Upcoming Smooth Jazz Festivals and Events – 2017

October 19-22, 2017 – JazzTrax Catalina Island Festival, Catalina Island (Avalon), CA

​Jazz host and producer Art Good brings back the 31st Annual JazzTrax Jazz Festival to Catalina Island for two weekends in October.  If you missed your chance to get to this picturesque little gem of an island {Art Good calls it ‘Smooth Jazz Island’) last week, don’t wait any further for your opportunity to get here on this final weekend of this festival, It JUST doesn’t get any better than this!

Weekend 2 features Guitar Tango (Peter White and Marc Antoine), David Benoit, Greg Adams and East Bay Soul, Vincent Ingala and Lindsey Webster and more! Traveling to Catalina by either ferry (sometimes with the artists on the same ship) or helicopter is an experience you won’t soon forget!

More information: www.jazztrax.com

October 19-22, 2017 – Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Clearwater, FL

Get your party ON at the 38th Annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday! Coming a long way from their humble beginnings of concerts on the back of a flatbed truck and at venues around Clearwater, this four-day and night live music festival is enjoyed by over 35k people in October, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year to Coachman Park with the Gulf of Mexico as its magnificent backdrop. The festival’s diverse lineup covers a wide array of musical styles and showcases a new generation of artists, emerging stars and classic legends.

Artists include Jason Miles’ Celebrating the Music of Weather Report, Gerald Veasley, Karen Briggs, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Postmodern Jukebox, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Four Tops, The Temptations and many, many more!

More information: www.clearwaterjazz.com

October 20 & November 10, 2017  – Phil Denny’s Gallery Suite Jazz Series, Lansing, MI

Now in its fifth season, this monthly series continues its tradition of offering some of the best entertainment in downtown Lansing! The Gallery Suite Jazz Series is hosted by  saxophonist Phil Denny and takes place inside La Fille Gallery; downtown Lansing’s most unique and intimate artist-owned studio space. The intimately hip, urban, raw venue creates the ideal backdrop for you and your guests to experience a night of lively entertainment with an emphasis on diversion though pure musical artistry.

October 20 – saxophonist Rayse Biggs

November 10 – saxophonist Darren Rahn

More information: https://www.lafillegallery.com/jazz-night

October 21 – November 25, 2017 – Grooves at the Westin (Palm Springs Jazz Series), Palm Springs, CA

Join saxophonist and producer extraordinaire Michael Paulo for his 3 show Fall  Jazz series at the incomparable Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa! Don’t miss these top Smooth Jazz artists in a magnificent resort setting.

October 21 – Euge Groove and Brian Simpson

November 18 – Michael Paulo & Friends featuring Deniece Williams

November 25 – Gerald Albright

More information: www.westinmissionhills.com/grooves

NOW – February 17, 2018 – Montrose Room, Chicago, IL

Our good friends at SmoothChicago.com continue to bring the best of the Smooth Jazz world to our friends in the Big Windy! Big name artists are coming each month to the intimate Montrose Room – so many, that I’m almost wishing that SmoothChicago.com could bottle up their cool mojo and bring it to all corners of the world so that we could partake in their greatness! Don’t miss any and all of these artists coming to the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel.

October 21 – Mindi Abair

October 28 – Jonathan Butler

November 11 – Alex Bugnon

November 25 – Tribute to the music of Santana with the Rico Band

December 2 – Eric Darius

*December 16 – Brian Culbertson (tickets not yet on sale)

December 29 – Peter White

December 31 – New Years Eve Celebration with Paul Taylor

*February 17, 2018 – Nick Colionne and Steve Cole (tickets not yet on sale)

More information: www.smoothchicago.com

October 22, 2017 – 7th Annual Jazz in the Courtyard, Stockton, CA

Inner City Productions presents saxman Jackiem Joyner to the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel Ballroom for the final show of their series. While the producers and the host hotel give little info for the show, their past performances have been sold out and a big hit with the local crowds.  Don’t miss out on this chance to see Jackiem as he continues to support his new album, MAIN STREET BEAT on Mack Avenue Records.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/InnerCityProductionsPresents/

October 23, 2017 – Incognito with Maysa, Najee, The Hangar at McClellan Conference Center, Sacramento, CA

JUST ANNOUNCED!

A rare West Coast appearance by the British Acid-Jazz band Incognito with vocalist Maysa and special guest saxophonist Najee hits The Hangar in Sacramento! Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime coup go on sale TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 at 10am!  Don’t miss it!

