The world class Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego hosted the 4th annual SD Smooth Jazz festival June 11th & 12th, 2022, a long held popular festival in the mid-year San Diego music scene. Cohosted by the phenomenal Pat Prescott of 94.7, “The Wave” radio Station and promoted by Rainbow Promotions, this annual event combines the soothing sounds of smooth jazz, a variety of delicious local cuisine and an amazing waterfront atmosphere backdrop creating an unparalleled experience. This two-day occasion joins the relieving hints of smooth jazz and an astonishing San Diego vibe that makes an unmatched encounter.

Casual, comfortable, and classy one could sense that the San Diego Sunny Smooth jazz enthusiasts felt blessed to be in the lively audience experiencing a splendid day of music.

This iconic festival was previously held downtown, which blocked off the streets and most recently held just across the San Diego Bay at The Embarcadero Park close to downtown San Diego.  This annual tradition was created to advance and support the jazz culture and its most prominent jazz entertainers in the city of San Diego. It’s no big surprise that this event has become one of the best and biggest jazz celebrations in the country and draws an impressive number of guests every year. It’s now consistently held at the start of summer on the water at the San Diego Bay.

Saturday’s Line Up

• Boney James
• Jonathan Butler
• Najee
• Brass Attack BBZ ft. Metal Attack – Rob Zinn, Willie Bradley and Johnny Britt, Willie Bradley
• Kings of Groove highlighting David P. Stevens and Tony Exum Jr. and more!

Efraym Elliott Yamin is an American singer known for his hit single “Wait for You” and for placing third on the fifth season of American Idol.

Sunday’s Line Up

• Eric Darius Featuring Rebecca Jade
• Maysa
• Jessy J
• Brian Simpson Special EFX Allstars highlighting Chieli Minucci, Elliott Yamin, Eric Marienthal,Karen Briggs, Lao Tizer, Anthony Crawford and Joel Rosenblatt
• Lin Rountree
• Julian Vaughn

We had the extreme good fortune to interview San Diego Smooth Jazz Favorite, Saxtress, Jessy J, to get some information about her iconic performance with industry superstars Maysa and Brian Simpson. She stated, “What a rush to be onstage playing with these two iconic  Musicians.” She discussed her new release “BLUE” which is her first studio album in six years. BLUE draws on the soulful blues vibe of the 1960s and 1970s. It sounds like a really exciting project! This album is very different stylistically from her previous recordings. The cover art is reminiscent of some of the greatest albums from the 1960s, and Jessy’s vocals reflect her strong passion and strong tenor playing. The album was inspired by a fresh spark of inspiration, resulting from the isolation she felt during Covid lockdown.

We also chatted about her past performances in San Diego, and she called the city her subsequent home. She added, “I always want to be evolving as an artist, and BLUE is very different from my earlier albums because it’s a snapshot of where I am now in my life and how I was feeling during these difficult times.” She wore white cowboy boots onstage because these boots were made for dancing to her new single, “Dance Beat” off her new album.

Jessy J

BLUE is out now on all music platforms and recorded on her own personal music label, Changi Records. Jessy described the vibe as one you’d expect being recorded during uncertain times, but it is also reflecting a fun time to throw your hands up in the air and celebrate one another and let loose because it’s the end of the pandemic.

The album is called BLUE as a reminder to all of us that we can have hope at the end of the tunnel as everything in your life returns to normal. She is especially proud of her song “Malt Shop” which was influenced by the greats Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley. The BLUE album is full of James Brownesque drums and tasty, bluesy Ray Charles organ licks.  She said she was excited because during the pandemic because she got to record with her fellow musicians all through “lockdown” remotely. This included Jeff Lorber, Gary Novak, Thiago Pinheiro, Jay Rowe, Trever Somerville, Andy Abel, Dave Anderson, Ludovic Louis, Gary Grainger, Nate Najar, Richie Gajate Garcia and the sound mixers Dave Rideau, Paul Brown and Steven Eugene Groove!

Wow! We can’t wait to check it out!

We encourage you to get a copy of her record at https://found.ee/jessyj-blue.

