Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/13059
JAZZ UP YOUR SUMMER 23rd Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival August 13-15, 2010 By: Daniel Albert 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. Yes, one of Los Angeles 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 & Blues, with a lineup 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 for Saturday, helping to completely realize this festival's theme of "Jazz Up Your Summer". This special tribute is the brainchild of Musical Director Jason Miles and is sure to be an audience favorite. The line-up includes noted saxophonist Ronnie Laws as well as Tom Scott, musician and composer famous for creating the themes for TV shows The Streets of San Francisco and Starsky and Hutch. 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 Long Beach 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. This year's line-up is also set to impress. Starting on Friday, the headliners are the Original Jazz Crusaders featuring Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder reunited and playing their blend of jazz, pop and soul. The band, in its various incarnations, have been around for forty years with more than that number of albums produced. It was only in April that the announcement of a reunion tour starring Sample, Henderson and Felder back together came down the wires, a collaboration last witnessed in 1974. Also headlining on Friday will be the three-time Grammy Award nominee saxophonist Boney James. A songwriter and producer, James helped popularize urban jazz and remains one of the most successful instrumental artists with record sales nearing three million. Besides his recognition at the Grammy's, James has also been nominated by the NAACP for Best Jazz Album. His recent album, Send One Your Love, managed a run of eight consecutive weeks at the number one spot on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. The dynamite duo of saxophonist Dave Koz and singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler will be augmented further by special guest Sheila E., the latter known, among other things, for her collaborations with Prince. Kanye West's Canadian protégé, Melanie Fiona is also scheduled to perform on Saturday. Fiona's debut album, The Bridge (released in 2008), earned her a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding New Artist while her breakout song, "It Kills Me," achieved a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Tickets for this perennially enjoyable festival are available through Rainbow Promotions (562)-424-0013, or you can buy online with Ticketmaster.com. For those interested in splashing out, VIP tickets are available for $155 on Friday, and $180 per seat on Saturday and Sunday, and include dinner, wine service and backstage access. Reserved box seat tickets retail at $60 on Friday and $75 per seat on Saturday and Sunday. General admission/ lawn seating is $45 (prior to August 11) and $50 at the gate. Gates open at 5pm, with show time starting at 7pm. Friday and Saturday gates opens at 11:00am and show time starts at noon. One of the longest-running annual jazz festivals in Southern California, the Long Beach Jazz Festival continues to stay up to date and broad in its appeal, offering something for everyone - from soulful party-vibe, smooth jazz grooves to more traditional jazz improvisation. Relax, enjoy, and have a matchless musical weekend. LIVEMAGS.NET JULY>>10 45