More information: www.huskyshows.com

October 28 – December 2, 2017 – Jazz at Lyman Series, New Haven, CT

Enjoy live music in Connecticut during the Lyman Center’s Fall Jazz Series. The four show series will take place at Southern Connecticut State University’s John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts.

October 28 – Nick Colionne, Maysa, Brian Simpson and Art Sherrod, Jr.

November 18 – Gerald Albright, Alex Bugnon and Marc Antoine

December 2 – Euge Groove, Keiko Matsui, Adam Hawley and Lindsey Webster

More information: http://www.southernct.edu/lyman/

November 2-5, 2017 – 13th Annual Hub City Jazz Festival, New Brunswick, NJ

Each year in early November, thousands of music lovers from throughout the tri-state and beyond flock to the Hub City to attend this weekend of cool jazz and soul — The Hub City Jazz Festival. Started in 2004, this multi-day, multi-venue jazz music festival, which attracts music lovers from 32 states, is more than just a concert, it’s an event! It’s a place to people-watch, eat, drink, shop, mingle, relax, make new friends, and of course, hear some of the coolest jazz and soul music on the planet!

This year’s artists include Boney James, The Lao Tizer Band (featuring Chieli Minucci, Karen Briggs and Eric Marienthal), The JT Project and many more!

More information: http://www.hubcityjazz.com/

November 4, 2017 – May 26, 2018 – Church Street Jazz Series, Norfolk, VA

The Church Street 2017-2018 Jazz Series continues their third season at the historic Attucks Theatre and the Harrison Opera House in Downtown Norfolk! A lot of starpower coming to Virginia!

November 4 – Richard Elliot

January 6, 2018 – Marion Meadows

March 17, 2018 – Vincent Ingala

April 21, 2018 – Bob James Trio

May 26, 2018 – Fourplay

More information: https://www.livenation.com/artists/173219/church-street-jazz

November 8-11, 2017 – Earl Klugh’s 8th Annual Weekend of Jazz at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, SC

Join Earl Klugh November 8-11 at Kiawah Island Golf Resort for his 8th Annual Weekend of Jazz! Since 2004, Earl has been bringing world-renowned artists together with jazz enthusiasts for his one-of-a-kind weekend getaways.

ARTIST LINEUP JUST ANNOUNCED! Vanessa Williams, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, BWB (Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum & Norman Brown), Foreign Affair (Michael Lington, Marc Antoine, Alex Bugnon), Jamison Ross, Vincent Ingala, Earl Klugh’s Night of Guitars (includes Earl Klugh, Lee Ritenour and Ray Parker Jr.) and many more!

More information: www.weekendofjazz.com/kiawah

November 16 – December 24, 2017 – Kitaro – Kojiki and the Universe Tour, various cities

Presenting a totally unique visual experience, the  live in concert presentation of “Kojiki and The Universe” merges Kitaro’s Grammy nominated music from the album “Kojiki” with space-age photographic scenes of the Universe. “Kojiki and The Universe LIVE” features time-lapse images, expertly intertwined with real-time films provided by and in cooperation with Kyoto University’s Astronomy Professor Kazunari Shibata, NASA, and The Hubble Space Telescope. Taiko drumming and Butoh dancing enriches this program. An inner journey of the soul featuring Kitaro performing his music with the mysterious and evocative Butoh dancing of Aya Irizuki accompanied by Tenrin Taiko company and violin soloist DeLaney.

Kitaro journeys us to outer space and beyond with music and simulation and original NASA, Hubble Space Telescope and simulation images all set to the mythology of Kojiki. In Japanese mythology, Kojiki is a story closely related to evolution of the universe. It describes the origin of Heaven, Earth and the creation of the Gods. Utilizing Kitaro’s “Kojiki” score as the soundtrack, “Kojiki and The Universe” is a chronicle of astronomical research as well as a beautiful introduction to modern astronomy for everyone.

Kitaro presents this particular concert series to the West Coast  (and beyond) at sacred spaces for a truly enriching event.

November 16 – Garfield Theatre, La Jolla, CA

November 17 – Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, CA

November 18 – Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA

November 19 – Raven Performing Arts Theater, Healdsburg, CA

November 30 – First Congregation UCC, Portland, OR

December 1 – Center for Spiritual Living, Seattle, WA

December 22 – Grand Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

December 24 – Genting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

More information: http://www.domomusicgroup.com/kitaro/

*** Holiday Tours – November-December 2017 ***

We always love it when our favorite artists get into the holiday spirit! Always a great way to end the touring season with a bit of merriment and fun. Too many to count, too many cities to list individually, so we’re listing them by main artists.  More will be added as their schedules get confirmed. Check out your faves here!

