August-September 2024 by Smooth Jazz News

KIRK WHALUM

The joyful, soulful saxophonist is performing his new at the Long Beach Jazz Festival and other events this summer

MICHAEL PAULO

Al Jarreau’s former saxophonist forges a successful musical career as a performer and a promoter

PATRICK LAMB

The saxophonist reinvents his performances with a funkified show

CATALINA ISLAND TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE

For smooth sailing into the JazzTrax Festival this fall

35TH ANNUAL LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL

Star headliners and fresh talent shine at the new seaside venue

Photo: Evelyn Freja

6. – 13. October 2025 | River Cruise Edition AMSTERDAM SMOOTH JAZZ FESTIVAL

Chris Standring, Gregg Karukas

Patrick Lamb

David Benoit, Lindsey Webster with Big Band

Brian Bromberg, Paul Brown & Michael Paulo

Publisher and Managing Editor

Melanie Maxwell

Operations & Distribution Manager

Craig Collier

Contributors

Cashmira

Marcia Luttrell

Darcy Peters

Copy Editors

JoAnn Armke

Paula Fitzgerald

Barbara Knox

Graphic Design

Gina Mancini

Stephani Rosenstein

Contributing Photographers

Greg Allen

Pat Benter

Alex Brown CurtisVision.com

Doug Dobransky

Ellis Moore Photography

Tyler Franz

Evelyn Freja

Jon Lord/Alamy

Joan Lamb

Luis Luque/Capture Imaging (Courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association) Raj Naik

Smooth Jazz News

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smoothjazznews@aol.com www.smoothjazznews.com

We will publish five issues of Smooth Jazz News in 2024: February-March, April-May, June-July, August-September and October-November-December

The

Smooth-Jazz News/123513291125001 @SmoothJazzNews

Jonathan Butler is among the performers at the 35th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival, happening Aug. 9-11

For more information on this, and other events scheduled in August and September, check out the calendar section, beginning on page 18.

8 Notes from the Publisher

Mindi Abair celebrates her birthday, wedding anniversary and daughter’s graduation with a big bash

DISCover New Music

Liven up your summer soundtrack with these new tunes

12 Michael Paulo

After making a splash on the HawaiianAsian scene, the saxophonist crosses to the mainland and creates a long-running, multi-faceted career in California

14 Catalina Island Travel Planning Guide

How to get there and where to stay during the Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival

Kirk Whalum

The Memphis-raised saxophonist values the gift of music

25 South Coast Winery’s Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series Guide

Check out the lineup at this Temecula, California, Wine Country resort that also offers fine dining, a luxurious spa and firstclass accommodations

26 Jazz Buzz

No Summer Horns tour as Dave Koz diverts attention to special projects .............. page 26

The awe of a first-time visitor to Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters ...... page 27

Remembering Cedric A. Napoleon, founding member of Pieces Of A Dream......... page 28

29 The 35th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival

Moves to a breezy new venue in Long Beach, California

30 Book Review

“The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America” by Larry Tye

The Cannonball Musical Instrumentsendorsed saxophonist cracks the U.S. Billboard radio airplay chart with his first three singles

30 Cashmira’s Starguide Summer horoscopes

31 Smooth Jazz News merchandise

Stay festival-ready with our gear

31 Smooth Jazz News subscription

Receive five print issues of Smooth Jazz News in your mailbox

Mindi Abair is scheduled to perform at the Gardena Jazz Festival on Aug. 25

Photo: Greg Allen

Photo: Raj Naik

Mindi Abair and Eric Guerra, now happy Healdsburg residents, host a final blowout party at their Hollywood house

Mindi Abair has been celebrating her birthday with a bash filled with love, laughter and her celebrity friends at her Hollywood, California, home each Memorial Day weekend since 2002. “Of course, we missed a few years during the pandemic,” noted the Grammy-nominated saxophonist.

Nearly 120 guests attended this year’s party on May 25, including Abair’s musician friends: pianist David Benoit and his wife, Kai; keyboardists Philippe Saisse, Mitch Forman, and Patrick Bradley with his wife, Lisa; guitarists Chris Standring, Randy Jacobs and his wife, Bianca, and Tony Pulizzi and his wife, Cathy; and drummers Tony Brunaguel and Dave Johnstone.

There were also comedians, talent agents and managers, authors, actors, attorneys, filmmakers, writers, theater directors, radio and TV personalities, nonprofit leaders, recording-studio managers, record label executives and other entertainment industry brass. Even Petri Hawkins-Byrd, the bailiff of “Judge Judy” fame, and his TV-producer wife, Makita Bond Byrd, attended, along with Marcia Withers (Bill Withers’ widow), Henry

Pat Prescott, Silva Mirzoian, Mindi Abair, Lisa Bradley, Mike Marchi, Nick Egan, Reggie Jackson, Patrick Bradley, Eric Guerra, Madison Guerra, Bianca Jacobs, Marcia Withers, Nanci Walker, Makita Bond Byrd, Petri Hawkins-Byrd, Kelley Purcell, James Saez, Rob Christie, Kim Washington, Nancy Spears, Dana and Henry Duarte, Randy Jacobs, Tony Pulizzi, Gary Helsinger, David Helfant, Lyndsey Parker, Patty Palazzo, Greg Allen, Audrey Bilger, Philippe Saisse and Rachel Stilwell (above).

Carell Augustus, David Benoit, Kai Benoit, Bob Buchmann, Carrie Buchmann, Rich Chassler, Aleksei Chebeliuk, Craig Collier, Mitch Forman, Jordyn Guerra, Sarah Halstead, Dave Johnstone, Dave Koz, Melanie Maxwell, Kathy Payne, Kathy Pulizzi, Tony Pulizzi, Chris Standring, and more on pages 9 and 10.

Duarte (fashion designer for Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, etc.) and Kathy Payne (owner of Payne Pest Management and sponsor of Mindi Abair’s Wine and Jazz New Year’s Eve 2024 at Loews Coronado Bay Resort).

This year’s bash, however, marked three milestones—Abair’s birthday, her fifth wedding anniversary with husband, Eric Guerra, and the college graduation of their daughter Jordyn. As always, Guerra made sure a variety of vintages were flowing into their guests’ glasses, while Abair mingled with guests amidst a soundscape of curated music from their WineandJazz. com playlists of tunes from the smooth jazz, soul, rock ‘n’ roll and traditional jazz genres. The sole live music performed was by accordionist Aleksei Chebeliuk, who serenaded Abair with the “Happy Birthday”—compliments of filmmakerphotographer Carell Augustus.

Although I’ve been honored to attend several times, I unfortunately missed the most epic one: her pre-pandemic party on May 25, 2019, which included a surprise wedding to Guerra, a wine expert who brought two additional blessings into the marriage, daughters Jordyn and Madison, whom Abair loves and helped raise as her own.

Luckily, I was able to attend this year’s party. However, it may not have happened due to tricky logistics of rental schedules.

The couple bought a home in Healdsburg, California, in 2023, but didn’t move into it and out of the Hollywood property—which features a main house in the front and two rental units in the back—until this year.

