By Patte Purcell
After the sold out success of Summer Jazzfest the iconic Riviera Palm Springs Resort’s Tom Wright (who attended) asked me to hold future Jazzfests at the Riviera. Needless to say, the opportunity to hold my parties in one of the most beautiful venues on one of the most gorgeous stages I’ve ever seen is a dream come true!
I’m happy and proud to announce that Monday Oct. 5, from 5-10 pm the BMW of Palm Springs Smooth Jazzfest ™ will be officially setting the town on fire! A 42 foot stage, table seating for 600, a huge dance floor and the best music line-up the desert has seen on one night will be just part of the festivities. Dancing is one feature of my parties that I want to encourage so we are having a huge dance floor!
Smooth Jazz, Blues, funk and groove headlining some amazing artists will be taking center stage. It starts at 5 pm with one of smooth jazz’s most iconic crooners, Slim Man (13 CDs) who will be opening up the show with his romantic songs accompanied by his band including the smooth sax sounds of Greg Vail. Craig David Chestnut one of the desert’s favorites on drums and celebrated keys player Hans Zermuehlen will round out this smooth act which will take the show from smooth to sassy. A guest appearance by local sax phenom 16 year old Chase Huna will get this show rocking.
Next up is Deanna Bogart; this talented singer, sax and keys player/composer has 4 national blues awards under her belt. She is going to get her boogie woogie on. I guarantee you will be on your feet and dancing!
She will also be playing with oh-so-talented smooth jazz guitarist Joe Baldino and his 10 piece band. Joe’s new CD is being produced by uber talented hit maker and bassist Brian Bromberg and some special guests including trumpeter Rick Braun and sax player Michael Paulo. Joe is pulling out all the stops for this one with a full 10 piece band including a horn section and percussionist Guillermo Ysas. Special guest sax phenom Chase Huna will also be appearing with him. Put on your dancing shoes people!
This brings us to the headliners; Greg Adams and East Bay Soul. Greg is a founding member of Tower of Power and he arranged and composed most of the Tower of Power hits. Trust me, if you’ve never seen East Bay Soul you are in for a treat. This 10 piece powerhouse of 6 horns, guitar, keys player Joey Navarro, and percussion by Johnny Sandoval, will knock your socks off! They will be performing songs from their new CD That’s Life along with some of their other hits. Vocalist Darryl Fitzgerald Walker’s impressive vocals along with his sax playing guarantees that you’ll be dancing the night away! Greg Adams is legendary and the band is tight, tight, tight.
Our title sponsor, BMW of Palm Springs, will be displaying several cars including their new I-8 electric car with its price tag of $214,000 right in the ballroom! You can check it out and even have your picture taken in/with it in front of a Red Carpet ‘step and repeat’ backdrop.
There will be sponsored liquor stations all night long from Southern Wine and Spirits and Constellation brands including: Kim Crawford Sauvignon, Casa Nobles organic tequila, Coppola wine, Aviation Gin, Ty Ku Sake, JR Ewing private reserve whiskey, Manuscript Cabernet and more.
Happy hour pricing on drinks and food will be available all night. The Riviera will be presenting carving and food stations at happy hour prices so bring your appetite!
One of the hits we had last time was the VIP Lounge for artists, celebrities and VIPs. We are doing the same thing this time but it will include an after party with Joe Baldino and his band and a jam session. We have artists coming in just to play in the jam so it will be a party! That goes from 10:15 until midnight.
We’ve got a 3 camera live feed going on all night by Daniel James that will upload to You Tube so you can watch it after the party or be a part of it, live!
My friend and actor Dutch Haling will be Emceeing the party and will interview sponsors and guests. Photographers Marco Najera will be on hand to take pictures of the guests for Coachella Valley Weekly. Jack and Mikey Cohen of Smooth Jazz Live will be on hand as well. Mikey and his writer partner of “Museically Inclined” Sheryl Aronson of Hollywood Times will also be on hand to cover the event. Mary Ann Rojo one of the deserts Facebook photography ladies will be shooting pictures all night long and posting them to Facebook.
The media will be out in full force. I want to thank my media sponsors first and foremost Coachella Valley Weekly for their amazing support. I also want to thank all of the local TV stations who have been so gracious in their sponsorship. KESQ which owns 2, 3, the CW, Fox, and Telemundo and Patrick Evans “Eye on the Desert” where I’ll be appearing with my production partner Sheree Lillie of Lillie PR will be there along with the great people from KMIR and KPSE.
We even have some special sponsors who will be hosting a hospitality room for the artists and staff. I want to thank once again Crater Lake Vodka and spirits, Roman Blas from ‘Over the Rainbow Desserts’ for some extraordinary desserts and Lynn Hammond catering for what promises to be an amazing array of food for the artists!
I also want to thank Mindy Reed of Zin American Bistro and Jacky Donnell of Elmer’s Restaurant of Palm Springs for their support.
Sheree Lillie is getting sponsors for gift certificates for the raffle for the Palm Springs Symphony Youth Program.
We truly appreciate all of the overwhelming support for this event. The desert loves loves loves its smooth jazz.
I’m looking forward to growing this into a 3 day international jazz festival featuring all kinds of jazz including smooth jazz, straight ahead jazz, latin jazz, brazilian jazz and the standards. I’ve already got some amazing things in the works and some potential artists who will blow your mind!
Don’t miss this fabulous party. Tickets are only $25 for General Admission and VIP tickets are $50 and get you a reserved seat closer to the front and access to the VIP Lounge and After party/jam for artists and VIPS.
Get your tickets at www.purplepass.com under BMW of Palm Springs Smooth Jazzfest. Call me directly at 1-702-219-6777 with any questions. See you there!
Patte Purcell
Muze Muzic
pattepurcell@yahoo.com
1-702-219-6777
