko Matsui, Paul Taylor, Vincent Ingala, Brian Simpson, Tom Braxton, Jazmin Ghent, Rebecca Jade, Ilya Serov & Randy Jacobs, 7pm, The Daytona Hotel, 1870 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach, Florida, https:// floridasmoothjazz.com, 386-681-7007

17

Daytona Jazz Weekend hosted by Mindi Abair, featuring Abair, Peter White, Eric Darius, Keiko Matsui, Paul Taylor, Vincent Ingala, Brian Simpson, Tom Braxton, Jazmin Ghent, Rebecca Jade, Ilya Serov & Randy Jacobs, 7pm, The Daytona Hotel, 1870 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach, Florida, https://floridasmoothjazz.com, 386-681-7007

18

Daytona Jazz Weekend featuring Mindi Abair & Peter White unplugged on the porch at the Speedway International Speedway, Rolex 24 Lounge, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida, https://floridasmoothjazz.com, 386-681-7007

Daytona Jazz Weekend hosted by Mindi Abair, featuring Abair, Peter White, Eric Darius, Keiko Matsui, Paul Taylor, Vincent Ingala, Brian Simpson, Tom Braxton, Jazmin Ghent, Rebecca Jade, Ilya Serov & Randy Jacobs tasting event with Mindi Abair & Eric Guerra begins at 4pm, The Daytona Hotel, 1870 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach, Florida, https://floridasmoothjazz.com, 386-681-7007

22

Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour, 7:30pm, The VETS/Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Avenue

continued on page 22

continued from page 21

of the Arts, Providence, Rhode Island, www.brianculbertson.com, 401-421-2787

23

Gerald Albright, 7:30pm, The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Virginia, www.birchmere.com, 703-549-7500

Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour, 7:30pm, The National, 708 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia, www. brianculbertson.com, 804-612-1900

DW3, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

24

AZ Jazz Fest featuring Anthony Hamilton, Eric Darius & Rebecca Jade, LeVelle, Vincent Ingala, gates open at 3pm, music starts at 4pm, 5415 E. High St., Phoenix, Arizona, https://azjazzfest.com/, 602-244-8444

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Four80East with

special guests JJ Sansaverino & Art Sherrod Jr., 7pm; Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jam #1 with Rob DeBoer, Tony Grace, JJ Sansaverino, Art Sherrod Jr., Ilya Serov, Brittany Atterberry, Andrew Neu, Curtis McCain, Donald Robinson, Richard Waller & more, 11:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, small ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Pieces of a Dream with special guests Bobby Lyle & Carl Cox, 9:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Michael Lington featuring Javier Colon, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Opening Night Celebration featuring Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour, 7pm, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. 7th Ave., W. Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour, 8pm, The Cabot, 286 Cabot St., Beverly, Massachusetts, www.brianculbertson.com, 978-927-3100

AZ Jazz Fest featuring Morris Day & The Time; Jonathan Butler; Michael Lington & Wendy Moten; Julian Vaughn, Marcus Anderson & Adam Hawley; Chieli Minucci, Elliot Yamin, Eric Marienthal, Lao Tizer, Karen Briggs & Jeff Bradshaw, gates open at 11am, music starts at noon, 5415 E. High St., Phoenix, Arizona, https://azjazzfest.com/, 602-244-8444

Grooves Jazz at The Westin presents Rick Braun & special guests TBA, 7pm, The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa, Westin Grooves Backyard, 71333 Dinah Shore Dr., Rancho Mirage, California, https:// groovesatthewestin.com, 951-696-0184

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Gerald Albright, Larry Carlton & Paul Brown, 1pm; Stanley Clarke *N* 4EVER, 9:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Oli Silk & Phillip “Doc” Martin, 4:30pm; Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jam #2 with Rob DeBoer, Tony Grace, JJ Sansaverino, Art Sherrod Jr., Ilya Serov, Brittany Atterberry, Andrew Neu, Curtis McCain, Donald Robinson, Richard Waller & more, 11:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, small ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Jazz Funk Soul with Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber, Paul Jackson Jr., plus Raul Midón; 6pm, Miller Center for the Arts, Reading Area Community College, 4 N. 2nd St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Javier Colon, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring The Manhattan Transfer 50th Anniversary & Final World Tour with special guest Diva Jazz Orchestra, 6pm,

Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. 7th Ave., W. Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