“We lived in the house for many years. And even when we rented it out as an Airbnb, we blocked out the week of my birthday every year so we could throw our annual big party,” Abair explained. “We now

rent out our front house using a long-term lease. Our tenants moved out the night before our party, and our new tenants moved in three days later. All that to say, if there’s a small window to have a party, you know we’re throwing a party!” she enthused. Nevertheless, after Guerra proposed to Abair in 2018, the couple felt overwhelmed planning the nuptials.

“I didn’t want to walk down the aisle with a poofy dress. I didn’t want people to bring gifts. I didn’t want people to dress up. It was all a bit too much pomp and circumstance,” Abair recalled.

But the following year, while organizing Abair’s 50th birthday party, an idea sparked. “We looked at each other, and a lightbulb went off,” she said. “It’s my 50th; we could say that ‘you MUST come to this one’ … it’s a big round number. On the invite, we said, ‘Bring a bottle of wine. I’ll love it.’ It was perfect. No one dressed up unnecessarily. No one brought wedding gifts.”

An hour into the party, the couple sneaked across the street, changed out of their jeans and t-shirts and into wedding attire. Abair grabbed her bouquet, and the couple slipped quietly back into the crowd. The only person aware of the surprise wedding was their officiant, multi-Grammy-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz, who had set up the couple on a blind date in 2013.

“Everyone was confused, interested, excited, and trying to figure out what was happening,” Abair explained. “We walked to the back porch where Dave Koz was standing, and it all became clear. We were married right there, much to the surprise of everyone. That was a perfect night: a pop-up wedding with all of our friends there, and no muss or fuss with people having to think about gifts or what they’d wear. It was sheer joy!”

Now, as the chapter of their Hollywood life closes, their joy continues with a whole new yet-to-be-written book about their Northern California Wine Country home base.

“Healdsburg is a beautiful little luxury town with three Michelin-starred restaurants and probably 30 other high-end restaurants in a about a four-block area,” Abair said. “We’re an hour from Napa,

which is great. Eric lived here for about 10 years before we met, running Kendall Jackson, and then he commuted to Napa where he was running Mumm Napa.

“We went on our third date together in Healdsburg. It’s quiet, really beautiful, and it has a great cross-section of people who live there and visit there. I love the food. I love the wine culture. I’ve learned so much being immersed in a town that’s surrounded by vineyards for miles on every side. It’s a really peaceful, safe community to come home to,” she said, then added: “And, I just got that white picket fence I’ve been dreaming about!”

With their life now nicely nestled in Healdsburg, and most of their friends 400 miles away in Los Angeles, will their annual celebration continue?

“It may be the end of an era,” Abair mused. “But I’m already looking for whose house or what place to throw our party next year. The party will happen … it’s just a matter of where.”

For more information on Abair, her complete tour schedule, including her Wine and Jazz New Year’s Eve event scheduled for Dec. 29-31, at Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California, plus other WineandJazz.com Adventures and the wine club she and her husband run, visit www.mindiabair.com. continued on page 10

continued from page 9

Photo: Doug Dobransky

BLAKE AARON

• “THE WAY YOU SWAY” (SINGLE)

(Innervision Records)

There is something magical and irresistibly attractive about how a woman sways. Sexy, sensual, with hornsection sweetened, guitar-driven melodies, “The Way You Sway” will bring out the special, sexy “sway” in every woman. Imagine Earth Wind & Fire, Bruno Mars and George Benson all playing on the same stage together, with the entire audience grooving in sync, and you can imagine “The Way You Sway.” AvAilAble At: https://sym.ffm.to/the-way-you-sway Website: www.blakeaaron.com

GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH

• COUNT YOUR LUCKY STARS

(Windtunnel Records)

Gabriel Mark Hasselbach’s all-new Count Your Lucky Stars album features guests such as Marion Meadows, and it is a home run for this 11-time Billboard-charting hornmeister. His new single, “SunSeeker,” has been tearing up the charts since July. Hasselbach will be appearing at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival with Ray Parker Jr. on Oct. 17. AvAilAble At: All digital service providers, including www.Amazon. com, iTunes, www.spotify.com, etc. Website: www.GabrielJazz.com

Michael Paulo Mesmerizes with a passion inherited from his legendary father

By Marcia Luttrell

Saxman and producer Michael Paulo cites two qualities that sustained his successful music career: passion and the ability to stick to a plan.

The passion was inherited from his late father, pianist and international recording artist Rene Paulo, a 2007 recipient of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.

The saxophonist recently finished Here is Happiness , a tribute album to his dad on the Woodward Avenue Record Label, due for an October release.

“I wanted to do a record honoring his legacy,” Paulo said. “I picked some of my favorite songs that my dad recorded when I was growing up, and we went into the studio and cut it live with my band. We also looked at a couple of songs that were my favorites, and, through digital technology, we played along with him.”

On a warm summer evening this past June, Paulo and his four-piece band mesmerized the audience with a performance of the title track at Live from La Costa, a summer jazz series which Paulo also produces with his wife, Terri, at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Southern California.

A canopy of string lights hung from the tall palm trees that encircled the audience. Against the backdrop of a verdant green golf course, the band of seasoned jazz musicians provided a powerful rhythmic pulse in support of Paulo’s smooth jazz rendering of “Here is Happiness,” a melodic Japanese love song that was a pop instrumental hit for his dad in the ’60s.

With a catch in his voice, he shared that his father, who died last year, would have celebrated his 94th birthday earlier that week.

Paulo doesn’t stand and play, rather, he paces from one end of the stage to the other, moving his body to the music as if it is coursing through his veins. Looking suave in a white fedora hat,

he strode into the audience while riffing, the diamond in his left ear and his custom gold-plated saxophone reflecting specks of sunlight.

His impassioned performance ended with “That’s for my dad,” and the audience rewarded him with a standing ovation.

Growing up with five siblings in Hawaii, Paulo was a reluctant musician in a family renowned for musical talent.

His Filipino father trained at The Juilliard School, and his mom, a vocalist, is Japanese. Their tastes encompassed many genres of music—from Hawaiian standards and jazz to pop and classical. His sisters sang, and his older brother played drums.

Paulo was different in that he wasn’t interested in music at an early age. He didn’t start studying saxophone until his teens, but then it consumed him. He took high school band class, performed at school events and spent summers perfecting his technique while closed off in the family bathroom. His musical training was in jazz, which he prefers over classical music.

“In performing, that comes out,” he stated. “For me, it’s not all about playing riffs or notes and technique, it’s about how you use that knowledge to create an emotional experience. You can start slow, and maybe there’s a sad part, so you play a note that’s more emotional. There’s also tension, which comes from harmonic dissonance, or when you play outside of the chord. How you effectively combine the notes is how you create emotion. That all comes into play when you’re using music to tell a story. That’s how I approach playing,” he explained.

After high school graduation, Paulo began earning money playing professional gigs around the islands.

Then, he took the biggest career risk of his life. Kalapana, the 1970s pop-rock band that was popular in Hawaii and Japan, and

Photo: Alex Brown

known for attracting more than 20,000 fans to the Tom Moffat Waikiki Shell, invited Paulo to join the group.

He was ecstatic, but there was just one catch.

“I had a scholarship to go to a university on the mainland,” Paulo said. “Even though my parents were musicians, they wanted me to get an education and a degree.”

