Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/13061
JULY 2010 HEALTH & HAPPINESS 42 WRIT TEN BY CHRIS ALLSOP PHOTOGRAPHED BY LILY STEIN Jazz It Up G reat jazz is so often confined to cramped clubs, stereotypically smoke-filled and drenched in moody blue lighting — that to find it set outside, by the ocean, and for a three-day stretch, is a wonderful thing. Luckily, one of L.A.'s longest running and well-loved jazz festivals, the 23rd Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival, is returning to its picturesque seaside pitch at Rainbow Lagoon Park. Taking place over the second weekend of August (13 – 15), the festival will be showcasing exciting and evolving genres such as Smooth and Straight Ahead Jazz, along side rhythm and blues with a line-up including The Original Jazz Crusaders, making their first SoCal reunion appearance, Al Jarreau & The George Duke Trio, Boney James, and Melanie Fiona. An all-star Tribute to Grover Washington Jr. is also scheduled, helping to completely realize this festival's theme of "Jazz Up Your Summer". Noted drummer Al Williams (also head of Rainbow Promotions, which organizes the annual musical extravaganza) will be performing during the usual Sunday afternoon slot on the 15th with the Al Williams Jazz Society. Talking about the forthcoming festival, Williams said, "I'm excited this year to have a great variety of artists. It is a combination of all the elements that have sustained jazz's popularity for decades; a touch of rhythm, soul, international flavor, innovation and future jazz stars. It's all great music." As with all previous editions of the festival, the second largest event in the local calendar with an average attendance of 30,000, last year's festival held true as a showcase of extraordinary variety and musical talent. Dedicated to the late NBA great and jazz musician, Wayman Tisdale, the program included the rising star Eldredge Jackson, a high-energy set from saxophonist David Sanborn, which included improvisational jazz mixed in among more commercial R&B and rock sounds. Other highlights from last year included jazz piano legend, Les McCann, playing crowd pleasers such as "Compared to What" and "Cold Duck Time". The back-to-back sets of saxophonist Steve Cole and vocalist Leela James brought the crowd to their feet for standing ovations at the end of each of their performances, while the neo-soul genre was ably represented through the sultry vocal styling of Ledisi, one of a trio of neo-soul singers to appear. Best remembered by many, was the jazz triumvirate of guitarists Marc Antoine and Paul Browne with saxophonist John Klemmer, while festival headliner, Angie Stone, demonstrated the reason for her global fame with a stunning set showcasing her musical gifts. This year's line-up is also set to impress. DAVE KOZ AND JONATHAN BUTLER