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IT’S FESVITAL TIME!!
THE FOOD! THE FUN! JAZZ FAMILY!
AUGUST 21 -23, 2025
TICKETS ON SALE – NOW!
Shuffle, Swing, Sizzle!
It’s time to lend us your ears and your dancing feet. Our 2025 Festival is booked and ready to rock. We have Grammy winners, Emmy winners, a big band, a finalist from NBC’s The Voice, and composers for film, television, and music videos. These pros have performed with Barbara Streisand, Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Boz Scaggs, Carlos Santana, and Lennie Karvitz. And that’s a partial list! Tickets go on sale July 1.
Our immersive 3-day live jazz experience includes two evenings: Thursday and Friday, August 21 & 22 at Arrowhead Lake Association’s Tavern Bay Beach Club. Thursday evening musical performances includes the award-winning special guest performances by the 2025 Blue Jay Jazz Foundation Future Generation Jazz Scholars.
Saturday, August 23 the party moves to Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa for an early evening of live jazz. Experience sensational live jazz under tall pine trees overlooking the beautiful lake.
Best of all, the 2025 Jazz Festival is for a good cause – Proceeds help provide instruments, equipment and music making opportunities for our local youth.
Thursday, August 21
Ms. Monét & Friends
Thursday, August 21 brings Ms. Monét & Friends to our stage at Tavern Bay. She’s toured with Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, and Joe Bonamassa, and sung with R&B legend Soloman Burke.
Critics say, “She shines, channeling the class and vocal genius of the greats before her.”
Special guest artists include George Whitty on keyboard and Michael O’Neill on guitar.
Opening the concert event will be DAP – Digital Audio Projekt – with André Berry, Bruce Rubio and Harold Allen Jr. There will be a special awards ceremony featuring Blue Jay Jazz Foundation’s 2025 Future Generation Jazz Scholars.
Friday, August 22
Gordon Goodwin Little Phat Band
Friday, August 22, award-winning composer and arranger Gordon Goodwin leads his “Little” Phat Band bringing the joy of jazz and funk wrapped in big band swing.
The ten band members are seasoned pros ready to win over every audience they entertain.
Opening the concert event will be Ara Tokatlian Quintet featuring Ara Tokatlian, Javier Alverez, Joseph Orellana, Jade Pareja, and Carson Ramos.
Saturday, August 23
Tamir Hendelman, piano virtuoso
Eddie Wakes, vocals
LA Jazz Salon
“UNFORGETTABLE”
An Evening of Nat King Cole and more…
Saturday, August 23, the Festival offers the Los Angeles Jazz Salon on the lawn of the Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa with piano virtuoso Tamir Hendelman’s take on the Great American Songbook and jazz standards.
One reviewer noted his playing “is firmly in the tradition of (Oscar) Peterson”.
Eddie Wakes
Joining Hendelman will be Eddie Wakes for “An Evening of Nat King Cole and more…
Eddie turns heads, his vocal style is reminiscent of another time; with his velvety, wide-ranging baritone.
Eddie was featured in the documentary, “Nat King Cole: Afraid Of The Dark” (2014) along with Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole and others.
Director Jon Brewer said “Eddie’s knowledge of The Great American Songbook” is as profoundly informed as the creators of this singular music.”
The Blue Jay Jazz Festival is presented by the non-profit Blue Jay Jazz Foundation, dedicated to music appreciation and education. Since 2008, the Foundation has supported our community’s music students with scholarships and a free instrument lending program, as well as master classes and private tutors.
Festival & Concert Sponsors: Mountain News, Arrowhead Lake Association, Yamaha Music, Bill and Dinah Ruch Foundation, The Lake House, and Arrowhead Premier Properties/Arrowhead Property Rental.
THURSDAY, AUG. 21
Digital Audio Projekt
DAP
André Berry, Bass
Bruce Rubio, Sax
Harold Allen Jr. – Electronic Drums
Bassist, André Berry is one of the busiest sidemen in the business these days touring with Dave Koz, Rick Braun and Mindi Abair.
Saxophonist, Bruce Rubio retired band director’s number one passion of playing music and performing.
Drummer, Harold Allen Jr. has performed with various artists including The Brothers Johnson, Jermaine Jackson, Ivan Neville, Leo Nocentelli, Percy Sledge, Jean Knight, Harmonica Fats, Michael Haggins and many others. As a song writer, he is co-author of the song “Be Your Number One”, produced by George Johnson, for artist Irene Cara’s “Carasmatic” album.