The lure of performing with Kalapana was too enticing to ignore, and Paulo passed on a college education to become a member of the group.

After Kalapana went through a series of personnel changes, Paulo decided to leave the band in 1979, and, in 1981 he moved to California with a plan.

“I was unknown, so I saved enough to survive financially for a year,” he said. “I was able to go on auditions without the pressure of having to get a regular job, and because I did that, I was able to play all over Los Angeles. I developed a reputation, and people started hiring me. That’s how I got exposed to Al Jarreau. I was playing with members of the group Rufus when Al saw me perform, and he said, ‘That’s the guy I want in my band.’ If you really want to pursue something, you have to have a plan so you don’t get sidetracked.”

Paulo performed all over the world with Jarreau, the internationally renowned jazz vocalist who died in 2017, but he felt the calling to develop his own voice. He also had a family that missed him. He has been married to Terri for 39 years, and they have two daughters and three grandchildren.

“In the 1980s and ’90s, all I did was travel, and I missed a lot of my children growing up,” Paulo confessed. “But I had to do it at the time to earn a living. I am fortunate that I have an understanding and patient wife. That’s what makes it work. And I’ve learned to say, ‘Yes, dear.’”

After a decade of touring with Jarreau, Paulo entertained the idea of a solo career. It wouldn’t be a first attempt.

There was his 1978 recording of “Tats” In The Rainbow, released in Japan, with Herbie Hancock on piano and synthesizer.

When MCA offered him a record deal in 1989, he recorded the highly acclaimed contemporary jazz album One Passion.

“I would’ve stayed with Al forever,” Paulo said with sincerity. “He was a great guy. But he was also pushing me to go on my own, and that motivated me.”

Paulo went on to release multiple solo albums, and he has collaborated with many traditional and contemporary jazz greats, from trumpeter Miles Davis to pianist David Benoit and guitarist Peter White.

He also applied his talents to festival promotion, first in Hawaii and then in California.

“I fell into it,” said Paulo, who is now in his 60s. “I was the musical director for an event called Dolphin Days on the Big Island for about 14 years. It started in 1994. I made a lot of friends while living in Los Angeles, and I had contacts with a lot of great musicians. I utilized those contacts and brought a lot of them to the festival.”

When Paulo moved to Southern California in 2002, he noted that the city of Temecula was known for its wineries and that “the market was very open.”

His company, Apaulo Productions, launched the Temecula Wine & Music Festival, now held at Monteleone Meadows in Murrieta, California, an event that celebrated its 19th anniversary in July.

And that was just the start.

“My brother-in-law had a venue in Waikiki, and in 2009, he asked me if I could bring some entertainment in,” Paulo recalled.

“So, I started producing concerts in Hawaii, and it went well. People started calling and asking me, ‘Can you put this series together?’ We’ve been doing the Grooves at the Westin event [located at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa] the longest. And, at this point, the shows are selling out.”

Paulo often involves local charities when producing a jazz concert. Proceeds from the Temecula Wine & Music Festival, for instance, benefited a cancer resource center and NAMA, a nonprofit that donates music instruments to underprivileged children.

In August, Paulo is collaborating with bassist Brian Bromberg and Grammy Award-winning Paul Brown, the contemporary jazz guitarist who produced Paulo’s new single on tenor sax, “Blink of an Eye.”

Known as the BPM Band, the trio is set to release an album on Shanachie Entertainment later this year, and the group will perform Aug. 18 at Paulo’s jazz concert series Rhythm on the Vine, located at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa in Temecula, California.

The series ends with a Sept. 29 concert that offers a full-circle moment for Paulo. The show celebrates the 50th anniversary of Kalapana, a reunion that will bring together many musicians from his past.

“My production company has afforded me the ability to stay home and be with my grandchildren and not be on the road all the time,” Paulo said. “But the most emotionally rewarding part of my career is being an artist and playing my own music.”

For more information on Paulo, visit https://michaelpaulo.com. For information on the events he produces, visit https://apauloproductions.net.

ON TOUR

Aug. 18

Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series

(with Brian Bromberg and Paul Brown)

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Temecula, California

www.southcoastwinery.com

Sept. 7

Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment

Seal Beach, California

www.spaghettini.com 562-596-2199

Sept. 15

Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series (with Tris Imboden Yacht Stars)

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Temecula, California

www.southcoastwinery.com

Travel Planning Guide

By Melanie Maxwell

The Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival is scheduled for Oct. 10-13 and Oct. 17-20, in Avalon, California. This is one of the most buzzed about events we get asked about throughout our travels. What we hear most is “How do we get there?” and “Where do we stay?” The short answers are that you take a boat from the Southern California mainland to the island, and you can purchase festival tickets and find a variety of accommodation options at www.JazzTrax.com. Here are the details:

Catalina Express offers 30 daily departures from ports in Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, California. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, special after-performance boat departures are available from Avalon back to Long Beach. www.CatalinaExpress.com • 800-995-4386

A variety of accommodations are available in Avalon, including hotels and vacation rentals. Check out the JazzTrax Official Hotels page for preferred properties and also visit online rental agency sites such as www.vrbo.com. www.jazztrax.com/hotels

Photo: rawpixel.com

Photo: Jon Lord/Alamy

Photo: Pat Benter

By Marcia Luttrell

Kirk Whalum believes in divine intervention, and the saxophonist is known for his spirited performances and lyrical melodies filled with passion and purpose.

Currently, he’s touring in support of his new release, Epic Cool, a title inspired by his longtime friend, San Antonio, Texas, sportscaster Don Harris, who provided positive feedback after listening to an early track.

“He hit me back immediately,” said Whalum from his Memphis, Tennessee-area home. “He said, ‘Man, that is epic cool,’ and I thought to myself, that would make a great album title.”

Produced and co-written by Greg Manning on the Artistry Music label, Epic Cool includes 11 songs that open with the funky number “Bah-De-Yah!”

Whalum said the cut represents what it feels like to love life, and it reminds him of joyful career highlights, like playing alongside his former boss, the late Whitney Houston.

Whalum credits divine providence for making Houston’s record-breaking version of “I Will Always Love You,” featuring his soulful sax solo, a global hit that helped his career to flourish.

One of the tracks on Epic Cool that Whalum is most proud of is the sensual “Pillow Talk,” a song capable of “making babies,” with a pulsing groove that suggests the rhythm of lovemaking.

Photo: Evelyn Freja

And the cut “Crusaderation,” an homage to the former fusion group, the Crusaders, features his son Kyle (bassist for Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry) and nephews Kenneth (tenor sax) and Kameron (trombone) on horns.

It’s a full-blast family affair with a thumping bassline and a trilogy of brass voices weaving around and through melodic solos.

“I wanted them to feel included and special and valued for their developing gifts,” Whalum said. “There’s respect but there also is camaraderie. They know they can send me an idea. My son is out there doing his thing. I never wanted his career trajectory to be dependent on me, and it’s not. He’s proven that. Having all of them on this project is a blessing.”

Whalum was born in the musical city of Memphis, and he grew up among talented musicians. A music education inspired his instrument choice.

“The saxophone first got my attention because of attending a public music program,” Whalum recalled.

“And I thank God for that. I have issues with the way the value of public music education has diminished. But that’s how I got a saxophone.”