26

Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour, 7pm, Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo, New York, www.brianculbertson.com, 716-885-5000

AZ Jazz Fest featuring Musiq Soulchild; Stephanie Mills; RnR with Richard Elliot & Rick Braun; Sheila E.; Brian Simpson, Kim Waters & Maysa; Euge Groove, gates open at 11am, music starts at noon, 5415 E. High St., Phoenix, Arizona, https:// azjazzfest.com/, 602-244-8444

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring the Andrew Neu Big Band with David Benoit, Aubrey Logan & introducing Ilya Serov, 3pm, Miller Center for the Arts, Reading Area Community College, 4 N. 2nd St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Rebecca Jade featuring Javier Colon, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring An Evening With Chris Botti, 6pm, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. 7th Ave., W. Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest presents getJazzed Night RMF Project Penske Jazz Jam, hosted by Mike Eben, with artist clinicians Gerald Veasley, Aubrey Logan, Andrew Neu, Albert Rivera & Tony Moore, 7pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, small ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Music Monday featuring DW3 & special guests, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour 7:30pm, The Egg, Center for the Performing Arts, Empire State Plaza, 100 S. Mall Arterial, Albany, New York, www.brianculbertson.com, 518-473-1845

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest presents the Chuck Loeb Memorial All-Star Jam featuring Rick Braun, Eric Darius, Peter White, Gerald Veasley, Patrick Lamb, Adam Hawley, Karen Briggs, Curtis McCain, Chris “Big Dog” Davis, Will Donato, Eric Valentine, Ron Reinhardt, Nate Phillips, Gerey Johnson, Tony Moore, Ray Fuller & special performance by Regina Belle, 7pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest presents a free community concert featuring the U.S. Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble with special guests Randy Brecker, Eric Marienthal & the Berks High School All-Star Jazz Band, 7pm, Miller Center for the Arts, Reading Area Community College, 4 N. 2nd St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

DW3, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

Jonathan Butler, 7:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

Patrick Lamb & Brian Simpson, 8pm, Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis, Maryland, www. ramsheadonstage.com, 410-268-4545

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Greg Manning & Jeff Ryan, 3pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, small ballroom; Eric Darius & Eric Roberson with special guest Avery*Sunshine, 9:30pm, Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour, 7:30pm, The Bushnell, Maxwell M. & Ruth Belding Theater, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Connecticut, www.brianculbertson.com, 860-987-5900

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jam #3 with Andrew Neu, Will Donato, Will Prince, Jazmin Ghent, Kayla Waters, Karen Briggs, Patrick Lamb,

continued on page 24

continued from page 23

Adam Hawley, Darren Rahn, Greg Manning, Jeff Ryan, Curtis McCain, Donald Robinson, Richard Waller & more, 11:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, small ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Jonathan Butler, 7:30 & 9:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

Brian Culbertson: The Trilogy Tour, 8pm, Shea Center for Performing Arts, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, New Jersey, www.brianculbertson.com, 973-720-2371

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest presents RnR featuring Rick Braun & Richard Elliot with special guest Peter White, 6pm, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. 7th

FEBRUAR Y- MARCH

Jazz BruNches

FEBRUARY

5

Spaghettini’s Legendary Brunch with performances in the lounge by Erin Stevenson, 11am, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

26

Spaghettini’s Legendary Brunch with performances in the lounge featuring The Dave Koz Cruise House Band with Rebecca Jade & Ken Turner, 11am, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

Ave., W. Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

APRIL

1

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, Celebrating the Women in Jazz II presented by Chris “Big Dog” Davis, featuring Regina Belle, Avery*Sunshine, Maysa, Lori Williams, Karen Briggs, Kayla Waters & Jazmin Ghent, 1pm; Adam Hawley’s West Coast Groove featuring Marcus Anderson, Darren Rahn, Greg Manning, Rebecca Jade, Darryl Williams, Tony Moore & Curtis McCain, 9:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Will Donato with

host Al “DJ Act” Taylor, 3:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Cheers Lounge, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest featuring Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jam #4 with Andrew Neu, Will Donato, Will Prince, Jazmin Ghent, Kayla Waters, Karen Briggs, Patrick Lamb, Adam Hawley, Darren Rahn, Greg Manning, Jeff Ryan, Curtis McCain, Donald Robinson, Richard Waller & more, 11:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, small ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest presents Eric Marienthal & The Jazz Cruises All-Stars featuring Peter White, Keiko Matsui, Mindi Abair, Randy Brecker, Larry Braggs & Vincent Ingala, 6pm, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. 7th

