Notes from the Publisher

Throughout most of my adult life, smooth jazz has been my source of solace, excitement and fun, and the oxygen that revived me during my previously overwhelmingly stressful and unfulfilling career endeavors. So much so that I launched this magazine dedicated to the genre. That was 23 years ago!

To celebrate, we normally host a brunch party and jam session for our advertisers at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California, but we’ve had to postpone it due to the pandemic. However, we definitely plan to resume these fun celebrations again in the near future.

So, I want to give huge thanks to every artist, company and individual who has supported us by advertising in any of the 201 issues of our award-winning magazine that we’ve published for more than two decades.

A lot has changed since our 16-page, mostly black-andwhite, newsprint tabloid rolled off the presses in December 1999. But the insistence of jazz fans to read a physical magazine has not, despite technology that has pushed more publications out of the hands of readers and onto digital screens online.

I have tremendous gratitude for all of the advertisers that have helped us weather the storms of increased print and distribution costs, which include the current nationwide paper shortage and the abrupt closing of our forever (and fantastic) local printer, which was the last web printer in San Diego County. (It was sold unexpectedly to a much less impressive competitor in Orange County, which was too unorganized to print this issue by our usual deadline.) Most newspapers and magazines are printed on web presses, so many of us in the local trade are feeling the pain.

Of course, this magazine also wouldn’t be possible without the group effort of writers, editors, graphic designers, webmasters, administrative support staff, distributors, and most importantly, you, our extremely valued reader! Thank you all for allowing me to live and write about the smooth jazz lifestyle and to share it with other genre enthusiasts nationwide and beyond.

CHEERS TO 23 YEARS!

to these professionals who have participated in the creation of Smooth Jazz News in recent years. Graphic designers: Gina Mancini, Stephani Rosenstein, Tawn Babcock and our original designer, JoAnn Armke (who not only consults on our current layouts, but also edits the entire magazine) Writers: Ken Capobianco, Darcy Peters, Cashmira and Marcia Luttrell (formerly Manna) Copyeditors and proofreaders: Brad Sondak, Paula Fitzgerald, JoAnn Armke and Barbara Knox Support staff: Craig Collier, William Lee, Brenda Madruga and Terry Darton Photographers: Pat Benter, Sherry Fisher, David Hopley, Ambrose Martin and Ellis Moore Website maintenance: Trademark 5150 Distributor: Ricardo Alvarez

32ND ANNUAL