There also was the influence of the late Hugh “Peanuts” Whalum, a tenor saxophonist who performed with iconic artists such as Miles Davis and Nat King Cole.

In addition to releasing more than 20 studio albums, Whalum is known for collaborations with a wide range of notable recording artists, including guitarist Larry Carlton, pianist Bob James and the late vocalist Luther Vandross.

He also represents the “W” in the band BWB, teaming with smooth jazz greats Rick Braun and Norman Brown.

Whalum is renowned for his The Gospel According to Jazz series and he’s the recipient of two Stellar Gospel Music Awards—gospel music’s highest honor—for Instrumental Album of the Year in 2006 and in 2018.

“Through the Storm” is Epic Cool’s wedding-song-worthy track, with a vocal chorus that pays a tribute to his wife, Ruby.

We don’t know what the future has in store

I’m just glad that you and I are together through the storm Hold me tight we don’t know how long the night I’m just glad that I have you by my side

“Uncle Peanuts,” Whalum said wistfully. “He was an illuminating force in my life and my primary inspiration for playing this instrument. He was something else, man. He rocked my world, and I spent my life getting to that sound.”

Last month, Whalum celebrated his 66th birthday. He has been married to his wife, Ruby, for 40-plus years, and their union has produced four children and seven grandchildren.

“We are so very different,” Whalum confessed. “I’m the extrovert. She’s responsible for four well-adjusted human beings and adults. I think of her as an oracle who is able to mine the wisdom and goodness of a person.”

ON TOUR

AUG. 11

Long Beach Jazz Festival

Marina Green Park

Long Beach, California www.longbeachjazzfestival.com 562-424-0013

Though he doesn’t consider himself to be a gospel artist, Whalum can testify that the Lord has moved in ways that were far more mysterious than he ever imagined.

One example? Beginning in 2001, and for more than a decade, the skillful saxophonist received multiple Grammy Award nominations in jazz and pop instrumental categories. In 2011 he won, but not for his many instrumental recordings. It was for co-writing the gospel song “It’s What I Do,” featuring Lalah Hathaway.

“It really is extraordinary,” said Whalum, “I was completely undone. Frankly, ‘It’s What I Do’ wasn’t a gospel song. It’s a Billy Holiday-esque jazz ballad, complete with brushes on snare and upright bass. It was just highly improbable, and I am led to believe that it was indeed miraculous.”

Whalum will tour five states in August, and before every show, the band joins together for prayer.

“We ask that the Divine will be willing to participate in what we are doing,” he explained. “That presence sort of rides the sound wave that God has given us, and people can be impacted. It doesn’t always happen. So, we never want to take that for granted. But that’s our prayer, and when people are impacted deeply, which happens a lot, we believe it’s because of that presence.”

For more information on Whalum, including his complete tour schedule, visit https://kirkwhalum.com.

SEPT. 29-OCT. 6, 2025

Amsterdam Smooth Jazz Festival: River Cruise Edition

Cruising along the waterways of Holland and Belgium Aboard Amadeus Brilliant Amsterdam, the Netherlands https://smoothjazzshop.eu/en_US

AUGUST

Festival of Arts presents Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate featuring Tony Guerrero & A Bunch of My Friends Big Band, 5:30pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/ art-jazz-wine-chocolate/, 800-4873378 (Concerts are free with purchase of Festival of Arts admission. Wine & chocolate pairings–for those aged 21 & over–are an additional $25. Limited reserved seating is available for an additional $50.)

2 Art Sherrod Jr., 7 & 9:30pm, Keystone Korner Baltimore Jazz Restaurant & Bar, 1350 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, www. keystonekornerbaltimore.com, 410-946-6726

Louisville Jazz Festival featuring Brian Culbertson, Avery*Sunshine, Gerey Johnson, 7pm, Iroquois Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Road, Louisville, Kentucky, www.gabshows.com, 502-368-5865

Daniel Weatherspoon, 7pm, Keystone Korner Baltimore Jazz Restaurant & Bar, 1350 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, www.keystonekornerbaltimore.com, 410-946-6726

Festival of Arts presents Concerts on the Green featuring Surf City AllStars, 1pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/concertson-the-green/, 800-487-3378 (Free admission with purchase of Festival of Arts ticket. Limited seating in reserved section available for $60 per person.)

Festival of Arts & City of Hope Orange County present Spotlight

on the Music of Hope Blue Piano featuring Bill Cantos “The Music of A&M Records,” 5:30pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/ music-of-hope/, 800-487-3378 (Free admission with purchase of Festival of Arts ticket. Limited seating in reserved section available for $45 per person.)

Louisville Jazz Festival featuring Boney James, Jeter Jones, Volton Wright, Tasha Mac, Rebecca Jade, 6pm, Iroquois Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Road, Louisville, Kentucky, www.gabshows.com, 502-368-5865

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

Althea Rene, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old

CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS

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

Festival of Arts presents Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate featuring Gregg Karukas-Unplugged Piano Trio, 5:30pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom. com/events/art-jazz-wine-chocolate/, 800-487-3378 (Concerts are free with purchase of Festival of Arts admission. Wine & chocolate pairings–for those aged 21 & over–are an additional $25. Limited reserved seating is available for an additional $50.)

35th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival featuring Michael Lington & Nathan Mitchell; Jeanette Harris & Tom Brown; Rebecca Jade & Brian Simpson, gates open at 5pm, show begins at 6pm, Marina Green Park, 386 E. Shoreline Dr., Long

Beach, California, www.longbeachjazzfestival.com, 562-424-0013

Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival featuring Damon Terrell, 6pm, Southfield Municipal Campus Front Lawn, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, Michigan, www. cityofsouthfield.com/residents/events/ kimmie-horne-jazz-festival-8 10

Festival of Arts presents Concerts on the Green featuring Brian Simpson, 1pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/concertson-the-green/, 800-487-3378 (Free admission with purchase of Festival of Arts ticket. Limited seating in reserved section available for $60 per person.)

Festival of Arts & City of Hope Orange County present Spotlight on the Music of Hope Blue Piano featuring Althea Waites & special guest Melanie Taylor, 5:30pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/ music-of-hope/, 800-487-3378 (Free admission with purchase of Festival of Arts ticket. Limited seating in reserved section available for $45 per person.)

Royal Sonesta All-Stars featuring Michael Paulo, Brian Bromberg, Paul Brown, Gregg Karukas & Land Richards, 7pm, The Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue, 3610 Rice St., Lihue, Hawaii, https://michaelpaulo.com

35th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival featuring Justin Klunk, Nicholas Cole, Jeff Lorber & Everette Harp, Jonathan Butler, October London, Gerald Albright & more, gates open at noon, show begins at 1pm, Marina Green Park, 386 E. Shoreline Dr., Long Beach, California, www. longbeachjazzfestival.com, 562-424-0013

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

Vincent Ingala, 8pm, Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis, Maryland, www.ramsheadonstage. com/, 410-268-4545

35th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival featuring The Braxton Brothers Keiko Matsui, Kirk Whalum, Jeffrey Osborne & more, gates open at noon, show begins at 1pm, Marina Green Park, 386 E. Shoreline Dr., Long Beach, California, www.longbeachjazzfestival.com, 562-424-0013

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

Frank McComb & special guests: Celebrate Todd Barkan’s 78th Birthday!, 7pm, Keystone Korner

Baltimore Jazz Restaurant & Bar, 1350 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, www.keystonekornerbaltimore.com, 410-946-6726

Frank McComb & special guests: Celebrate Todd Barkan’s 78th Birthday!, 7pm, Keystone Korner Baltimore Jazz Restaurant & Bar, 1350 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, www.keystonekornerbaltimore.com, 410-946-6726

Festival of Arts presents Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate featuring Nathan & Noah East, 5:30pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/ art-jazz-wine-chocolate/, 800-4873378 (Concerts are free with purchase of Festival of Arts admission. Wine & chocolate pairings–for those aged 21 & over–are an additional $25. Limited reserved seating is available for an additional $50.)