Ave., W. Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

2

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Finale featuring Boney James, 4pm, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 310 S. 7th Ave., W. Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

NOTE: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of the listings contained in this calendar, events may be postponed or canceled without notice. Artists, events, venues, dates and show times are all subject to change without notice. Smooth Jazz News is not responsible for any cancellations, changes or the accuracy of any concert, festival, cruise or brunch information contained in advertisements and/or editorial published in this magazine, which has been provided by outside courses. Please confirm all information with the organizer directly before making any plans.

MARCH

5

Mood Setters Production presents Sunday Jazz Brunch featuring flutist Kim Scott, doors open at 1pm, show starts at 2pm, Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, 9620 Airport Blvd., Los Angeles, California, www.eventbrite. com/e/sunday-jazz-brunchmar5th-tickets-487085053507. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Mood-SettersProduction-112634893547718, or call 310-661-0575

12

Spaghettini’s Legendary Brunch with performances in the lounge

by DW3, 11am, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

19

Daytona Jazz Weekend Sunday Brunch & artist Q&A panel, 10am, The Daytona Hotel, 1870 Victory Circle, Daytona Beach, Florida, https://floridasmoothjazz.com, 386-681-7007

26

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Sunday Jazz Brunch hosted by Michael Tozzi, featuring Acoustic Alchemy with special guest Jeff Kashiwa, brunch, 10:30am; show, noon, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

Reading, Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

Spaghettini’s Legendary Brunch with performances in the lounge by DW3, 11am, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

APRIL

2

32nd Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Sunday Jazz Brunch hosted by Michael Tozzi, featuring Brian Simpson, Gerald Veasley, Jackiem Joyner, Jessy J & The Berks Horns; brunch, 10:30am; show, noon, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn St., Reading, Pennsylvania, www.berksjazzfest.com

NOTE: Spaghettini offers weekly Sunday Brunches with performances in its lounge. As of press time, lounge seating was still available for the brunch dates and shows in this calendar (all others have sold-out). However, seating in the restaurant’s dining rooms is often available. Please check directly with Spaghettini for brunch reservations at 562-596-2199, or visit www.spaghettini.com.

Photo: Cooper Hardwick

ERIC AND LYNNE DARIUS

“ I had two rules at the time. Don’t date an athlete or a musician. I wasn’t interested. It was because of the stereotypes. But Eric won me over. ”

— Lynne Darius

Eric and Lynne met 15 years ago at the outdoor Scottsdale Jazz Fest in Arizona, when Eric played saxophone as a solo artist along with a variety of other performers. Lynne attended the concert with family members. When Eric spotted Lynne, he knew that she was “the one.”

But, finding her involved a search party and a lot of convincing.

“When Eric came onstage, he lit the place on fire,” Lynne remembered.

“Everybody was up and dancing, and it was a huge party. I was like, ‘Wow, this is cool.’ I said to my cousin, ‘I don’t know who that guy is but I need to support him.’ That’s when I went down to buy his CD.”

continued on page 26

ROMANC E F LOURISHES in the realm of smooth jazz

By Marcia Luttrell

Smooth jazz can create a romantic ambiance, not only for the fans, but for the artists performing it as well. We spoke with saxophonists Eric Darius and Jeff Kashiwa, and guitarist Adam Hawley, to find out how they fell in love with their wives.

When these three couples first met each other, they experienced a strong, physical attraction. There was the enchantment of an engaging smile. There were long, intimate conversations and the discovery of similar points of view.

They also share a common love of smooth jazz music, a magnetic power that united them from the beginning. It remains an anchoring force, even after years of marriage.

Kat and Adam Hawley

Jeff and Chaunté Kashiwa

Photo: Paul Perez

Lynne and Eric Darius at their wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Lynne and Eric Darius

Photo: Shane Peters

Photo: Fernanda Kenfield Photography

continued from page 25

After his performance, Eric had to autograph albums and participate in a meet-and-greet event with fans.

“I saw her standing from a distance and I was completely drawn to her,” Eric said. “There was an energy about her. I was mesmerized. I thought, ‘I just have to know who this woman is.’”

