Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival Addition to the Festival, the Couple, Who Have Been Married for 37 Presented by Bank of the West Has Been Such a Destination

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Newport Beach, California | May 30–June 2 Photo: Bill Furnish Photo: Bill Newport Beach, California | May 30–June 1

By Melanie Maxwell “Yes! We are coming over this year for the festival,” said Franco One of the most ideal settings for a jazz festival Schuenemann of Morenhoven, Germany, via email. “We have three is a lush outdoor venue at a deluxe coastal weeks of vacation for our trip over to the West Coast. It will be resort with a sunny, comfortable climate and somewhat of a ‘greatest hits’ program,” he said, then provided an exhaustive itinerary that begins on his May 26 arrival with his wife, easy access to music, meals and merriment. Bine, 53, who works in administration at an insurance company. In For nearly two decades, the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival addition to the festival, the couple, who have been married for 37 presented by Bank of the West has been such a destination. Upon years, have planned a night at their favorite B&B in Santa Monica arrival at the hotel, many festivalgoers hand their car keys to the valet, and visits to San Diego, Palm Springs, Sedona and Las Vegas. check in to one of the 407 guest rooms or suites, unpack and don’t “We actually talked old musical friends into joining us at the drive anywhere until check-out time. Hotel guests have no need to leave Hyatt this year,” said Schuenemann. “I’ve already briefed them the property because nearly all of the services and amenities they desire thoroughly on the festival (big smile), and they are very excited and are available onsite, including a great musical lineup, May 30-June 1. very much looking forward to the experience.” Festival headliners this year include Chaka Khan, Dave Koz and The Schuenemanns originally read about the Newport Beach Jazz Friends Summer Horns with Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Festival (as it was then called) in Jazz Times and Jazziz magazines in the Elliot; Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Euge Groove and Peter White; ’90s, before the Internet was widely used. Huge fans of Braun, White, the Sax Pack with Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Jackiem Joyner; along Gregg Karukas, Everette Harp, the Rippingtons, Boney James, with rising stars Vincent Ingala, Jonathan Fritzén and many more. Brian Culbertson and other genre originals, the couple began planning Throughout its history, the festival has encountered a venue move, their vacations around jazz festivals in 1996, starting with the North Sea changes in promoters, title sponsors and dates, and a decline in the Jazz Festival. There, they met a Lufthansa pilot from Germany, Joerg genre as a radio format. Yet, this event, which is produced by Omega Krombach, who shared their musical passions. The new friends began Events, remains an annual tradition for jazz fans nationwide and also making plans to attend the Maui Music Festival and Newport Beach attracts a loyal European clientele. festival together in May 1998. May 2014 | 17

“We flew to L.A., saw Chuck Loeb at a gig in Redondo Beach, then who never comes over to Europe,” said Schuenemann. “As always, we are moved over to the Hyatt for two nights for the festival weekend,” thrilled about seeing the young, up-and-coming, new artists. That’s also Schuenemann recalled. “Many of my all-time heroes were scheduled been something special about the Hyatt. Back in the day we saw Euge on the to perform—Bobby Caldwell, Patti Austin, Candy Dulfer, Boney small stage for just one set, and, man, he tore the place up! We highly enjoyed James, Brian Culbertson with Steve Cole, Joyce Cooling, Ray Obiedo, Vincent Ingala on the Koz Cruise, so we are thrilled to see him on the main Scott Wilkie, among others. We just loved it and had a ball. Back in stage, just like Generation Next, where I’m mainly looking forward to seeing those days, the atmosphere there was just so relaxed and laid back and hearing Nicholas Cole. Friday nights are always special in the smaller compared to concerts over here. The lovely, well groomed grounds of and intimate Back Bay venue where you can mingle with the crowd and the Hyatt struck us right away, and, above meet old and new friends. In 2008, we had a big all, having your room at the venue was an family get-together at the Hyatt festival with my absolute new experience for us then. It’s mother, my brother and his wife, her mother always so cool to know you have your room and many friends there for the weekend.” within walking distance, a clean bathroom If all goes well, the Schuenemanns may have to freshen up in and a fridge filled with cold a bit of a reunion with their German buddy water, wine and beer.” Krombach. However, because many Lufthansa After returning from that trip, the couple pilots request working the Los Angeles flight, knew they had found their new favorite his chances of being scheduled on the exact jazz vacation spot. “Maui was great, and the weekend of the festival can be a bit of a gamble. concerts there were a wonderful experience “If it doesn’t work out for Newport, I will try we will always cherish, but not comparable other festivals instead,” said Krombach, a to the Hyatt,” said Schuenemann. “Over the 25-year veteran commercial pilot with years, we’ve attended 10 annual festivals, Lufthansa and B747 commander. “I have one including making the change to Hidden monthly main-request and often fly to Buenos Valley for a few years. We were so happy Aires in order to see my wife who rather likes to when the festival returned back to the Hyatt, survive the nasty German winter weather in her which we’ve called ‘our home away from home country. We then often meet in Buenos home’ for so long. It is always so wonderful Aires and go to tango shows there.” to meet new people there. We’ve developed Krombach met his wife, Susanna, 17 years deep and rich friendships with many of ago, around the same time he became a smooth them.” These friendships have evolved into jazz fan. “As a Chilean, she had absolutely no jazz-themed travel companions. connection to smooth jazz but was really into the Because many of the smooth jazz stars’ music immediately. Her favorite musician was Paul tours have expanded abroad and on cruises, Taylor, and I got hooked on the music and sound the Schuenemanns don’t need to travel of Boney James, Rick Braun and Brian Culbertson,” to the United States every year for their Photo: Wesley Kridle said Krombach via email from his home jazz fixes. Their last visit for the Newport Mindi Abair signing autographs at the in Wiesbaden, Germany. Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival Beach festival was in 2010. Now, they often Although Susanna wasn’t able to join plan trips with their jazz friends to attend events outside of the U.S. Krombach on his first visit to the Newport Beach Jazz Festival in May 1997, However, with this year’s Newport Beach lineup offering so many he still describes his first jazz festival experience there as “Fantastic!” “I really “big acts” that are special to the couple that they usually don’t get to like the setting and the atmosphere. The sound is great, and everything feels see much, they are making the trip this month. quite relaxed. We have met so many friends at the Newport Beach Jazz Fest,” “It was a real treat for us to have ‘Summer Horns’ on the last Koz cruise, so Krombach said. “I listened to this new kind of music on the radio during my we are really looking forward to seeing them close out the day at the Hyatt. pilot-training stay in Arizona from 1987 to 1989. On the weekends, I listened That will be a high-energy show. And, I’ve always been a tremendous Chaka to Art Good’s ‘JazzTrax’ show on a local soft-rock radio station in Phoenix, fan, so it will be something special to catch her at the Hyatt after all these and was thrilled by the sound and good vibes that this kind of music had.” years. It’s also great to be able to catch a living legend like Bobby Caldwell, continued on page 18 18 | smooth jazz news

