California: IDYLLWILD: Festival, concerts bring weekend full of jazz

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will headline a diverse lineup of jazz, blues and big band musicians performing Saturday and Sunday at the 18th annual Idyllwild Jazz in the Pines festival.

Across town those evenings, jazz legend Marshall Hawkins will head up two outdoor jazz concerts after the festival.

Jazz in the Pines is a fundraiser for Idyllwild Arts Academy, which is where the festival takes place. It will begin at 10:30 a.m. both days. Depending on the stage, the music will wrap up between 6 and 7 p.m. Saturday and between 5 and 6 p.m. Sunday

Jazz in the Pines organizers say this year's lineup is one of the most diverse the festival has seen, featuring more than 25 artists playing traditional straight-ahead jazz, smooth contemporary, Latin jazz, bebop, big band, blues, pop and more.

"We have something for every jazz taste," talent booker Bubba Jackson said in a statement.

Festival chairwoman Marsha Lytle said all profits will to toward scholarships for students at Idyllwild Arts during the regular school year and in its Summer Program.

The festival kicks off Friday with the Patron's Dinner Dance from 6 to 10 p.m. at Nelson Hall on the Idyllwild Arts campus.


The evening will begin with "A Taste of Idyllwild" cocktail party hosted by Idyllwild restaurants. Package levels from $250 to $500 per person include tickets to both days of the festival, reserved seating, preferred parking, gourmet food, wine, fun and music by the Idyllwild Arts Alumni Trio of Four, with a special appearance by Jeff Hamilton and his trio.

On Saturday and Sunday, the festival will be held at three stages: The main stage is the outdoor Holmes Amphitheatre, there is indoor seating at the Stephens Hall -- or "The Barn" -- and the French Quarter is an open-air bistro with food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and dancing.

In addition to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, acts on the main stage Saturday include Oreo Divas, Gregory Porter and Denise Donatelli, with Jose Rizo's Mongorama, Gordon Goodwin's Little Phat Band, Lisa Haley and the Zydekats, Deacon Jones Blues Revue and Vortex Gospel on Sunday. The Idyllwild Arts Alumni Trio of Four plays both days.

For more information or tickets to Jazz in the Pines, go to www.idyllwildjazz.com or call 951-500-4090.

The Town Jazz concerts headed by Hawkins will have a different musical emphasis each evening. Saturday's show will honor Graham Dechter, while Sunday's honors Daniel Jackson.

For more information on the Town Jazz concerts, go to www.idy4u.com/jazz