After Eric signed Lynne’s CD, she returned to sit with her family. When Eric looked up from the signing table, she had vanished.

The festival was thick with throngs of music lovers.

At the time, Eric’s father, Serge Darius, was his manager and an advocate of resisting romantic entanglements during a tour. There was also a family friend at the concert, and Eric saw that she had spoken briefly to Lynne while in line to purchase the CD.

Eric asked both of them to go out and find Lynne so he could speak with her backstage. It was Arizona

“We met up for drinks, and we hit it off,” Eric said. “When we started to have conversation, her accent got me. She’s from Zimbabwe. It took my breath away. As we were conversing, there were so many similarities. We had the same outlooks on life, and she is a beautiful person, inside and out. She had all the qualities I could have dreamed of in one person.”

The relationship was challenging at first because Eric was living in Florida, and Lynne resided in Arizona.

“I didn’t know him at all before we dated,” Lynne explained. “He’s a very old soul. I also learned through the dating process how persistent he is. He’s a very persistent man in his career. And when we were living on opposite coasts, the more I tried to shoot down the relationship, the more persistent he became.”

When Eric decided to propose, he set up a romantic scenario at the Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, California. The owner, Bill Wilson, would request the couple to tour the winery so a photographer could take publicity pictures for a magazine. The “tour” would lead to a barrel room that was set up for popping the question––Champagne, flickering candlelight and beautiful floral arrangements. After making elaborate preparations, Eric called Lynne to invite her to fly to California so they could lunch at the winery. She turned him down. She had fallen and sprained her leg.

“I said, no, I don’t want to be hobbling around everywhere,” Lynne recalled. “He said he would push me in a wheelchair if he had to. We did a video call and the look on his face … it broke my heart. So, I said, ‘OK, I’ll come.’”

Lynne flew to Los Angeles, and the couple drove to Temecula, where Eric proposed as planned.

“She did say, ‘Yes,’” Eric said. “She moved to Los Angeles, which is where we live now. The cool thing is that our cultures are similar. My dad is from Haiti, and my mom is from Jamaica. Our values are rooted in the same place. As we started spending more time together, even when cooking, the things we liked were the same. It has always been interesting, that dynamic.”

The couple married five years ago at a luxe resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. “The whole day was just so amazing,” Lynne said. “It was a perfect, brilliant day.”

Though the newlyweds planned to spend time in Mexico, Eric got a call to perform in Barbados, so they honeymooned there instead.

hot and starting to sprinkle, but to Eric’s surprise, his dad and his friend agreed to search the audience.

Lynne was eventually spotted, sitting with her family. However, she was resistant to the idea of going backstage.

“I had two rules at the time,” she said. “Don’t date an athlete or a musician. I wasn’t interested. It was because of the stereotypes. But Eric won me over.”

Trying to have a conversation backstage was a problem. Though it was loud and fans kept interrupting, Lynne agreed to a date the following day.

“The beautiful thing is, she supports me in every single thing I do,” Eric said.

“She is my tour manager and travels with me everywhere I go, and she helps me run SagiDarius Music, my independent record label. We have a great bond. She’s my life partner; we are teammates, and we get along. With each year, our relationship strengthens.”

Eric Darius is scheduled to perform at the Daytona Jazz Weekend in Florida, March 16-19 (https://floridasmoothjazz.com); the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania, March 31; and Brian Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway in St. Helena, California, June 7-11. For more information on Darius, including his complete tour schedule, visit www.ericdarius.com.

“We have a great bond. She’s my life partner; we are teammates, and we get along. With each year, our relationship strengthens.”

— Eric Darius

Lynne and Eric Darius relaxing poolside after their wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

ADAM AND KAT HAWLEY

“ We got on right away ... chatting on the phone all of the time. ” — Adam Hawley But their first attempts at dating were sidelined.

When Adam and Kat Hawley met at church, their budding relationship was both a romantic and religious experience.

Adam was working toward earning his doctorate in music, and he played guitar at New Beginning Christian Fellowship Church in Los Angeles County, California. Kat, a vocalist in high school and a competitive dancer, joined the church shortly after Adam.

Kat noticed that Adam was incredibly talented and attractive.

“It was his eyes, his smile and his kindness,” she recalled. “I had no idea that it would lead to where we are today. I couldn’t have foreseen that.”

The couple started working together musically, and over time, Adam accepted the position of musical director and Kat became a worship leader.

