Monthly Archives: February 2015

Stevie Wonder sits in with Brian Culbertson at Long Beach concert!

Brian Culbertson, Stevie Wonder, Rodney James Jr

When Stevie Wonder walked on stage during Brian Culbertson‘s show last night, he thought the crowd had burst into ecstatic applause because they were diggin’ the way he was wailing on the keyboards. It was Valentine’s Day after all. And, Brian was the headliner at Rainbow Promotions’ three-act concert at the Terrace Theater in Long […]

Desert Lexus Jazz kicks off Southern California season May 2!

Desert Lexus Jazz 2014 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Splashes of art, food and specialty beverages will accompany great music at Desert Lexus Jazz on May 2. Tower of Power is scheduled to headline this 16th annual event in the shaded performance pavilion at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Lisa Fischer, and her Caribbean-inspired band Grand Baton, is also on the lineup. Jazz fans […]

Partying with Euge, Peter White & Keiko!

Peter White with his daughter Charlotte & wife Robin at Spaghettini (Photo by David Hopley)

What would a Smooth Jazz News anniversary party be without a few genre stars celebrating with us? Thankfully, we didn’t have to find out. Peter White, Euge Groove and Keiko Matsui joined us on Feb. 8 for the last of two brunch parties commemorating our 15th year of publication. And, DW3 was onstage in the […]

Party with us tomorrow, Feb. 8, at Spaghettini!

Group outside of Spaghettini

We had such a great time during our 15th Anniversary brunch party at Spaghettini last month that we’re doing it again tomorrow, Feb. 8! It will be the same great food (a buffet AND order-off-the-menu entree!), same soulful band (DW3) and same fabulous location (Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California). But, we’ll have an entirely new […]

The Bad-Asses of Yamaha kickin’ it at NAMM

By Melanie Maxwell I had to be out of my mind to drive from San Diego to Anaheim on a Friday afternoon. Especially during our month-end crunch; the pressure of writing a barrage of last-minute stories within an impossible deadline; the night before the Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Gala in Dana Point; two days before […]