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As a pilot, Krombach has a lot of opportunities to visit festivals worldwide, When including the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands; the Mallorca Smooth May 30-June 1 Jazz Festivals in Spain and Augsburg, Germany; the Big Bear Lake JazzTrax Summer Music Festival; Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival; and Capital Where Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Fest in Columbia, Maryland. And, although he enjoys each of them 1107 Jamboree Road immensely, as well as checking out new venues, he always tries to arrange Newport Beach, California his flight schedule to attend the Newport Beach Jazz Festival. “If I have a 48- hour layover in Torrance, I can easily drive to Newport Beach from there. Getting there Flights are available to the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana (SNA), Long It is very convenient for me. I have to fly somewhere to earn my salary Beach Airport (LGB) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The venue is approximately six miles from SNA, 25 miles from LGB and 44 miles from LAX. Parking Onsite parking options are offered for a fee to overnight hotel guests. Offsite parking is available for non-hotel guest festivalgoers for a daily fee, at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, 1131 Back Bay Dr. Lodging The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach offers a limited number of three-night, standard room packages for $1,005 (includes tax but not festival tickets or parking fee) for guests arriving May 30 and departing June 2. This package also includes priority entrance to the festival grounds. For reservations, call 949-729-1234. Photo: David Hopley Photo: David

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival presented by Bank of the West Tickets and information Single-day general admission tickets (Saturday or Sunday) are *$60 per person, anyhow, and I just love the California weather and people, so it will just or *$100 for a two-day pass. Both offer open seating on the gently sloping lawn be a matter of time when I get there again,” Krombach said. behind the VIP section. Blankets and low-back lawn chairs are allowed. Whether or not Krombach makes it to this year’s Hyatt Regency The three-day VIP pass is *$299 per person. It includes premier reserved seating on Friday night in the Back Bay Amphitheater and hosted VIP pre- Newport Beach Jazz Festival presented by Bank of the West, it’s certainly concert reception. On Saturday and Sunday, VIP ticket holders will receive going to be an exciting time for those who do. In addition to nonstop assigned reserved seating in the VIP Golden Circle in front of the main stage on music happening on two stages, there will be the favorite festival fare the golf course, access to the side-stage beverage tent and two drink coupons and beverage vendors and art, crafts and jewelry merchants, festival daily. (*plus shipping and service fees) For tickets or more information, visit www.HyattConcerts.com, or merchandise and a CD-signing space at the PacSounds record store call 949-360-7800. booth. Bank of the West, the presenting sponsor, will have a photo booth and cell phone-charging station at its tent, along with giveaways. Lineup And, at night, the lobby bar, restaurants and patios will be bustling Friday, May 30 Back Bay Amphitheater with fans and artists alike. Of course, there is also room service, three Mindi Abair with special guests Booker T and Elliot Yamin...... 8 p.m. outdoor swimming pools and Jacuzzis, a gym, tennis courts, shuffleboard Saturday, May 31 and table tennis. An extended stay may be required for those interested Golf course and festival grounds, main stage in discovering off-property shopping, dining and sightseeing around this Generation Next featuring popular Southern California community. Restaurants, boutiques and Nicholas Cole, Lin Rountree and Lebron...... 11:30 a.m. Vincent Ingala and Jonathan Fritzén...... 12:45 p.m. upscale department stores are less than a mile away at the Fashion Island Spyro Gyra...... 2:30 p.m. mall. And, art, gift and specialty shops, eateries, boating, biking and a Brian McKnight...... 4:20 p.m. boardwalk can be found at the quaint residential isle of Balboa Island. Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns featuring Mindi Abair, The Hyatt offers hotel guests complimentary shuttle service to and from Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot...... 6:20 p.m. Sunday, June 1 the mall and Balboa Island. Golf course and festival grounds, main stage However, if you can’t fit everything in that you want to do during Down to the Bone...... 11:30 a.m. festival weekend, plan a return visit to the Hyatt during its Concert Series The Sax Pack featuring that begins in June and takes place at the 1,200-seat jazz amphitheater Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Jackiem Joyner...... 12:45 p.m. Bobby Caldwell...... 2:30 p.m. overlooking Back Bay. Unlike our German friends, who travel nearly Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Euge Groove 12,000 miles round-trip to this delightful venue, many of us are within and Peter White...... 4:20 p.m. driving distance to one of the season’s most popular jazz adventures. Chaka Khan...... 6:20 p.m.