THURSDAY, AUG. 21
Blue Jay Jazz Foundation’s
2025 Future Generation Jazz Scholars
Jaered Angel, drumset, Senior
Boedy Reisner, bass, Senior
Isaiah Rodriguez, trumpet, Senior
Jaden Martinez, baritone saxophone, Junior
Leena Butler, alto, Senior, Gloria Loring Award
Madison Skidmore, clarinet / piano, 8th grader
FRIDAY, AUG. 22
Ara Tokatlian Quintet
Ara Tokatlian is an alto and soprano saxophonist, pianist, vocalist, and recording artist from Blue Jay, California. He plays and has previously toured in his father’s band Arco Iris, a famous rock and jazz fusion band from Argentina, and currently studies jazz saxophone at Riverside City College with the goal of majoring in Music Performance. He has performed at the previous three Blue Jay Jazz Festivals as a scholarship winner, opening for and performing alongside artists like Lee Ritenour, Eric Marienthal, George Whitty, Billy Mitchell, Yuko Mabuchi, and Andre Berry.
Javier Alverez is a bassist, recording engineer, and recording artist from Moreno Valley, California, who is studying voice and bass at Riverside City College. He is interested in majoring in Music Performance.
Joseph Orellana is a drummer, producer, and recording artist from Los Angeles, California, who is currently studying at Riverside City College and is looking to major in Music Performance. He also studied Anthropology at Santa Monica College and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree at UCLA.
Jade Pareja is a pianist, flautist, and music educator from Hemet, California, who is currently majoring in music at Riverside City College, specializing in Piano Performance. She gives piano and flute classes at Wildebietz Music Conservatory and intends to eventually study music education.
Carson Ramos is a guitarist and music educator from Hemet, California, who is studying guitar at Riverside City College with an interest in majoring in Music Performance. He also gives guitar classes at Wildebietz Music Conservatory.
August 21 & 22
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
LOCATION:
Arrowhead Lake Association’s Tavern Bay Beach Club
28399 N Shore Rd, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352
Food & Beverages: BRING YOUR PICNIC FOOD AND BEVERAGES. Adult beverages are allowed. No food is sold – you must bring your own. Tables with tablecloths and chairs are provided.
Parking: No parking in Tavern Bay Beach Club parking lot. There are several ALA authorized lots near the venue. Parking attendants will assist and direct guests to designated parking areas. Handicapped, special needs assisted parking available (notify attendant upon arrival). Guests can also drop off individuals or picnic supplies. No waiting allowed.
Check-in: For tickets purchased online at Ticket Leap, please print out the ticket prior to your arrival for prompt scanning. Check in at walk-in gate near ALA’s East Parking Lot.
August 23
SATURDAY
LOCATION:
Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa
Food & Beverages: Snack Items Available for purchase (CASH ONLY) . Choose from a selection of Chef Heath’s signature charcuterie fare (cheese, crackers, cookie), and adult beverages from the NO HOST CASH BAR including wine, cocktails and refreshing nonalcoholic beverages.
Parking: There is free parking in the Lake Arrowhead Resort lot for event guests.
Check-in: Venue lower level adjacent to pool. Enter main lobby continue downstairs to Lakeside Terrace area. (follow signage).
No outside food or drink allowed. No early seating. Guests not allowed in venue prior to 5:00 p.m.
August 22 – 24, 2024
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
Lee Ritenour & Friends
John Proulx & Friends
PONCHO SANCHEZ LATIN JAZZ BAND – Aug 22
PONCHO SANCHEZ LATIN JAZZ BAND – Aug. 22
Performed a fiery stew of jazz, gritty soul, and infectious Latin rhythms.
BLUE JAY JAZZ 2024 NEXT GENERATION SCHOLARS
Evangeline De Leon (tenor sax), Katharine Bouchard (clarinet), Dylan Witter (drums), Brenden Watson (alto sax), Vincent Felix (clarinet), Colin Hobson (MPH trumpet), Martina Urrutia (bass guitar), Sophia Wheeler (flute), Hazel Perez (vocals), Christopher Whitty (piano-absent), pictured with Blue Jay Jazz Foundation’s President – Chris Levister and Vice President – Dr. Hugh Bialecki, Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s Mountain Assistant – Lewis Murray, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ – Ted Alejandre
SPEAKEASY BAND
Steve Alaniz, saxophone, Tom Fernandes, guitar, Baba Elefante, bass
David Hitchings, drums, and vocalists April Sweeney and Shannon Bizzy
Blue Jay Jazz Festival 2024 “Grammy Whammy!”
LEE RITENOUR AND FRIENDS – Aug 23
LEE RITENOUR PLAYS TO SOLD OUT CONCERT AUDIENCE
On stage: Lee Ritenour, guitar, George Whitty, keyboard, Wesley Ritenour, drums, Melvin Davis on bass.
ARA TOKATLIAN SINGS ORIGINAL SONG FOR OPENING ACT
2023 Blue Jay Jazz Next Generation Scholar, Ara Tokatlian returns to the stage with an original song in a thank you gesture to our Sponsors.
JOHN PROULX WITH VAL GEASON – Aug 24
JOHN PROULX WITH LOS ANGELES JAZZ SALON AT LAKE ARROWHEAD RESORT & SPA -Aug 24
Singing to a sold out venue, John Proulx with Ray Charles Raelette, Val Geason and the Jazz Salon
