31st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival

2016 Long Beach Jazz Festival

Aug. 10-12 31st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival

Long Beach, California

Maysa (performing Aug. 10)

Jonathan Butler (performing Aug. 10) Michael Haggins (performing Aug. 11 on the second stage)

Randy Crawford (performing Aug. 12)

Photo: Raj Naik

By Melanie Maxwell The Long Beach Jazz Festival offers a symphony of jazz genres in a picnic-perfect park next to a lagoon, and close enough to Rainbow Harbor for fans to feel its refreshing breezes.

Over three days, the 31st annual event will feature a lineup of contemporary and traditional jazz and R&B with a splash of Latin jazz. Smooth jazz favorites Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler and David Benoit; jazz/R&B vocalists Randy Crawford and Maysa; as well as El Conguero Poncho Sanchez, and other crowd-pleasers will take the stage. This year’s theme, “A Healthy Taste of Jazz,” fits nicely into the festival setting: fresh air and the sun beaming down natural doses of vitamin D. There will be a Health & Wellness Pavilion in the adjacent Vendor Village filled with wellness experts, healthcare providers, treatment center representatives, organic food and health product vendors, and sampling stations. A second stage will feature wellness

and inspirational speakers, plus more musical entertainment. Kimberly Benoit, president of Rainbow Promotions, LLC, the festival producer, created the Health & Wellness Pavilion a few years ago with the goal of increasing awareness of all forms of healthcare and healthy living opportunities available to the local community. Of course, there will also be a variety of traditional festival fare (fried fish, funnel cakes, barbecue, etc.) and beverages (fresh-squeezed lemonade, beer, alcoholic drinks, etc,), as well as unique clothing, art and accessories vendors. Benoit has added some more personal touches to this three-generation, family-produced jazz festival (which she runs with the help of her husband, Ozzie Benoit, and their two children, son Christen, and daughter Blaire), since taking the helm from her father, Al Williams: the upgraded media center where live artist interviews are broadcast on the JumboTron; and, probably one of the of the most popular, a cabana section

for a more comfortable and private festival experience. Each of the six cabanas is a furnished, private space draped in white, flowing fabric, with seating for as many as six people. Amenities include two bottles of wine, six Photo: Ellis Moore Photography Cabanas are an elegant choice for enjoying the complimentary souvenir programs, personal attendant for cash bar service and access to VIP restrooms and mingling with the artists. As of press time, cabanas were sold out for Saturday and Sunday. Friday was still available, priced at $1,200 per cabana ($1,250 at the gate). Long Beach Jazz Festival Other ticket options are VIP (includes table seating in front of the stage, upgraded restrooms, dinner and wine), box seats (reserved seating in roped off sections behind VIP) and general admission (open lawn seating; bring your own blanket or low-back chair). Whether you enjoy a casual festival outing with a group of friends on the grassy knoll in general admission, spring for stage-front seats in the VIP section, or indulge in the coolness of a cabana, the Long Beach Jazz Festival plans to deliver patrons a healthy dose of summer festival fun!

When

Aug. 10-12 Where

Rainbow Lagoon Park, E. Shoreline Dr. and Linden Ave., Long Beach, California Getting there

Flights are available into the Long Beach Airport (LGB), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA). Distance to the venue is approximately 10 miles from LGB, 22 miles from LAX and 29 miles from SNA. Parking

Festival parking is $15 at the nearby Marina Green Park and the Convention Center parking structure. Staying there

The Westin Long Beach is the festival’s host hotel. The group rate for festival patrons staying there, Aug. 10-12, is based on availability. For reservations and information about the Westin, located at 333 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California, call 562-436-3000. Tickets and information

www.longbeachjazzfestival.com, 562-424-0013

Lineup

Friday, Aug. 10

Main stage (Gates open at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m.) Kim Waters and Marion Meadows, Maysa, Jonathan Butler Second stage at the Health & Wellness Pavilion

Ashley McCray......................................................................8 p.m. Wendell MusicMan Moore................................................9:20 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 11

Main stage (Gates open at 11 a.m., music starts at 1 p.m.) Nick Smith; Eric Roberson; Nick Colionne; Everette Harp, Chante Moore and Doc Powell; Poncho Sanchez; Marcus Miller Second stage at the Health & Wellness Pavilion

Cameron Clark and The Jazz Experiment.............................2 p.m. Railway HD.......................................................................5:30 p.m. Side Effect.............................................................................7 p.m. Michael Haggins...............................................................8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 12

Main stage (Gates open at 11 a.m., music starts at 1 p.m.) Brian Simpson and Jazmin Ghent; David Benoit and Marc Antoine; Keiko Matsui and Eric Marienthal; Kirk Whalum; Randy Crawford; Stanley Clarke Second stage at the Health & Wellness Pavilion

The Other Mules....................................................................2 p.m. The Jazztyme Playas.............................................................4 p.m. Sulpacio Jones......................................................................7 p.m. Ricky Jones......................................................................8:15 p.m.