“She was very beautiful and easy to talk to, with a great smile,” Adam said. “We got on right away. We went from there, chatting on the phone all of the time.”

As they got to know each other, Kat and Adam sought to meet outside of church. But their first attempts at dating were sidelined.

“She had a dance concert, and I went to the wrong location,” Adam said. “I had a guitar concert, and got there an hour and 50 minutes late. I saw her very last number, and I felt bad. I missed pretty much her whole concert, so I said, ‘Do you want to hang out?’ We went to, of all places, Denny’s. Breakfast for dinner.”

Kat remembered their first “official” date differently. She lived in Chino, California, and Adam had to drive from Irvine. On the way, his car broke down.

“I think it was a Sunday,” Kat said. “My mom and grandmother had to find a car rental company that would get him a car and a towing company. Adam was under 25, so no one would rent a car to him. It was like this janky, shady rental car place by Ontario airport. We had to put all of Adam’s stuff in the rental car, and then we said, ‘OK, see you later.’ I thought, this guy is never going to want to talk to me again after all this trouble. But he said, ‘Wait. Aren’t we still going to the movies?’ So, we ended up going to the movies, and we had Mexican food beforehand. I think we had Cold Stone after.”

The couple were in college when Adam proposed, and it was completely unexpected.

“He came in through the door and said, ‘I have to show you something,’” Kat said. “At first, he asked me, ‘Am I supposed to get down on one knee?’”

“I said, ‘Why are you asking me?’ He told me to turn around, and he had set up a camera. He was recording it. It was one of those instances where my hair was a mess. I said, ‘Why would you record when I look like this?’ They say our significant others think we look our best when we think we look awful. It was super surprising and intimate. It was just the two of us.”

In 2008, Kat and Adam married on a yacht in Newport Beach, California, and honeymooned in Mexico. Adam left immediately afterward to tour Europe with The Manhattan Transfer.

Due to busy schedules and child-raising (they have a 14-year-old son), performing together is usually done professionally rather than for enjoyment.

“When I started doing my concerts, she initially did one song, and I thought it went really well,” Adam said. “Now she’s a huge part of my show. That happened organically over time.”

The Hawley family (left to right: Adam Jr., Kat and Adam) on Secret Island Beach in Oahu, Hawaii

Photos: Fernanda Kenfield Photography

continued from page 27

Kat added that when it’s just the two of them, with guitar and vocals, they connect and “get lost in the music together.”

“One of our favorite songs that we used to perform a lot, before we were even married, is ‘Falling in Love With Jesus.’”

Adam appreciates that, in addition to being a sounding board for his musical career, Kat also is a licensed makeup artist and hairstylist.

“She makes sure I look good,” he said. “Early in my career, I was on the road a lot, and she would be at home. Now, it has been nice

JEFF AND CHAUNTÉ KASHIWA

During a performance on Catalina Island with The Rippingtons, Jeff Kashiwa said to the keyboard player, “ There she is! ” He said, ‘ Who? ’ I said, ‘ My wife! ’”

— Jeff Kashiwa

Jeff and Chaunté found each other at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival on Oct. 8, 1989, when Jeff was a saxophonist for The Rippingtons. Chaunté had saved to purchase tickets to the concert. She sat in the third row from the stage. When they saw each other, they felt an immediate chemistry.

There was just one problem. Chaunté was in the final stages of a divorce.

“The last thing I wanted to do was meet a man,” Chaunté said. “How we met was so magical. But I thought my man-picker was broken.”

Jeff, however, was enthusiastic and confident about life. He’d just scored a regular gig with The Rippingtons, and 1989 was turning out to be a wonderful year. He was approaching the age of 30 and hoping to find a life partner. When he walked across the stage and saw Chaunté, it was “just like in the movies.”

“It was really electric,” he said excitedly.

“During a rocking tune, it was the ‘Dream of the Sirens,’ I went over to Mark Portmann, the keyboard player for The Rippingtons, and said, ‘There she is!’ He said, ‘Who?’ I said, ‘My wife!’ He started laughing. I made a beeline towards her, right after we played. I asked her if she wanted to hang out, and she didn’t blow me off, but she said, ‘No. I can’t. I’m here to see Acoustic Alchemy.’”

Jeff was undaunted. After the show, he and the road manager met Chaunté and her friend at Luau Larry’s, a popular island bar.

