Wednesday, July 11 | Grand Opening Night THE JAZZ CRUISE ALL-STARS with SHELLY BERG, KEN PEPLOWSKI, JEFF HAMILTON, CHRISTOPH LUTY, RICKEY WOODARD and CHUCK REDDThis series Grand Opening night has been specially designed to give jazz lovers a sampling of The Jazz Cruise, the world’s only full ship charter cruise dedicated to “straight-ahead” jazz. We are delighted to have pianist Shelly Berg, Musical Director of The Jazz Cruise, join us this year, along with Jazz Cruise veterans Ken Peplowski, Jeff Hamilton, Christoph Luty, and Rickey Woodard. Just as last year, rounding out this truly all-star group will be our special guest – Vibist Chuck Redd! Although our entire 11 week series features many jazz stars who perform on the cruise, if there is even the slightest consideration for sailing on a jazz cruise and you can only attend one Wednesday night – our Grand Opening Night is the one not to miss!

Wednesday, July 18 AKIKO-HAMILTON-DECHTER Organ Trio with AKIKO TSURUGA, JEFF HAMILTON and GRAHAM DECHTERThe second Wednesday night of the series is sure to be a “fasten your seatbelt” night by one of the most exciting organ trios in jazz today. Akiko began playing the organ at the age of three and launched her career in jazz immediately after graduating from the Osaka College of Music. In addition to being a crowd favorite at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, Akiko tours Japan and Europe regularly and has released five albums in Japan and five in the U.S., with her newest – So Cute, So Bad featuring this great trio. Downbeat Magazine writer Jeffrey Lien, states, “In the world of jazz drumming, very few can match the virtuosic qualities of Jeff Hamilton.” Watching other drummers study Jeff’s technique and talents is a case of admiration and acclaim intersecting envy. Graham Dechter is one of the most promising young jazz guitarists on the scene today, having been mentored by Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton. In addition to joining the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in 2005 at age 19, he has toured internationally with Eliane Elias and has performed and recorded with Benny Golson, Kurt Elling, and Wynton Marsalis, among others.

Wednesday, July 25 BRIA SKONBERG QUINTET Recognized by Downbeat Magazine as one of 25 For The Future, New York based Canadian singer, trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg will bring her touring quintet to our stage, having created a sensation at this year’s Newport Beach Jazz Party as well as the 2017 The Jazz Cruise. Noted as a millennial “shaking up the jazz world,” (Vanity Fair) Bria has played festivals the world over, including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival, where she will appear again this September. Nate Chinen, NY Times, writes: “Ms. Skonberg has become the shining hope of hot jazz, on the strength of a clarion trumpet style indebted to Louis Armstrong, a smooth purr of a singing voice inspired by Anita O’Day and the

wholesome glow of youth.” Bria is an avid educator and supporter of school opportunities, giving numerous workshops and concerts for students of all ages. She is also co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Festival. Touring in Bria’s band, from New York, will be Patrick Bartley (reeds), Mathis Picard (piano), Devin Starks (bass) and Darrian Douglas (drums).

Wednesday, August 1 KEN PEPLOWSKI and THE KATIE THIROUX TRIOThis swingin’ evening brings together acclaimed saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski with triple-threat bassist, singer and composer- Kathie Thiroux and her trio. The late Mel Torme said, “Since the advent of Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left” and Russell Davies, BBC2 writes; “Ken Peplowski is arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist.” Katie Thiroux continues to gain national prominence with her newest Capri Records CD, Off Beat, included in Downbeat Magazine’s Best Albums of 2017 category. Her trio will feature pianist Justin Kauflin, from the award winning documentary Keep On Keepin’ On and drummer Matt Witek, who studied with Jeff Hamilton and has toured with the John Pizzarelli Quartet and the Woody Herman Orchestra led by Frank Tiberi, among others. During the evening Ken will no doubt pay his respects to Benny Goodman and Katie’s trio will share her inspiration for the styles of Ray Brown, Anita O’Day and Oscar Peterson.

Wednesday, August 8 THE FOUR FRESHMEN – In ConcertSince their inception in 1948, The Four Freshmen have continued to tour worldwide. The group was heavily influenced by Stan Kenton and his orchestra as well as the sounds of Mel Torme’s Mel Tones. They scored their first hit in 1952 with “It’s a Blue World,” followed by “Moody Indigo,” “Day by Day” and “How Can I Tell Her.” The Four Freshmen became influencers in their own right with their four-part harmonies guiding the musical stylings of The Letterman, The Manhattan Transfer and The Beach Boys. Bob Ferreira is currently the longest member of the Freshmen, having joined the group in 1992 and sings the bass vocal part and plays drums. Jonathan Gaines is the most recent member joining the Freshmen in 2017 and sings the 3rd part and plays trumpet. Singing the 2nd part and playing guitar, Stein Malvey joined the group in 2013 and Tommy

Boynton joined the group in 2015, singing lead vocal and playing bass. This Freshmen appearance will be their only show in Orange County this summer and they always sell-out so be sure to reserve your seats early.

Sunset Jazz at Newport11 AMAZING WEDNESDAY SUMMER NIGHTS!

