With 17 years of exceptional concerts under its belt, the Blue Jay Jazz Festival announces its biggest and boldest lineup yet. Friday, August 23 brings the extraordinary jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour to the Festival stage:
Ritenour is a GRAMMY® Award winner with 19 Grammy nominations, l’enfant terrible of ’70s fusion, a crossover star of the ’80s pop chart, an honorary exponent of Brazilian jazz, and the fingers behind ’90s supergroup, Fourplay. His five decade career has produced 45 albums and collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan, Dave Grusin, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and Pink Floyd. One of Ritenour s best sellers, his Grammy nominated album Wes Bound, a tribute to the great jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, reached #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart. Ritenour is a Los Angeles Jazz Society Honoree and recipient of the prestigious USC “Alumnus of The Year” award. “Lee Ritenour & Friends” will feature special guest, Grammy-winning pianist George Whitty.
The 3-day immersive experience kicks off August 22 with Poncho Sanchez, the “King of Latin Jazz.” The Grammy- winner returns with his fiery stew of jazz, gritty soul, and infectious Latin rhythms.
That night’s concert will also feature the renowned Speakeasy Band plus the exceptional talent of the 2024 Future Generation Jazz Scholars Band.
Saturday, August 24, the Jazz Salon, in a more intimate setting at Lake Arrowhead Resort, presents John Proulx, a Grammy-winning singer, pianist, composer and music educator. His smooth and velvety style is reminiscent of bebop sensation Chet Baker.
Proulx is joined by Val Geason, a former Raylette who toured for years with the extraordinary Ray Charles. “MzVal,” as she’s known, is a golden-voiced southern siren whose smoldering vocals bring to mind Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and Nina Simone.
~ MAJOR FESTIVAL SPONSORS ~
~ FESTIVAL DONORS AND SUPPORTERS ~
Arrowhead Lake Association, Yamaha, Mountain News, Bill and Dinah Ruch Family Foundation, Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa, Goodwin & Son’s Market, Lake Arrowhead Country Club, Rene Lagler, Wallace P. Brithinee, Alpine Mountaineer, Twin Peaks Printing, The Lake House, Wildflowers at the Lake, Premier Properties & Arrowhead Rental Agency, Jensen’s Finest Foods, Lindsay Wagner, Music & Arts Center, Wheeler Steffen Sotheby’s International Realty, San Bernardino County Supervisor, Dawn Rowe, Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead, Four Seasons Landscape & Garden Center, Mary Dippell, Matthew Kallis & Friends of Lake Arrowhead Mountain Communities (FLAMC), KW Champions, Rim of the World School District, Lake Arrowhead Rotary, Prime Properties, Jeff Grotewold – Carpet Station, RR Class Act Entertainment, LuluBelle’s Coffee House & Bakery.
Blue Jay Jazz Foundation (BJJF) is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization. Through the Festival and its programs, the foundation promotes music education, inspires performance excellence, and develops audience appreciation for American’s unique musical culture.
“Blue Jay Jazz Foundation is proud to support the Festival’s mission of spreading joy, inspiration and community through music,” said Chris Levister, Foundation president. “We partner with our respected artists, committed sponsors and die-hard jazz fans to help create memories that will last a lifetime, while boosting the dreams of emerging young artists.”