Since 2007, the Festival has presented a Gumbo of Grammy Award winning and nominated artists like Patrice Rushen, Kenny Burrell, Gerry Mulligan, Barbara Morrison, George Whitty, Ernie Watts and Poncho Sanchez, The King Brothers, Ron King and more.

Born in America

The Blue Jay Jazz Festival like a country’s cultural history is the collection of its people’s traditions. In America, the loose braiding of traditions from every country has given it unique multicultural richness. At the foundation of its vast musical traditions, is one that was born in the Black communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19^th century.

Jazz, and the blues at its heart, has a special place in American culture. While past legends continue to captivate audiences worldwide, new artists speak to new generations of their times. The reason it continues to resonate across eras is that it can echo our bitter history as it promises a better future. This is why, when the U.S. Congress declared jazz an ‘American National Treasure’ in 1987, it stated that “Jazz has achieved preeminence throughout the world as an indigenous American music and art form, bringing to this country and the world a uniquely American musical synthesis and culture through the Black experience.”

Grammy Whammy

This year the Festival moves to a new level of entertainment prowess presenting “Grammy Whammy,” three concerts featuring Grammy-Award winners Poncho Sanchez, Lee Ritenour, and John Proulx, along with special guest, Grammy-winner George Whitty, and former Ray Charles Raelette, Val Geason.

August 22 – Poncho Sanchez Tavern Bay Beach Club

August 23 – Lee Ritenour & Friends – Tavern Bay Beach Club

August 24 – John Proulx & Val Geason – Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa 

For the prolific Lee Ritenour there aren’t many ‘firsts’ left to achieve. During his dazzling five-decade career, the fabled LA guitarist has taken his music to the outer limits, alighting on every genre and occupying every position in the jazz and rock ‘n’ roll firmament. Known as “Captain Fingers,” for his uncommon dexterity on the guitar, he’s been an 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.

Ritenour’s accolades include: 45 albums, Grammy award winner, plus 19 Grammy nominations, Alumnus of the year at USC, Los Angeles’ Jazz Society Honoree (2019), plus thousands of sessions with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Wes Montgomery, Pink Floyd, B.B. King, Tony Bennett, among others.

Ritenour says, “I’ve always loved working with great talent, and at the same time finding new young talent and opening doors for them. I want to take as many opportunities as I can to give something back as a way of expressing my thanks for all that’s been given to me.”

The Blue Jay Jazz Festival is produced by the nonprofit all volunteer Blue Jay Jazz Foundation. Its mission is to provide opportunities for the San Bernardino mountain community to experience jazz as entertainment as well as a tool for music education. With support from individuals and businesses in its community, it maintains several other year-round programs, including Future Generation Jazz Scholarships, the ‘Adopt an Instrument’ lending program and its beloved

‘Petting Zoo’ which provides children with a hands-on exploratory music education experience.

Chris Levister