We also had the incredible opportunity to visit with Brass Attack front man Rob Zinn, who said that the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival at The Rady Shell was the most delightful setting he has played at any point, and he cherished how welcomed his group’s music was for a blissful San Diego Weekend. Roosevelt Williams asked the legendary trumpet front man information about what he prescribed for our more youthful age to get into the music game, Rob grinned and said “practice like you’re the only one tuning in. If you smile and remind yourself of your blessings and I guarantee you’ll be happy. You’ll appreciate it significantly more…”

Julian Vaughn

Special EFX Allstars also performed and certainly excited the crowd. The band featured Chieli Minucci, Andrew Crawford, legendary hip hop and jazz violinist Karen Briggs, crowd favorited Lao Tizer and saxophonist Eric Marienthal. Elliot Yamin also joined the band onstage with his soulful vocal stylings. He sang feel-good songs such as: “Take Me To The River,” There’s blues shake riffing in “Gonna Be Alright,” thoughtful acoustic sections in “Slow Hands”, multi-instrumental soloing on the combination flavored “Showboat,” propelled by Weather Report layers of guitar surfaces and blissful vitality on the people flavored, “Folks Like Us.” and indeed a small Celtic flavor on “Cieli Music.” Include in his translation of a tune that got a parcel of us into instrumental music – The Allman Bros. “For Elizabeth Reed.” There’s a reimagination of two favorites “Ballerina Dreams” and “Everything and Anything”.

We also had the opportunity to catch up with the most energetic Saxophonist in Smooth Jazz, Eric Darius. He was the featured San Diego Musician of The Yea. Along with Rebecca Jade, they both amplified the audience during their amazing performance with new music with a killer vibe tune, “Rollin’ Out” from his album “UNLEASHED.” The LP was produced by Philip Lassiter. Eric stated, “I’m really happy, thanks so much Mikey on behalf of San Diego WOW!!! Thank you so much for the love! It was truly one unforgettable evening…what an epic day I had hosting and performing at the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival yesterday…Thank all of you for the love and for supporting live music in one of my favorite cities. It was fun to hang with you all! I’m feeling beyond grateful to announce that my new album “Unleashed” debuted at #1 on the Top Jazz Albums on the Apple Music iTunes Chart! Thank all of you so much for supporting my music and my career. Please continue streaming, saving, and sharing my new project on your favorite digital platforms and let’s keep it going!!” Check out www.ericdarius.com for my full schedule and for ticket info,” energetically added Darius!

Eric Darius

About Rainbow Promotions

The event was organized by Rainbow Promotions who has also committed to promote wellness and healing within the communities that they serve. We recognize and honor this third generation black thriving family business celebrating the birthday of wife Young Black and Business joined by owner, Roosevelt Williams. A family business festival pioneer and patriarch, Al Williams, (A brilliant 81-year-old mindfully aware drummer, business visionary and jazz promoter) has built a reputation as a go-getter. Born in Pasadena his relationship with music began when he began concentrating on the clarinet at the age of eight. A teenage drummer he and another performer were surprised to find no celebrations nearby. That started a 30 plus year music festival business and the rest became history.

A long-held favorite on the summer music scene, the annual celebration is also a family affair with Al’s daughter Kimberly Benoit taking over the reigns as president of Rainbow Promotions. Her children Blair and Chris Benoit add a fresh take on the family business. “A few years back the socioeconomics were a lot more established for jazz yet presently I have seen a development and an adjustment of that. Presently individuals in their mid thirties are emerging to the jazz celebration, which you didn’t see 10 years or quite a while back.  I think whenever they are presented, they love it!” added Benoit.

Eric Marienthal

The Benoits daughter, Blair’s commitments include incorporating integrative creative showcasing methodologies. For example she specializes in the presentations of online entertainment  stages like Snap Chat, Facebook Live and a horde of meetings with unique substance highlighting the celebrations that take an interest in craftsmen. Her brother Christian Benoit zeros in more on piling the line up with both exemplary jazz enthusiasts and enrolling more youthful and fresher confronted specialists like Melanie Fiona, Chrisette Michelle and Ledisi, to attract an or millennial group. The mix of the two siblings makes certain to keep the late spring merriments burning with both a-list specialists and groups to brag about. This combination is sure to keep the summer festivities ablaze with both world class artists and crowds to boast. Rainbow Promotions new publicist Farrah Parker has increased current standards on spreading the news about the most tasteful live events in all the land. Farrah is the publicist to the stars, The Lakers and Rainbow Promotions. It’s an honor to work with her!

(Additional images from San Diego Smooth Jazz Fest)

Written By: Michael Adam Cohen in partnership with BackStage360.Com