Gerald Veasley’s Unscripted Jazz Series featuring Blake Aaron & Will Donato, 7 & 9pm, The Jazz Club at SOUTH, 600 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, www.southjazzkitchen.com, 215-600-0220

Patrick Lamb (with Jason Scheff & Tommy DeCarlo), 5pm, Batavia Downs, 8315 Park Blvd., Batavia, New York, www.patricklamb.com

Blake Aaron & Will Donato, 7 & 9:15pm, Middle C Jazz Club, 300 S. Brevard St., Charlotte, North Carolina, https://middlecjazz.com, 704-595-3311

AUGUST 9-11, 2024

MARINA GREEN PARK East Shoreline Drive • Long Beach, California

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11

Jeanette Harris & Tom Browne Darryl Walker, Rebecca Jade and Brian Simpson

Michael Lington & Nathan Mitchell and more!

Braxton Brothers

Kirk Whalum Keiko Matsui

Richard “88 Fingers” Turner Jr.

Jeffrey Osborne

Justin Klunk Jeff Lorber & Everette Harp October London

Nicolas Cole Jonathan Butler Gerald Albright

continued from page 19

Festival of Arts presents Concerts on the Green featuring Derek Bordeaux “Motown on the Green,” 1pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/ concerts-on-the-green/, 800-487-3378 (Free admission with purchase of Festival of Arts ticket. Limited seating in reserved section available for $60 per person.)

Blake Aaron, 7pm, Perfect Note Atlanta, 3000 Windy Hill Road S.E., Suite 116, Marietta, Georgia, https:// perfectnoteliveatl.com, 404-999-0776

Patrick Lamb, 7:30pm, It’s Personal by Sheila’s, 2610 W. Cervantes St., Pensacola, Florida, www. patricklamb.com, 850-607-2520

Marcus Anderson & The East Coast Collective, 6:30pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series featuring Brian Bromberg, Paul Brown & Michael Paulo, 7pm, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, California,

www.southcoastwinery.com, 844-841-1406

Blake Aaron, 6:30pm, Branford Jazz on the Green Series, Branford Town Green, 1019 Main St., Branford, Connecticut, https://branfordjazz. com, 203-488-8304

Festival of Arts presents Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate featuring the Scott Wilkie Band, 5:30pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/ art-jazz-wine-chocolate/, 800-4873378 (Concerts are free with purchase of Festival of Arts admission. Wine & chocolate pairings–for those aged 21 & over–are an additional $25. Limited reserved seating is available for an additional $50.)

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

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

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21st Annual Gardena Jazz Festival featuring Maysa, Take 6, Mindi Abair, Will Downing, Biscuits & Gravy Live, The Inner City Youth of Los Angeles Ensemble, gates open at 9am, show begins at 11am, Rowley Park, 13220 S. Van Ness Ave., Gardena, California, www.gardenajazzfestival.com, 310-217-9537

Patrick Lamb, 8pm, Central Park, 1340 S. 4th St., Louisville, Kentucky, www.patricklamb.com, 270-883-2167

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Festival of Arts presents Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate featuring Raffia Thomas, 5:30pm, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, www.foapom.com/events/art-jazzwine-chocolate/, 800-487-3378 (Concerts are free with purchase of Festival of Arts admission. Wine & chocolate pairings–for those aged 21 & over–are an additional $25. Limited reserved seating is available for an additional $50.)

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

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

Remembering Al Waterson concert featuring Peter White, Mindi Abair, Michael Paulo & Arthur Thompson, 8pm, Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra, Hibiscus Ballroom, 401 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu, Hawaii, https:// apauloproductions.net/apaulo-events

Patrick Lamb, 8pm, Jazz on the Green at the Armory, North Carolina National Guard Armory, 142 Broadhurst Dr., Jacksonville, North Carolina, www.patricklamb.com, 760-712-9957

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

31

Jonathan Butler, 8:45pm, Middle C Jazz Club, 300 S. Brevard St., Charlotte, North Carolina, https://middlecjazz.com, 704-595-3311

17th Annual Multi Music Fest featuring Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Kenny Lattimore, 5pm, Cain Park, Evans Amphitheater, 14591

Superior Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 216-371-3000

JJ Sansaverino with special guest Vivian Sessoms, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

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

SEPTEMBER

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

Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series featuring JJ Sansaverino, Blake Aaron, Erin Stevenson & more, 7pm, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, California, www.southcoastwinery.com, 844-841-1406

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

Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival featuring Jacob Webb & Phylicia Rae Double Bass Experience, 3:30pm; Urban Guerilla Orchestra (UGO): A Tribute to the Sounds of Philadelphia, 5pm; Nathan Mitchell, 6:30pm, Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, www.dauphincounty.gov

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

Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival featuring FAME Jazz Ensemble, 3:30pm; Four80East with JJ Sansaverino & Art Sherrod Jr., 5pm; Vincent Ingala, 6:30pm, Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, www.dauphincounty.gov

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

Brian Culbertson’s Chicago Jazz Getaway Welcome Dinner & Jam Session, hosted by Marcus Anderson, featuring Patches Stewart, Culbertson & the BC Band: Chris Miskel, Eddie Miller, Walter English, Darnell “Showcase” Taylor & Rishon Odell, 6pm, Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois, www. chicagojazzgetaway.com (for VIP & Platinum patrons)

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

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

Brian Culbertson’s Chicago Jazz Getaway featuring Najee, Culbertson & Friends with Peabo (for VIP, Platinum, Gold & Single Friday patrons), 7pm; After-Party hosted by the World Famous Rick & Russ featuring CJ Flash, 10pm, The International Ballroom (for VIP, Platinum & Gold patrons),The Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, International Ballroom, 200 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago, Illinois, www.chicagojazzgetaway.com

Darryl Walker featuring The Saxations, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

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

Brian Culbertson’s Chicago Jazz Getaway Brian Culbertson & Friends Concert featuring Avery*Sunshine duo, plus Eric Darius jamming along with Culbertson & his band, 7pm, The International Ballroom (for VIP, Platinum, Gold & Single Saturday patrons); Artist Autograph Session/Late-Night Hang, 10:30pm, The International Ballroom Lobby (VIP, Platinum & Gold patrons), The Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago, Illinois, www.chicagojazzgetaway.com

Jessy J, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch

Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199 continued on page 22

continued from page 21 26

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

Jonathan Butler, 7pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero W., Oakland, California, www.yoshis.com, 510-238-9200

