Category Archives: Concerts and Festivals

Current information on smooth jazz concerts and festivals nationwide

Final weekend of 2014 Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

Good morning from Catalina Island! This is the final weekend of the 2014 Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival. Last night, Peter White performed an “unplugged” show on the sand at Descanso Beach. Tonight, the festival returns to the historic Catalina Casino Ballroom, where the artist’s musical magic will be illuminated by the elegance of Tiffany chandeliers. […]

Catalina Casino Ballroom is the SJN cover background

The Catalina Island JazzTrax Festivals provides the perfect mix of elegance, the serenity of nature’s awesome beauty and the magic of music in a seaside island cove. Each of the two festival weekends kick off with a Thursday night “Unplugged Under the Stars” concert on the sand at Descanso Beach. The main festival is held […]

Choose your “Wild” life at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival!

By Melanie Maxwell Of course, there is live music in the Casino Ballroom at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, Friday through Sunday. There are also Thursday night “Unplugged” concerts at Descanso Beach (Oct. 9: saxophonist Mindi Abair; Oct. 16: British guitarist Peter White), with seating on the sand, in lawn chairs or at a private […]

Summer Horns at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach

“I just got off the Dave Koz cruise, and l coming to see this show again!” a woman exclaim while handing her keys to the valet upon her arrival at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach for the Dave Koz & Friends “Summer Horns” concert. As I entered the grassy, outdoor amphitheatre overlooking Back Bay at […]

Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Payne for bringing back Jazz at the Beach!

Before I even entered the venue, I was impressed with how well Kathy and Willie Payne and their staff organized their Lites-Out Jazz at the Beach concert last Sunday. Clearly marked signs directed patrons to the VIP parking lot where volunteers waved us through and pointed to available spaces to park our car. From there, […]

AARP is HIP!

The crowd was still buzzing about Patti Austin’s Friday night performance when I arrived at AARP’s Ideas@50+ conference at the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday morning . Of course, when I heard these comments I dug into my bag and handed the person or group (obviously jazz fans) a copy of the latest issue […]

Labor Day special for Lites-Out Jazz at the Beach!

Save $20 per ticket to Lites-Out Jazz at the Beach starring Eric Darius, Steve Oliver, Marc Antoine & Brian Simpson, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre! This special promotional price is available from 10am today through Monday, Sept. 1, at 11:30pm. Enter promo code LABORDAY at checkout at http://www.litesoutjazzatthebeach.com/purchase-tickets-here.html. Lites-Out Jazz […]

Ticket giveaway Tuesday!

Enter to win tickets to see Jonathan Butler & Harvey Mason at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Concert Series, Friday, Aug. 22 (www.hyattconcerts.com) Congratulations to Pamela Bates of Los Angeles, CA, she won a pair of tickets to see Jonathan Butler & Harvey Mason at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Concert Series on […]

Jazz outings this weekend in California

Looking for a fun jazz outing this weekend? Here are some suggestions: Friday, Aug. 15 Paul Taylor and Spencer Day (as the opening act) are scheduled to perform at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Concert Series on Friday, Aug. 15, 7pm, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, California. Tickets and information: www.HyattConcerts.com, 949-360-7800. Saturday, Aug. […]

Music, mingling & more at the Long Beach Jazz Festival!

The 27th Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival will be filled with memory-making music, mingling, tasty festival fare and unique merchandise this weekend, Aug. 9-10. Among the many headliners, Al Jarreau will recall fond memories of the late George Duke with a musical tribute to his longtime friend on Sunday. The GRAMMY-winning vocalist will surely include […]