Tag Archives: Michael Paulo

Smooth jazz in a magnificent resort setting

The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa Announces Spring 2017 Performances for “Grooves at The Westin” Jazz Concert Series

The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – January 20, 2017 – The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa announces the line-up of the next four concerts with world-class musicians performing in the beautiful outdoor resort setting of the Masters Plaza, weather permitting. Prices vary for seating options from $45 to $99, but all seats offer exceptional views.

The concert schedule is as follows:

Greg Adams & East Bay Soul

Saturday, February 18, 7 p.m. – Greg Adams and East Bay Soul, LA Collective featuring Adam Hawley and Greg Manning with special guest Eric Darius

Eric Darius (photo by Jeff Sciortino)

Greg Adams and East Bay Soul will move you with a performance that keeps the funk alive.  A combination of instrumental funk, soul jazz and rhythm and blues vocals, East Bay Soul creates a union that is nothing short of musical wizardry. Opening the show is the high-energy performance of LA Collective featuring Adam Hawley and Greg Manning with chart-topping saxophonist Eric Darius.

The sound of Greg Adams and East Bay Soul is one of the world’s best-known musical signatures, with a musical journey that has spanned more than four decades.  Adams is a founding member of Tower Of Power, legendary for the arrangements that made the TOP horn section a sought out entity all its own. Greg Adams is the driving force behind East Bay Soul. The expansive ensemble is a blend of Funk Jazz, R&B and Soul. East Bay Soul with a most soulful ensemble creates a union that has been nothing short of musical wizardry. Their extraordinary combined talents all bring incredible energy to the music with heart and soul.  East Bay Soul is dedicated to a singular vision of bringing their brand of funk and the magic of their live performance into every note they play.

Los Angeles Collective, LA Collective for short, is a group of five producers/ musicians/ engineers/ artists/ songwriters who collectively create a variety of versatile styles of music such as Rock, Funk, Dance, Disco, Ska, Punk, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Metal, Country, Folk, R&B, Blues, Electro, Pop, Jazz, Samba, Bossa Nova, Cumbia, Tropical, Merengue, Punta, Indy, etc. Their high-energy performances have been delighting audiences since 2011. Joining them is chart-topping recording artist, Eric Darius. A contemporary jazz saxophonist and composer, Darius’s music has been described as a combination of jazz, R&B, hip-hop and pop.

Tickets for the February 18th show can be purchased at https://www.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=932272

Mindi Abair

Saturday, March 4, 7 p.m. – Mindi Abair

The smooth Lady of Saxophone comes to the Westin for the first time. In a career that spans seven solo albums and countless collaborations in the studio and live on stage, Mindi Abair has made her mark as one of the most recognizable saxophonists in the United States. She has appeared on stage with Bruce Springsteen for a historic night at the Beacon Theater, performed with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” and is the only saxophonist to tour with rock legend Aerosmith since 1973. She has earned the respect of top-shelf artists representing just about every genre of music. Abair’s solo work has garnered ten #1 radio hits, six top-five spots and two #1 spots on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz album chart. Abair received a 2014 GRAMMY nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category for Summer Horns, a #1 recording with her friends Dave Koz, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot, and more recently she received a 2015 GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo CD “Wild Heart.”

Tickets for the March 4th show can be purchased at http://www.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=939392

Rick Braun

Saturday, March 18, 7 p.m. Rick Braun and special guest Josh Vietti

Rick Braun is a smooth jazz trumpet player, multi-instrumentalist and producer known for his gregarious and charismatic performances. However, the humble trumpeter-flugelhorn player-vocalist Braun is “grateful to still be making music with friends.” Braun is a consistent chart-topper who has amassed a catalogue of No. 1 Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and radio hits throughout his solo career that began in earnest in 1992. A two-time winner of the Gavin Report’s Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year award, Braun excels playing any style and genre of music, and his style on the trumpet is unrivaled. In addition to his solo career, Braun also plays in the band BWB, with saxophonist Kirk Whalum and guitarist Norman Brown. In 2005, he and saxophonist Richard Elliot co-founded ARTizen Music Group.