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

Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series featuring A Night of Yacht Rock with The Tris Imboden Yacht Stars, 7pm, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, California, www.southcoastwinery.com, 844-841-1406

Jonathan Butler, 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero W., Oakland, California, www.yoshis.com, 510-238-9200

Vincent Ingala, 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero W., Oakland, California, www.yoshis.com, 510-238-9200

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

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

Samara Joy, 7:30pm, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, California, https://artcenter.org

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

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

DW3, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch

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

Gerald Albright G-Funk 2024 Tour, 7:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

Najee, 7 & 9:30pm, Keystone Korner

Baltimore Jazz Restaurant & Bar, 1350 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, www.keystonekornerbaltimore.com, 410-946-6726

Gerald Albright G-Funk 2024 Tour, 7:30 & 9:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

Najee, 6 & 8:30pm, Keystone Korner

Baltimore Jazz Restaurant & Bar, 1350 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, www.keystonekornerbaltimore.com, 410-946-6726

Chris Walker: A Tribute to Al Jarreau, 7pm, Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment, 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy., Seal Beach, California, www.spaghettini.com, 562-596-2199

Gerald Albright G-Funk 2024 Tour, 7:30 & 9:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

Gerald Albright G-Funk 2024 Tour, 7:30pm, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, www.jazzalley.com, 206-441-9729

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

Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series featuring Kalapana 50th Anniversary Concert, 7pm, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, California, www.southcoastwinery.com, 844-841-1406

jazz bruNches

AUGUST

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

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

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

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

SEPTEMBER

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

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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

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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

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 sources. Please confirm all information with the organizer directly before making any plans.

Photo:JoanLamb

After touring with stars like Gino Vannelli, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Smokey Robinson, Diane Schuur and the late Bobby Caldwell, saxophonist Patrick Lamb is one of the most exciting breakout artists on the scene with his first three singles making Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard radio airplay chart, and a relentless indemand schedule with over 100 dates this year.

“These are the first two years I have been focusing on my own music, and it has really exploded,” Lamb said. “Six out of eight of my last shows have sold out. Amidst Gino Vannelli tours and my own, I’m traveling all over the world. We’ve sold out Philly, Seal Beach, Vegas, Humphreys, and San Antonio, with my own New Year’s Gala that I do each year at the Riverhouse Convention Center in Bend, Oregon, and the Patrick Lamb Charlie Brown Christmas Tour. It’s not just jazz, it’s nonstop funkadelic interactive dance music intertwined with my original music.

“One of the best instrumentalists I’ve ever worked with ...” ~the late R&B legend Bobby Caldwell

“the first time I saw Patrick I was amazed. He’s definitely one of the brightest new breakout artists on the scene. He had the whole place up dancing. The next Boney James.”

~Larry Farber, owner of Middle C Jazz

“A saxophonist whose time has indeed come! Congrats, Patrick Lamb!”

~Dave Koz

“Generous, talented and smart, Patrick Lamb is Portland’s ‘Renaissance man.’”

Patrick Lamb

“I think the challenge initially was there are quite a few people that might have seen me with different artists who can’t really even conceive what I do live because it’s not necessarily related—side guy versus solo.

My show is a nonstop funkafied mix of great original music that is somewhere between my own material, an Earth Wind & Fire, Brian Culbertson, Gap Band presentation that sometimes morphs into a dance party.

We have an effect on an audience, the group covers a lot of ground. Some people will probably have to throw away their old concept of me, and that’s OK. We’re here to have a good time, people are feeling that, and I think that’s probably why we’re getting booked all over now,” he said smiling.

Lamb has been very successful in many arenas, winning many awards and producing a five-star jazz series for the last 13 years that has brought everyone from Sheila E. to Arturo

Sandoval, Schuur and, this year, with Stokley and Labelle with Steve Cole, Connie Han, Sy Smith, No. 1 Downbeat award-winner Benny Benack III and many others. Every show Lamb has put together as a producer has sold out the last 13 years. He also has two symphony shows, a sound company and he founded a ticket company that grossed over $50 million before he moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where he lives on the beach with his wife, Joan.

When you look at Lamb’s schedule you may ask: “Where does he get all the energy?”

“Health is your wealth,” he said. “If you don’t know it now, you will later,” he said with a laugh. “I run, workout, have run the Hood To Coast Relay, climbed Mount Hood, camped in the Jefferson Wilderness. I’m a guys-guy and a kid at heart. I like to play.”

For more information on Lamb, including his complete tour schedule, visit www. patricklamb.com. Advertorial

~Sam Adams. Mayor, Portland Oregon

SOUTH COAST WINERY RESORT & SPA PRESENTS RHYTHM ON THE VINE ® JAZZ CONCERT SERIES

TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA

LINEUP (Select Sundays. Doors open at 6 p.m., VIP meet-and-greet starts at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.):

Aug. 4: David Benoit and Lindsey Webster with Big Band

Aug. 18: BPM featuring Brian Bromberg, Paul Brown and Michael Paulo

Sept. 1: JJ Sansaverino, Blake Aaron, Erin Stevenson and special guest

Sept. 15: Tris Imboden Yacht Stars

Sept. 29: Kalapana 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert

VENUE: South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, California

GETTING THERE: Flights are available into the Ontario International Airport (ONT), San Diego International Airport (SAN), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Distance to the venue is approximately 58 miles from ONT, 68 miles from SAN, and 98 miles from LAX.

PARKING: Free parking

STAYING THERE: South Coast Winery Resort & Spa offers villas that allow guests direct access to vineyards from their patio. Villas and suites encompass between 490 and 1,150 square feet and feature amenities such as faux and gas fireplaces; soothing, deep soaking tubs; plush bathrobes; and complimentary Wi-Fi.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION: www.southcoastwinery.com, 844-841-1406

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Poolside cabana at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Fans at the 2023 Rhythm on the Vine® Jazz Concert Series

jAzz BuZz and the succulent life

Dave Koz is still on the job while Summer Horns & friends take a seasonal break

By Melanie Maxwell

You may have noticed that Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns isn’t on any concert series or festival lineup so far this year. So, I reached out to Koz, who has been extremely busy since hosting two weeks of his sold-out Dave Koz & Friends at Sea full-ship charters to Greece, Malta and Sicily, in May.

“Yes, the Summer Horns are taking a little planned hiatus this summer,” he explained via email. “I wanted to create some time (first time I’ve had a summer off in decades, it seems!) to focus on other projects and adventures, including a trip to Saudi Arabia later this month [July] for a televised concert with orchestra, and working on a new duet project with Bob James at his incredible home studio in Northern Michigan.”

If you follow the platinum-selling, nine-time Grammy nominee on social media, you’ve seen some of the “adventures” he’s been engaged in. They include “Opening Night at the Bowl: Henry Mancini 100th Celebration” featuring Koz, Michael Bublé, Cynthia Erivo and Monica Mancini as special guests on June 23 at the Hollywood Bowl. Koz was interviewed for a segment about the event on “CBS Sunday Morning” that was televised on July 7.

However, he assured us that Summer Horns will return in 2025. “We will be back at it next summer with a brand new show, don’t worry! :),” he promised.