Dave Koz’ 20th Anniversary Christmas Tour (Peter White, David Benoit, Rick Braun and Selina Albright)  http://davekoz.com/dave-koz-tour-dates/

Norman Brown’s Joyous Christmas (Bobby Caldwell, Marion Meadows)  http://www.normanbrown.com/tour

Keiko Matsui’s Tidings of Jazz and Joy  (Euge Groove, Lindsey Webster and Adam Hawley)  http://www.keikomatsui.com/tour_dates.php

Elan Trotman’s Holiday Winds (Althea Rene’, Tracy Hamlin, Ashling ‘Biscuit’ Cole)  http://www.althearene.com/Calendar.aspx

December ​30-31, 2017 – Rick Braun’s New Year’s Eve Getaway, Tucson, AZ

​Trumpeter Rick Braun brings back two days of live music, dinner, dancing, champagne toast, golf tournament, silent auction and outrageous fun with a New York theme back to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson.

This year’s artists include Dave Koz, Jonathan Butler, Michael Lington, Vincent Ingala and Lindsey ​Webster.

Webpage has not been updated but will be soon: www.tucsonnewyearseve.com

January 19-21, 2018 – The Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend, Melbourne, FL

It’s NEVER too early to think about great concerts and festivals…so why not start planning to start 2018 right with a cool Smooth Jazz festival in Florida?  The place: The Plaza Resort and Spa, Daytona Beach’s Grand Resort! Join Rick Braun, Peter White, Nick Colionne, Brian Culbertson, Eric Darius and Vincent Ingala for a fun-filled and festive weekend. This ‘cruise on land’ includes a weekend getaway of indoor concerts, dinners, brunches, beach and lots of fun. This exclusive intimate weekend escape is limited and won’t last for long!

More information: www.floridasmoothjazzweekend.com

February 24, 2018 – Punta Gorda Wine and Jazz, Punta Gorda, FL

Nick Colionne and Eric Darius have already been confirmed to perform for the 13th annual Punta Gorda Wine and Jazz Festival; another act will be announced shortly. “We want 2018’s festival to be something special. A true celebration to honor those have made the festival what it is today, said John Wright, President of the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce. The bar has yet again risen to bring the very best of world-class jazz artistry to Punta Gorda.

More information: www.puntagordahamber.com

February 26 – March 2, 2018 – Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Cruise IV, Miami, FL to Montego Bay, Jamaica

Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, Joe Bonamassa and Sixthman invite you on another bluesy journey across the Caribbean aboard the Norwegian Jade.

Artists include Joe Bonamassa, Black Country Communion, Los Lobos, JJ Grey & Mofro, Ana Popovic, North Mississippi AllStars, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, The James Hunter Six, Matt Andersen, Kirk Fletcher & Josh Smith, The Marcus King Band, Greyhounds, Toronzo Cannon, Larkin Poe, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, New Orleans Suspects, The Steepwater Band, Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, Jack Broadbent, The Bros. Landreth, Juzzie Smith and many more to be announced!

2,100 Blues aficionados, 5+ venues of music, 4 days of live performances, infinite new memories = one magical floating blues festival! Book your cruise today!

More information: www.bluesaliveatsea.com

February 2-9, 2019 & February 23-March 2, 2019 – The Smooth Jazz Cruise

2 sailings, Eight-day, full ship charter 

Ports of call: Samana, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; CocoCay, Bahamas

Ship: M/S Celebrity Infinity

Embarkation: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Since 2004, The Smooth Jazz Cruise has set the standard not only for jazz cruises, but for all theme cruises, earning the title “The Greatest Part at Sea.” If you haven’t had the pleasure of going on a music cruise, this is the one to cut your jazz chops on…but be forewarned: once you’ve been on a themed cruise, you will NEVER be able to go on any other ship ever! The interaction between fans and artists, the late night jam sessions, the activities onboard, the Q&A sessions…I could go on forever! And while you may think that 2019 is still two years away, it actually is not too soon to book this cruise as both 2018 cruises are already sold out and has a waitlist for both sailings!

Hosted by Marcus Miller and Boney James, featuring Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Lalah Hathaway, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Najee, Eric Darius, Nick Colionne, Jonathan Butler, Alonzo Bodden. More great acts to be announced in September.

More information: www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com

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