“The four of us went out, and we had so much fun, just talking about life and funny movies. It’s really true, we had a fascinating conversation that night that has never ended. We talked about everything. There was a lot of joking around. It was very romantic.”

to see the world together and to go from city to city. We take our son as well when he’s not in school. It has been great to grow together that way and to go forward musically together.”

Adam Hawley is scheduled to perform at the AZ Fest in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 25 (https://azjazzfest.com/); and the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania, March 30-April 1 (www.berksjazzfest.com). For more information on Hawley, including his complete tour schedule, visit https://adamhawley.com.

Chaunté found it strange that she and Jeff connected so quickly.

“We both have a dry wit,” she said. “We were playing volleyball with our intellect and our humor. I didn’t discount it … but I didn’t believe it.”

Before she met Jeff, Chaunté made a “yes versus no” list and wrote down all the qualities she hoped to find in a partner and all the traits she found objectionable.

“When I realized Jeff was all of the yeses and none of the noes, it really terrified me,” Chaunté said.

Jeff, however, was determined to win her trust.

“On our first date, I was so nervous,” he admitted. “We had a gig in San Diego, and I remember distinctly, Kirk Whalum opened for The Rippingtons. To this day, I’m a huge fan of Kirk Whalum, and he had very kind things to say about me onstage. I was very flattered. He was the ultimate wingman. After that gig, Chaunté and I went to Coronado Island. We walked around––it’s a beautiful place. We had a great time.”

The couple decided to move in together. Jeff wanted to wait until he released a successful solo album before making an official commitment. But after three years, Chaunté got tired of being “the girlfriend.”

“I said to him one day, ‘If you are waiting for the album to make you financially able to do it, that’s a fantasy. That could never happen. I guess I’m going to have to move out.’”

Chaunté and Jeff Kashiwa at the Maui Music Festival in the early ’90s

Chaunté left their home, heartbroken. She attended a ballet class and saw herself crying in the mirror as she danced.

“When I got home, Jeff said, ‘Will you marry me?’ It was kind of funny. It was very real and very honest.”

The couple married without fanfare in 1992 at a Santa Ana, California, courthouse on New Year’s Eve. As they sat in the hallway, waiting to be called into the courtroom, a prisoner in an orange jumpsuit and shackles passed by, escorted by an officer, and congratulated the couple.

On the following day, Chaunté wore a $40 dress, and the couple had a “formal” ceremony with family and friends. That evening, the group watched Jeff perform with his own group, The Coastal Access Band, at an Orange County, California, club called Mucho Gusto.

These days, Jeff stays busy as a recording artist, sideman and teacher. His 11th solo album, Sunrise, was released in 2021.

Throughout their years of marriage, Chaunté has remained Jeff’s “musical muse.”

“What I didn’t know when I met her is that she is a very good musician,” Jeff said. “She hasn’t performed music, but she hears things I can’t. She can pick out harmonies in a song and sing them. I struggle. I can sight read, but I like to call her an organic musician.”

“There is an intimacy that grows when sharing creativity,” Chaunté confided. “And I learned from Jeff and his family that there can be stability in love.”

In honor of the place they met, the couple named their daughter, now 19, Catalina.

Jeff Kashiwa is scheduled to perform at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California, on Feb. 25 (https://spaghettini.com/); and the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in Reading, Pennsylvania, on March 26 with Acoustic Alchemy (www.berksjazzfest.com). For more information on Kashiwa, including his complete tour schedule, visit https://jeffkashiwa.com.

Catalina, Chaunté and Jeff Kashiwa in Anacortes, Washington

CASHMIRA’S STARGUIDE

Aquarius Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Oh my gosh! Get off that sofa! Drop that book! You need to get out there, and see what’s going on in the world. Lazy bones turn into cement bones, and you won’t be able to move those happy feet of yours. Move it!

Pisces Feb. 19 - March 20

You feel the need to help others but you’re not able to contribute financially. Now is the time to remember that just being there for folks can ease some burdens. Do what you can, and be satisfied with that.

Aries March 21 - April 19

Don’t even think about doubting yourself. Pause a moment, and remember who you are, talented and sharp thinking. If others find negative things to say about your performance, just persevere and do your excellent job.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Someone close to you is having problems with the way you are combining your work life and your personal life. Just be sure to carve your attention out clearly, and separate both when it concerns the feelings of a loved one.