For more information on Koz and his complete tour schedule, including his 27th Annual Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour and Dave Koz & Friends at Sea full-ship charter cruises, visit www.davekoz.com.

Photo: Tyler Franz

Photo: Luis Luque/Capture Imaging, Courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association

Bob James and Dave Koz working on a duet project at James’ Traverse City, Michigan, home

Dave Koz performing at “Opening Night at the Bowl: Henry Mancini 100th Celebration” in Los Angeles, California, on June 23

A Fresh-eyed take on Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters

By Marcia Luttrell

Lavetta Dubose was excited about seeing Pageant of the Masters, a Southern California event at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California. The event is famous for its tableau vivants , where silent and motionless actors pose to recreate sculptural images and objets d’art.

This year’s pageant theme is “Á La Mode: The Art of Fashion,” a production that portrays clothing and jewelry trends throughout history.

“I was looking forward to seeing art come to life,” said Dubose, who received the surprise gift of attending the Pageant’s VIP showing on July 5 with her fiancé Craig Collier, the operations and distribution manager for Smooth Jazz News

“The seats were awesome, and we sat right up front,” she said.

Dubose was astounded by the “Bewitched and Bejewelled” section, which included life-size depictions of Art Nouveau brooches and pendants designed with precious stones and female figures.

A gilded lady fooled her. “She was completely gold like the art,” Dubose enthused. “It really impressed me because she didn’t look real. But Craig said, ‘Look––you can see her breathing. You can see her rib cage rising and falling.’ It was just phenomenal.”

The Pageant’s production is enhanced with music, famous paintings and storytelling that is entertaining as well as educational.

In “The Royal Raiment” section, the attire of famous kings and queens included interesting bits of knowledge, like the slenderizing efforts of King George IV, a monarch with enormous appetites, who confessed he was “rather too fond of women and wine.”

“He had his clothes designed to hide his stomach,” Dubose said. “He had a panel that draped down in front of him because his waist was so big.”

Another curiosity is the popularity of the poulaine, or the pointytoed footwear that became a status symbol during the Middle Ages. The points extended inches away from the foot, and some had to be stuffed with moss to keep the wearer from tripping. King Edward IV found the poulaine indecent, and in 1463, he banned tips longer than two inches.

“That was funny,” Dubose said, “and interesting. They were like the pointy shoes a clown would wear. They were wearing those until they were outlawed.”

The Pageant also includes exhibits that reflect more modern times.

In the “Fabulous Footwear” segment, for instance, visitors can see a recreation of British designer Alexander McQueen’s “Angel Shoe” from his 2010 collection. Its sculpted resin heel is in the shape of a divine being, and Dubose described the shoe as “having wings like a butterfly.”

The Pageant runs nightly in conjunction with the Festival of Arts, where more than 100 Orange County artists showcase juried works that include paintings, sculpture, pottery, photography and jewelry. Pageant tickets also serve as a season pass to the Festival of Arts, so visitors can return all summer long.

“There is art all around before you go into the Pageant,” Dubose said. “There was a painting of a Black lady in this gorgeous gold dress. The name of the artist is Toni Danchik, and I took her card. I also saw glass art that was bright and pretty with more contemporary designs.”

The elaborate, historically accurate costumes, sets and theatrical lighting can make some wonder how they might look in, say, the coronation robe and the crown that Queen Victoria wore.

For more information on Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts, which is open daily through Aug. 30, and located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, visit www.foapom.com or call 800-487-3378.

Craig Collier and his fiancé, Lavetta Dubose, waiting for Pageant of the Masters to start

Human re-creation of Gaston Lafitte’s “Butterfly Brooch”

continued from page 27

Cedric Napoleon, beloved performer and mentor, is mourned, remembered

Oct. 16, 1962-June 16, 2024

By Melanie Maxwell

We are sad to report that Cedric Napoleon, legendary bassist, vocalist, actor and one of the founding members of Pieces Of A Dream, died on June 16, 2024. He was 61 years old.

His wife, Deirdre L. Napoleon, said that he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep at 4:30 a.m. on Father’s Day at their home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although he was still performing as Cedric Napoleon & Friends at the time of his passing, he had that weekend off. She said that his last gig was the week before his death.

“He loved performing and he loved his fans,” Deirdre said. “As soon as his gig was over, he’d change his shirt, and come back out and talk to people. He’d give them hugs and sign autographs and talk with them. He had a real people mentality; he loved being around people.”

And his fans and friends certainly loved him. More than 500 people attended his Celebration of Life at Ezekiel Baptist Church on June 28. Deirdre said that a deaconess from a large congregation told her that Cedric’s service was the best one she’d ever attended.

“His band and friends performed at his services, including Curtis Harmon of Pieces Of A Dream,” Deirdre said. “Vocalist Ashli RiceAllen sang ‘Ave Maria.’ And teachers and students from the Clef Club [Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts] also performed. Cedric was an instructor of the jazz ensemble at the Clef Club. He also gave private acoustic-upright bass and vocal lessons,” she said.

“The legacy he left at the Clef Club was amazing. I got to see those children who are now 19 years old, and they started when they were 7.

Grown men with hair on their faces performing at his service. I could see the impact my husband had on these young men.”

He was also the music director at FloByFaith Productions, a music production company owned by author-poet-playwright Florence Robinson-Jones that showcases both dramatic and musical performances.

Cedric’s legacy will live on through all of his artistry, including his debut solo album, Yesterday Today, which was released in 2016. “It may not be his last one, though, because there’s one in the vault,” Deirdre shared. “It’s gonna happen if I have anything to do with it. I’m putting together a DVD with live performances, and I’m going to press one as a teaching tool for the Clef Club.”

Plus, fans will also have memories of his performances with artists such as Angela Bofill, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, the Stylistics and Gerald Levert.

However, Deirdre wants that legacy to extend to a nonprofit organization and website she is in the process of forming in his honor, the Cedric A. Napolean Center for Music Development. Until the new website is active, she advises fans to visit www.facebook.com/ cedricnapoleonbassist for updates.

Cedric is survived by his wife, Deirdre; children Cayla, Christian and Ashley; brother Vincent; and many other family members and friends. We send our sincere condolences to them, his bandmates and fans.

“Cedric has always been and will always be remembered as an integral part of Pieces Of A Dream. His style of bass playing and vocal talent added an artistry to our sound that helped make us one of the most versatile groups in the music industry.”

Curtis Harmon, Pieces Of A Dream drummer and co-founder

Photo: Ben Rubin

Pieces Of A Dream co-founders James Lloyd, Cedric Napoleon and Curtis Harmon in 1996

35th Annual long beach jazz festival

AUG. 9-11 | LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

By Melanie Maxwell

There will be a change of venue for the 35th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival. Fortunately, the new location—Marina Green Park—is just across the street from Rainbow Lagoon Park, where the festival has been held since its inception. And, it’s closer to the shoreline and cool breezes.

So, what prompted the move? “Parking was given up to another entity,” said Kimberly Benoit, president of Rainbow Promotions, producer of the event. At the time of our interview, Benoit said that there would be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) parking adjacent to the venue, and she was working on securing parking at two Long Beach Convention Center lots.