True to his reputation, Rick Braun brings a smooth, mellow and heartfelt performance to Grooves at The Westin. Rick Braun’s inimitable style of jazz trumpet delivers an experience straight to the soul. Joining him is Josh Vietti, Grammy-nominated hip-hop/pop violinist from southern California who incorporates pop, classical, country, gospel and jazz into his performances.

Tickets for the March 18th show can be purchased at http://www.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=932275

Peter White

Saturday, April 1, 2017, 7 p.m. – Peter White with All-Star band featuring Michael Paulo

Undoubtedly one of the most popular figures in smooth jazz and a jazz fusion guitarist and songwriter, Peter White is a veteran on the scene. Over the years, Peter White has maintained a reputation as one of the most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists on the contemporary jazz landscape. Armed with an unparalleled combination of lyricism and energy, he combines elements of jazz, pop and classical guitar to create a sound that is singular and at the same time accessible to a broad audience. He is known for his 20-year collaboration with Al Stewart. In addition, his songs “Midnight in Manhattan”, recorded by Grover Washington, Jr. (1998), and “Bright” (2009) have each reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Songs chart.

Back by popular demand White brings his endearing style and immense talent on acoustic guitar back to Grooves at The Westin, where he will be performing songs from his 15th solo release “Groovin” and will be joined by saxophonist Michael Paulo and keyboardist Gregg Karukas.

Tickets for the April 1st show can be purchased at http://www.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=932276

Post sponsored by The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, 71333 Dinah Shore Dr., Rancho Mirage, California. (760) 328-5955

Peter White celebrates 60th birthday at British pub!

 

Peter White at his 60th Birthday Party at the Robin Hood Pub in Sherman Oaks, California (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White at his 60th Birthday Party at the Robin Hood Pub in Sherman Oaks, California (photo by David Hopley)

Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Warren Hill, Chris Standring, Michael Paulo, Vincent Ingala and a bunch of musicians and other friends celebrated Peter White’s 60th birthday with a Sunday brunch on Sept. 21.

Peter White's 60th birthday party at the Robin Hood British Pub in Sherman Oaks, California (Photo by David Hopley)

Peter White’s 60th birthday party at the Robin Hood British Pub in Sherman Oaks, California (Photo by David Hopley)

Peter chose one of his favorite haunts, the Robin Hood British Pub & Restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California, for the venue. He also selected the menu, a traditional English breakfast buffet with bangers (over-sized sausages), home-fried potatoes, bacon, scrambled eggs, fish and chips, fried tomatoes, beans and peas. But, the party planning and decorating were handled by a group of his friends.

Mindi Abair (center) with her boyfriend Eric Guerra (left) serving up an English breakfast the buffett while Andre Berry (right) looks on (Photo by David Hopley)

Mindi Abair (center) with her boyfriend Eric Guerra (left) serving up an English breakfast the buffett while Andre Berry (right) looks on (Photo by David Hopley)

Charlotte White, Peter and Robin's daughter (photo by David Hopley)

Charlotte White, Peter and Robin’s daughter (photo by David Hopley)

It was an intimate affair that included White’s wife Robin Pao and their daughter Charlotte. Rick Braun, who will be joining Peter and Mindi on A Peter White Christmas tour, couldn’t make it because he was performing back East. But, his wife Christiane, and their children Emma and Kyle represented Rick at this festive occasion.

Christiane Braun, Luis Del Arroz, Peter White & Emma Braun (photo by David Hopley)

Christiane Braun, Luis Del Arroz, Peter White & Emma Braun (photo by David Hopley)

“Usually, we all see each other at shows or music industry events, but last Sunday I loved that we all got together where none of us were working so we could all just relax and catch up,” Peter said.

I don’t know if there was much relaxing, but there certainly was a lot of catching up and goofing around. A photo booth quickly filled up with quests in quirky poses, wearing funny hats, viking helmets, tiaras, satin crowns, over-sized glasses and holding up signs with sayings such as “princess,” “hot” and “someone alert the paparazzi.”

