15 Weeks of Jazz: 2010 Hyatt Regency Newport Beach JAZZ SERIES

Jazz lovers, have you heard? The 2010 Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Jazz Series starts next Friday, June 25th with Max Weinberg's Big Band. The series will last 15 consecutive weeks, all the way till October 1st!

Every Friday night starting June 25th through October 1st (and a special show on July 4),* a diverse collection of jazz musicians will entertain audiences at the intimate outdoor amphitheater, surrounded by a serene and lush landscape, at Hyatt Regency Newport Beach.

 

Building on the success of the past 18 years, this summer’s stellar line-up of 15 revered jazz acts embodies exceptionally talented vocalists, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists.

Below is the schedule of just the first six weeks' line-up (click the image to enlarge it):

I will be attending June 25th, along with Amy, The OC Gazette's interviewer-extraordinaire. We're so excited to see Max Weinberg in action!

[Max Weinberg]

For those of you who may not immediately recognize this chap, he's the legendary drummer of Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show Band. He's also well known for his longtime role as the drummer in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. I told you-- this guy's the real deal. The big cheese. The whole enchilada. You get the point.


Do you have plans for the 4th of July yet? That holiday always seems to creep up on me and catch me by surprise, without any plans on how to celebrate. Does that ever happen to you? Well, here's some great news! The series' schedule boasts of a sure-to-be-smashing 4th of July bash. The night will include music from The Sax Pack (Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, and Jackiem Joyner) joined by Nick Colionne.

[The Sax Pack's Steve Cole]

[The Sax Pack's Jackiem Joyner]

[The Sax Pack's Jeff Kashiwa]

The following weeks will wow crowds with performances by the likes of jazz pros like Mindi Abair, Warren Hill, Norman Brown, and plenty more.

[Mindi Abair]

[Warren Hill]

[Norman Brown]

“With an ensemble of top musicians in the genre for the 2010 series, this year’s outstanding group of performers showcase a range of jazz sonance from traditional to contemporary and smooth jazz, to R&B and big band. Our vision this year – as the new event management company – is to enhance the popular series with expanded talent, increase outreach to the public, heighten community involvement and sponsorships, and give an overall polished identity to grow the series for years to come.”

-Event Producer and Promoter Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald of Wendy Jayne Productions, Inc.


Here's the FULL line-up:


· June 25th Max Weinberg Big Band with 12 piece Horn Section
· July 4th Sax Pack - Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole & Jackiem Joyner with Nick Colionne
· July 9th Warren Hill
· July 16th Norman Brown's Summer Storm with Phil Perry, Jessy J & Brenda Russell
· July 23rd Mindi Abair with Special Guest Keb Mo
· July 30th Guitars and Saxes with Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Golub & Peter White
· August 6th Bobby Caldwell with 14 piece Big Band
· August 13th Fourplay
· August 20th Steve Tyrell
· August 27th The Rippingtons
· Sept. 3rd Special Guest TBA
· Sept. 10th David Sanborn
· Sept. 17th Special Guests TBA
· Sept. 24th Euge Groove with Special Guests Paul Brown & Marc Antoine
· Oct. 1st Peter White


Tickets can be purchased at www.SummerJazzSeries.com or by calling the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach box office at (949) 729-6400. Dinner packages, reserved seats, sky boxes and overnight accommodations are available.

This is at the top of our summer to-do list here at The OC Gazette - we hope it makes its way onto yours! Let us know which night you plan to attend!

-Blythe
on my Pandora: Mindi Abair's "Flirt"