Although the venue has changed, Benoit said there will still be a second stage and Wellness Pavilion, as well as typical festival vendors selling fried fish, lemonade, barbecue, funnel cakes, jewelry, clothing and art. “I’m also trying to add an art installation through the Arts Council for Long Beach,” she explained.

However, the centerpiece of the festival is still the music. There will be fan favorites such as Jeffrey Osborne, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Keiko Matsui and Gerald Albright, but rising stars October London and Nathan Mitchell will surely thrill the crowd.

“I booked October London because I just loved his style. He’s a talented and gifted singer,” Benoit said of the singer-songwriter whom Snoop Dogg signed to Death Row Records in 2022, which released his studio album, The Rebirth of Marvin, in 2023. “I heard his song ‘Mulholland Drive’ on the radio, and he sounds a lot like Marvin Gaye. I thought he would be a good fit for the festival.”

Mitchell was another artist she was excited to book. “Nathan Mitchell is a dynamic pianist, and I wanted to bring something new and fresh to the festival,” she said. “We did that with KEM when we first booked him many years ago.

“We pride ourselves on finding new talent that our audience will appreciate,” she concluded.

WHEN

Aug. 9-11, 2024

2022 Long Beach Jazz Festival in Long Beach, California

Dorian Bonner, deputy of communications for the office of Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, presenting a Certificate of Recognition award to Kim Benoit, producer of the Long Beach Jazz Festival in 2023

PARKING

Festival parking is available for a fee at two nearby Long Beach Convention Center Parking Garages. Limited ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) spaces are also available for a fee near Marina Green Park. Visit the festival website for details.

tickets and information WHERE

Marina Green Park 386 E. Shoreline Dr., Long Beach, California

FRIDAY LINEUP - Aug. 9

Gates open at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m.

and

www.longbeachjazzfestival.com, 562-424-0013

saturday LINEUP - Aug. 10 sunday LINEUP - Aug. 11

Gates open at noon, show starts at 1 p.m.

Jeff Lorber and;

Jonathan Butler; October London; Gerald Albright G Funk Tour: A tribute to James Brown

Gates open at noon, show starts at 1 p.m.

Jeanette Harris

Tom Brown; Rebecca Jade

Brian Simpson and Darryl Walker; Michael Lington and Nathan Mitchell

Justin Klunk; Nicholas Cole;

Everette Harp,

Richard “88 fingers” Turner Jr.; The Braxton Brothers; Keiko Matsui; Kirk Whalum; Jeffrey Osborne

Photo: Ellis Moore Photography

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2024

CASHMIRA’S STARGUIDE

Leo July 23 - Aug. 22

Your career can be very gratifying these days. Accolades from those who matter will be coming your way. You may have thought that your hard work wasn’t being recognized, but that is just not so. Accept the kudos and keep doing a great job.

Virgo Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

You will be experiencing difficulties with partnerships soon. This may be a romantic or business partner, but lack of communication seems to be the culprit. You can only do your part, so try to be as clear as possible with those close to you.

Libra Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

Watch your spending over the next few months. Lately, you’ve been a little too free with your wallet. Now is the time to really look at the expenditures and what this means to your actual budget. It might be time to put away your credit cards for a bit.

Scorpio Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

Some big changes are coming soon, and you have time to do all the planning required. Some changes will be physical, some emotional, but all will effect a major change in your life. Embrace the turmoil as best you can.

Sagittarius Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

Your life is now on the upswing. Past problems have been mostly met and resolved. Now is the time to be thankful, and make the most of positive times. Greet your old friends, and enjoy your longtime pals. Life is good.

Capricorn Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Take care of your health. If you have checkups pending, make sure to get the appointments made. That gym membership could use a little dusting off. Do something physical you enjoy, and make it easy on yourself.

Aquarius Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Just remember to always say “yes.” It’s not time to quibble around. You need to get out there and have some experiences, so no excuses for you. Get yourself together, and move along. A more full and interesting life is waiting.

Pisces Feb. 19 - March 20

Look around, and plan to make your home a more comfortable place for you and your family. Some of the most reasonably priced changes can make quite a difference. Get the family involved with suggestions and assistance. Painting party anyone?

Aries March 21 - April 19

Finances are important to you now. This may involve changes to your salary, so be prepared to respond to questions about performance. Positivity will be appreciated. Keep track of your financial commitments, and try not to lend money to friends.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Have you been considering a side hustle? If you have a good idea, now would be the time to give it a try. Make sure you are sensible, and create an appropriate budget. Rope in your family and friends to assist!

Gemini May 21 - June 21

The stars are on your side now. Have a crush? Interested in getting to know someone better? Now is the time to approach that person because all your best qualities are shining through. Enjoy being this charming!

Cancer June 22 - July 22

It’s time to concentrate on some life planning. Address your current and future financial needs. This could take a while, but you will be grateful for the work being done now. Life can be changeable, but you can make plans for that as well.

BOOK REVIEW

“The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Count Basie Transformed America”

By Larry Tye

Mariner Books

2024 • 416 pages • $32.50

Reviewed by Darcy Peters

The three musicians in this book’s title are jazz royalty for certain; in fact, two of them are known by aristocratic names. Larry Tye did extensive research to tell the story of their lives and the times that affected them. Each man had apocryphal origin stories—from the number of siblings to their relationships with women. They all came from poor circumstances, especially Armstrong who was from the famed Storyville area in New Orleans.

Duke Ellington is famous for his time at the legendary, Mafia-backed The Cotton Club in Harlem, New York. Tye explored this famous location of which The New Yorker magazine wrote: “Even before the band sounded a note, it delivered a statement: impeccably dressed in matching tuxedos and boutonnieres, its members were of a class with the biggest swells in the room. And Ellington was the swellest of all: unfailingly soigné, magisterially presiding over the urban jungle, he stood untouched and never lost his smile.” The entertainers and staff were all black, but they were not allowed to enter the club as customers. There are several stories about how Bill Basie obtained his “Count” moniker. Basie was in Kansas City, Missouri, and ended up working at the Reno Club, which was once described as “one of the town’s most unsavory holes.” Basie gathered a group of the best jazz musicians, including saxophonist Lester “Prez” Young. Kansas City is known as one of the most popular “cradles of jazz,” where music some called “stomp” or “jump” blasted out the doors of honky tonks. The wild abandon of music was tolerated by the local mob. Both the Duke and the Count became known throughout the country with their radio hits.

Meanwhile, Louis Armstrong was busy at the OKeh Records studio in Chicago recording race records. Armstrong and his musicians recorded more than 30 of them. “The music that his Hot Five and Hot Seven bands set to wax in that cramped studio would become a yardstick against which all other jazz would be measured, then and still. It crafted a new language for the callow genre and transformed an all-ensemble approach into the art of the soloist—the highest art when that solitary performer was Louis Armstrong,” Tye writes.

Although they all became very successful and well known, they all had money troubles. The Duke spent an inordinate amount of money trying to keep his band together. He also endorsed products for cash and wrote a memoir. Basie became so broke at various times that he was forced to pawn everything the band had. By the ’60s, their finances improved. All had been in motion pictures, and they were often extremely charitable to their band members. Armstrong was known as the softest touch of them all.

Please enjoy this book; it is packed full of delicious details about these titans of jazz.