Wednesday, August 15 EMMET COHEN TRIO with special guest TONY GUERREROHaving made an impressive Newport Beach Jazz Party showing and selling the 2nd greatest number of CDs with his trio, it was an easy decision to invite Emmet’s trio to Sunset Jazz. Emmet holds a Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelors Degree from the University of Miani’s Frost School of Music, where he studied with esteemed pianist and educator shelly Berg. In addition to leading his own trio, Cohen is a member of Christian McBride’s trio, “Tip City,” the Herlin Riley Quartet and the Ali Jackson Trio. He appears regularly with Kurt Elling, Billy Hart, Jimmy Heath and Brian Lynch among other luminaries. With Emmet being on a West Coast tour with just his trio, Joe and John decided to add a special guest for the evening with West Coast based Tony Guerrero. His work as a contemporary jazz flugelhornist, trumpeter, composer and producer has garnered him both critical success and a worldwide audience. To date, Tony has released twelve solo CDs, some having chartered on the Billboard Top 20 and his work as a musician and composer can be heard in movies and television. Since 2015, Tony has served as music director for actress/singer Jane Lynch (“Glee”) for her traveling cabaret show, “See Jane Sing”. This week will bring together a special musical pairing (“East meets West”) with the Emmet Cohen Trio and Tony Guerrero…for the first time!

Wednesday, Aug. 22 (In the Seaview Terrace) JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIOMaking his sixth return to Sunset Jazz at Newport, John has enjoyed an over 30-year career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He was hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” The Toronto Star pegged him as “the genial genius of the guitar.” And the Seattle Times saluted him as “a rare entertainer of the old school.” John’s syndicated radio show program, “Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli,” cohosted with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey, airs in more than one hundred markets and can be heard locally on KKJZ (88.1 FM) on Sunday mornings. His performance highlights include headlining concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl and New Year’s Eve at the Kennedy Center, opening for

Frank Sinatra’s World Tour in 1993, accompanying Paul McCartney as part of an itunes live streaming concert in February 2012, and an annual month-long engagement with Jessica, at New York’s Café Carlyle. It is always an honor to welcome back to our series, long-time friend and world class entertainer – John Pizzarelli.

Wednesday, August 29 BYRON STRIPLING / BOBBY FLOYD QUARTET – Have Trumpet, Will SwingA spectacular trumpeter with a very wide range, a beautiful tone, and the ability to blend together many influences into his own style, Byron Stripling is the Artistic Director of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, leader of his own quartet, and constantly in demand to play with pops orchestras around the world. The happiness that exudes through his trumpet and his vocals is reminiscent of Louis Armstrong yet very much his own. It is not surprising that Byron was selected to play the lead in the touring musical “Satchmo: America’s Musical Legend.“ This year’s show is sure to include a number of tunes from Byron’s CD, Have Trumpet, Will Swing, which has been receiving air play on KKJZ, including “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To”, “Danny Boy” and “Love For Sale.”

Joining Byron in their eighth SJN appearance will be jazz organist Bobby Floyd, who happens to be a featured player on Byron’s latest CD and also with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, having shared the stage with Dionne Warwick, Doc Severinson, and many others. In Byron’s CD liner notes, he writes; “Bobby Floyd offers a prodigious technique, peppered with modern flourishes but always grounded in the blues. Whatever the song, Bobby brings it back home, reminding us not to stray too far from the gospel truth.”

Wednesday, September 5 BILLY MITCHELL & CIRCLE OF FRIENDS featuring BILI REDDAn evening with Billy Mitchell and his 8 piece band, with guest vocalist Bili Redd, promises to be a tour de force thru many musical genres, but all united by the Great American Songbook! Billy appeared in Clint Eastwood’s film, Bird, and also in Jazz, an award-winning docudrama. In 2002 Billy founded SAPPA (The Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy), a program designed to increase participation of inner-city students in music and arts scholarship competitions. He is currently performing

with the Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited under the direction of legendary jazz guitarist, Kenny Burrell, Dr. Bobby Rodroguez and Charlie Harrison. Bili Redd, an arranger, composer, lyricist, bassist and vocalist, has worked with Quincy Jones, Sarah Vaughn and George Benson as well as being a 6-time Grammy-nominee with two wins and has been admitted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The two Billys tore it up at the 18th Newport Beach Jazz Party with an all-star band and are guaranteed to do the same for the 9th Annual Sunset Jazz at Newport summer series!

Wednesday, September 12 BARBARA MORRISON-RICKEY WOODARD QUINTET – Celebrating Barbara’s Birthday!Although Barbara’s actual Birthday is Sept. 10, celebrating her special day has become a tradition at Sunset Jazz at Newport. As a fan favorite at Sunset Jazz as well as the Newport Beach Jazz Party, Barbara has dazzled music lovers worldwide as she delivers rich, unique, soulful and highly spirited interpretations of Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Pop songs. Always an advocate for other performers, Barbara opened the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in the historic Leimert Park district of Los Angeles in 2010 and recently opened the California Jazz & Blues Museum several doors from her center. But Barbara’s biggest triumph to date is overcoming her battle with diabetes, with its complications – but none of her courage or determination! Joining Barbara will be swingin’ saxophonist Rickey Woodard, another big fan favorite. Returning to help Barbara celebrate will be all-stars Stu Elster on piano, Richard Simon on bass and “The Brush Master” – drummer Clayton Cameron.

Wednesday, September 19 TOM KUBIS BIG BAND – Live and Unleashed!Back by popular demand – 17 of LA’s best jazz musicians, conducted by composer/arranger Tom Kubis, will again bring a BIG & SWINGING close to the 9th Annual SJN series. Tom’s works have been performed at virtually every major jazz festival in the world including the Playboy Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. The Los Angeles Times describes Kubis’ challenging arrangements as “finely crafted. His charts are crisp and swinging. Written from a horn player’s point of view, they flow with tremendous urgency and drive.” There are literally hundreds of CDs available

where Tom’s arrangements can be heard from college to professional bands. Steve Tyrell’s most recent CD -“A Song For You” contains Tom’s big band arrangement of The Good Life and Them There Eyes, two cuts which are alone worth the price of this great CD. We can’t think of a more exciting and swingin’ way to close our Sunset Jazz series than with the Tom Kubis Big Band!