32nd Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival

AUG. 9-11 32nd Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival

Long Beach, California

By Melanie Maxwell When a 32-year-old festival

is produced by a three-generation family, you get old-school courtesies with new technology and current cultural trends. You can still call Rainbow Promotions, producer of the Long Beach Jazz Festival, and speak with a staff member for event details or to purchase your tickets over the phone. And, this courtesy applies to all of their other events, including the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival. However, if you’re more internet-driven, you can also buy online. While festival founder Al Williams turned over the keys of his concert and

Photo: Josh Adams

Brian Culbertson (performing Aug. 11) festival kingdom a few years ago to his daughter, Kimberly Benoit, president of Rainbow Promotions, she kept some of his signature touches while merging her own with those of her husband, Ozzie Benoit, and their two millennial-aged children. The lineup reflects their collective input with traditional and smooth jazz, spiced with Latin jazz and classic R&B. This year’s roster includes, among others, Brian Culbertson, Terence Blanchard, Norman Brown with Angie Stone, Arturo Sandoval, Sax to the Max (Michael Lington, Paul Taylor and Vincent Ingala), The Rippingtons and Eric Benét. Plus Williams, who is also a bebop

drummer, will perform a tribute to Nancy Wilson with his band, the Al Williams Jazz Society. As with any good festival, the food runs almost parallel in appeal to the entertainment. Typical festival fare such as fried catfish, barbecue, funnel cakes, lemonade and the like are served in the food court, but at this festival, those food booths will be alongside a Health & Wellness Pavilion, an addition championed by Benoit. This space also includes a second stage for musical performances between main stage acts as well as inspirational speakers and wellness experts offering strategies for leading a healthier lifestyle. Vendors at the Health & Wellness Pavilion will represent treatment centers, health care providers and organic food and products, some of which will offer healthy food sampling stations. Adding to the diverse array of vendors (including art, accessories, jewelry, clothing and crafts) and musical acts, a variety of seating options are offered: general admission on the lawn, VIP (table seating in front of the stage with meal and beverage service and special perks), box seats (roped off sections behind VIP with 10 chairs per box), and furnished private cabanas located next to the lagoon that accommodate as many as six people and include additional amenities. (NOTE: As of press time, cabanas were sold out for Saturday and Sunday, but there were some available for Friday.) With the venue at the edge of Rainbow Lagoon, and across the street from Long Beach Harbor, the Long Beach Jazz Festival is great family-friendly Southern California destination for cool jazz, tasty food, unique shopping and refreshing beverages during one of the hottest months of summer.

Sax to the Max featuring Paul Taylor, Vincent Ingala and Michael Lington (performing Aug. 9) Norman Brown (performing Aug. 10)

When

Aug. 9-11

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. 9-11, 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. 9

Second stage at the Health & Wellness Pavilion

Brotha Phil.............................................................................7 p.m. Abuv The Luv featuring Paul Russo.................................8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10

Main stage (Gates open at 11 a.m., music starts at 1 p.m.) Willie Bradley, Al Williams Jazz Society featuring Alexis Joy and Barbara Morrison (A Tribute to Nancy Wilson), Jazz in Pink (featuring Gail Jhonson, Karen Briggs and Mariea Antoinette), The Jazz Classics featuring Patrice Rushen, Poncho Sanchez, Norman Brown with special guest Angie Stone Second stage at the Health & Wellness Pavilion

Romel Veal.............................................................................2 p.m. The Jazzytime Playas.......................................................5:30 p.m. Sulpacio Jones......................................................................7 p.m. Wake Campbell and Theresa Grayson.............................8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 11

Main stage (Gates open at 11 a.m., music starts at 1 p.m.) Darryl Williams with special guest Bryan Thompson, Special EFX All-Stars (featuring Chieli Minucci, Karen Briggs, Eric Marienthal, Gerald Veasley, Lao Tizer, Elliott Yamin and Joel Rosenblatt), The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman, Terence Blanchard, Arturo Sandoval, Brian Culbertson Second stage at the Health & Wellness Pavilion

Gabriel Slam Nobles..............................................................2 p.m. Cameron Clark & The Jazz Experiment featuring Dean James ...........................................................4 p.m. Dominique Hammons............................................................7 p.m. Gary Metz.........................................................................8:15 p.m.