John Mahon (left), Peter White (center), John Menzano (right) & friends at photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

John Mahon (left), Peter White (center), John Menzano (right) & friends at photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White with Dave Koz, John Menzano, John Mahon, Charlotte White, Kyle Braun & friends in photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White with Dave Koz, John Menzano, John Mahon, Charlotte White, Kyle Braun & friends in photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

I’ll be writing more about this lively event in the October-November issue of Smooth Jazz News, which features the birthday boy on the cover! Meanwhile, here are some photos from this wonderful celebration (all taken by David Hopley):

Peter White (center) with his friends from Seattle, Chrissy & Eric Yamada (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White (center) with his friends from Seattle, Chrissy & Eric Yamada (photo by David Hopley)

Michael & Teri Paulo with friends at the photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

Michael & Teri Paulo with friends at the photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

Olivia Rox (Warren Hill's daughter), Charlotte White & Emma Braun (photo by David Hopley)

Olivia Rox (Warren Hill’s daughter), Charlotte White & Emma Braun (photo by David Hopley)

Olivia Rox with her parents, Warren & Tamara Hill at the photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

Olivia Rox with her parents, Warren & Tamara Hill at the photo booth (photo by David Hopley)

Eric Guerra, Peter White & Mindi Abair (photo by David Hopley)

Eric Guerra, Peter White & Mindi Abair (photo by David Hopley)

Bud Harner (Chapman & Co. Management) signing Peter White's birthday card (photo by David Hopley)

Bud Harner (Chapman & Co. Management) signing Peter White’s birthday card (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White getting ready to blow out candles on his guitar-shaped birthday cake (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White getting ready to blow out candles on his guitar-shaped birthday cake (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White & Jacqui Brown (Paul Brown's wife) posing for photos while Peter's wife Robin Pao (left) enjoys the fun (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White & Jacqui Brown (Paul Brown’s wife) posing for photos while Peter’s wife Robin Pao (left) enjoys the fun (photo by David Hopley)

Brian Simpson, Dave Koz & "Third" Richardson (photo by David Hopley)

Brian Simpson, Dave Koz & “Third” Richardson (photo by David Hopley)

Warren Hill & Michael Paulo (photo by David Hopley)

Warren Hill & Michael Paulo (photo by David Hopley)

"Third" Richardson, Vincent Ingala & Pat Prescott at Peter White's 60th birthday party (photo by David Hopley)

“Third” Richardson, Vincent Ingala & Pat Prescott at Peter White’s 60th birthday party (photo by David Hopley)

John Mahon (who played drums with Peter live and on his first three CDs, and who now has been percussionist & backing vocals for Elton John for the past 18 years) and Chris Standring (photo by David Hopley)

John Mahon (who played drums with Peter live and on his first three CDs, and who now has been percussionist & backing vocals for Elton John for the past 18 years) and Chris Standring (photo by David Hopley)

Stevo Theard & Jamey Tate (photo by David Hopley)

Stevo Theard & Jamey Tate (photo by David Hopley)

A dessert bar filled with candy! (photo by David Hopley)

A dessert bar filled with candy! (photo by David Hopley)

Guitar-shaped birthday cake (photo by David Hopley)

Guitar-shaped birthday cake (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White with his birthday cake candles (Photo by David Hopley)

Peter White with his birthday cake candles (Photo by David Hopley)

One of two birthday cakes (photo by David Hopley)

One of two birthday cakes (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White, Sherry Fisher & John Barnick (photo by David Hopley)

Peter White, Sherry Fisher & John Barnick (photo by David Hopley)

English breakfast buffet at Robin Hood Pub (photo by David Hopley)

English breakfast buffet at Robin Hood Pub (photo by David Hopley)

Robin Hood British Pub & Restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California (photo by David Hopley)

Robin Hood British Pub & Restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California (photo by David Hopley)