Gemini May 21 - June 21

You have been known to be a bit of a procrastinator, and this flaw has led to some financial problems. Now is the time to face up to monetary responsibilities. Luckily, there is someone close to you who is willing to help you.

Cancer June 22 - July 22

Lending money can be a tricky thing for sure—especially when it comes time to request repayment. Tread carefully here, but it must be addressed. Hopefully, the next time you loan money, you can make a very clear agreement so there will be no misunderstandings.

Leo July 23 - Aug. 22

Some of your longtime goals need to be changed. There’s no need to completely discard them, but life has changed your world since you originally made these plans. Dreams can be tempered by reality, but they can still beckon you.

Virgo Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

You’ve been driving those close to you crazy with your never-ending inability to make a final decision. Even when it’s something that’s not important, you feel the need to go over and over the possibilities of your final answer with your loved ones. Give them a break, and keep it to yourself.

Libra Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

Hmm. There is a lot of gossip going on in the family. Everyone has something to say, and many don’t really know what is going on. Try to keep your interactions with the folks directly involved, and only speak if you can help.

Scorpio Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

There’s a whole new you happening! Make the most of all these awesome changes, and enjoy getting out and about. You’re on track to meeting a lot of your goals, so it might be time to set a few new ones. Anything is possible.

Sagittarius Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

It might be hard for you to keep control these days. The tricky behavior of some folks near to you will really hit your hot button, but it’s best you keep yourself as calm as possible. You do not want any shenanigans to affect your job.

Capricorn Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Those who know you best will be surprised by your desire to live a creative life. You’ve been known as a very practical person for all these years, but suddenly you want to be an artist, dancer or writer? What’s going on? Your real life!

BOOK REVIEW

“Feels Like Home: A Song for the Sonoran Borderlands”

by Linda Ronstadt and Lawrence Downes

Heyday • 2022 • 297 pages •

$35

Reviewed

by Darcy Peters

Linda Ronstadt’s fans know that she is no longer singing these days due to her illness. So, she wrote this book, which started out to be a cookbook but developed into so much more. It became a lyrical and personal history of a family, of a people, and of a land. She incorporates passages from her grandfather’s book, which even has old letters written by her great-grandmother.

Ronstadt recalls: “I have never had a home in Sonora, but I get homesick for it. I feel pride in the connection––more than I do in San Francisco, where I have lived for years, and as much as I do in Tucson, the town I was born and raised in, five hours up the highway.” Her grandfather had a wagon business in Tucson, Arizona, which later became the hardware store her father ran all his life.

She digs into the history of the Sonoran region, which includes the beginnings of Indigenous people and her family stories of a rough life. “There’s something to be said for the way a land of extreme weather sharpens and stokes emotions in a way blander environments can’t. In blazing heat, a well-timed passing cloud or the blessed whisper of a breeze feel like an answered prayer. There’s relief and almost drunken delight when summer’s unbearable grip is finally broken by the wild monsoons of July and August.”

Music and food were always a part of Ronstadt’s family. Her grandfather, uncles, aunts and siblings all loved to sing. It was a natural part of all family celebrations. First, the food of their family, which included several of the recipes in this book, then came the music.

Ronstadt relates: “It’s hard to express how much we kids owed to our mom, dad and Ronstadt grandparents for the world of music we grew up in. The songs they gave us were the richest inheritance any children could hope for, and we started collecting it from the cradle. That’s what happens when you are saturated in song from earliest childhood, when melodies and harmonies and chords enter your body through your ears and skin, mingle with your brain cells, and nestle in your heart, the muscle beating a rhythm that keeps you going all your life.”

“I went back to my old neighborhood not long ago, in early spring. The creosote bushes were blooming, lush and butter-yellow, defying the dryness and heat.” The weather might have been sizzling, but she still had an appetite for “the flaky floury tortillas, as big as steering wheels and almost as light as Kleenex. For Caldo de queso, Sonoran cheese soup, a glistening broth bright with the heat of chiltepin chiles. And for carne asada, grilled over mesquite, and frijoles con chile and quince jelly and coffee roasted with sugar.”

Life has changed in the Tucson of Ronstadt’s history, “So I fall back on the music, the unbreakable chain of melody. It hasn’t failed us yet––Also the food. Don’t forget the food.”