Big bands and an array of jazz stars will be featured at the 10th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party, held Feb. 11 through 14, at the Marriott Hotel in Newport Beach, California. Kicking off the Valentine’s/Presidents Day weekend event Thursday night will be Ken Peplowski ’s Big Band Music of Benny Goodman. Clarinet player Peplowski, an alumnus of Goodman’s last band, has put together an assemblage to salute the King of Swing. Also on hand opening night will be Pat Williams’ SINATRALAND Orchest

September begins the 2009-10 jazz season impressively in Southern California’s Orange County. Starting Labor Day weekend, the annual West Coast Jazz Party kicks off the schedule, followed in short order by piano great Dave Brubeck, Sept. 24, revered vocalist Tony Bennett Sept 25, and trumpeter genius Wynton Marsalis, Oct. 1. The Jazz Party takes place over four days, Sept. 3 to 6, at the Irvine Marriott. Brubeck’s quartet comes into nearby Cerritos Center for Performing Arts. In turn, Bennett

The 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival set for three days, Sept. 18-20, will celebrate the joy of jazz with a variety of legendary performers and visionary new artists in a weekend of jazz, blues, folk, and American song with performances on multiple stages at the Monterey Fairgrounds in bucolic Monterey, California. The Arena/Jimmy Lyons Stage will be the focal point of the Festival, with a lineup that includes legendary pianist Hank Jones, saxophnonist Joe Lovano, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orches

A woody Herman tribute and the presentation of a hit jazz musical, along with the appearances of two great jazz orchestra these are highlights of next month’s Valentine’s Day Weekend Jazz Party, Feb. 12 through 15 at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel in Orange County, California. This annual jazz extravaganza will feature more than 50 of the world’s top jazz musicians, playing four-days of concerts, mornings, afternoons and evenings. Fans come from throughout the world. Many stay in the hotel,