Southern California Concert Series Guide

By Melanie Maxwell

Smooth jazz events create some of the most memorable and exciting travel, cultural and culinary experiences, especially during the summer in Southern California. That’s when concert series season is in full swing, and you can immerse yourself in a variety of jazz performances curated with art, wine, fine dining and chocolate, all enveloped in scenic settings.

In Laguna Beach, Festival of Arts presents “living pictures,” an intoxicating blend of a live orchestra, story-telling and stage illusions under the stars at Pageant of the Masters. This is in addition to its daily music schedule and art show.

A half-hour drive north from Laguna Beach, brunch concerts and evening performances are poppin’ indoors five days a week at the newly remodeled Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment in Seal Beach. However, their exquisite food and craft cocktails are served daily.

Head 75 miles inland, and you’ll find the Temecula Valley Wine Country, which boasts two popular concert venues in the vineyards. The iconic Thornton Winery, on Rancho California Road, features top headliners, the award-winning Café Champagne Restaurant, a gift shop, wine tasting and tours. Down the street, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa fills its outdoor stage with up-and-coming artists and fan favorites during the Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series. At the latter, you can spend the night in a vineyard villa, order breakfast in bed, get pampered with a spa treatment, then take a dip in the saltwater pool.

My recommendation is to plan a weeklong road trip and enjoy them all! Hopefully, this section will be your guide to a fantastic smooth jazz summer.