The Jazz Cruise 2012 is getting ready to sail, Jan. 20 through Feb. 5. The Cruise has bern heralded as having the finest lineup of  "Straight-Ahead" jazz performers ever assembled.

Sunset Jazz at Newport, featuring straight ahead jazz performed by top jazz performers, begins July 6 and will continue for 11 summer Wednesday nights at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel in Southern California.

Ukulele genius Jake Shimabukuro is making quite a stir in the jazz world. In the midst of this acclaim, he will be featured in Orange County,Thursday, March 24, at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa as part of a national tour. Born in 1976 in, he has become a virtuoso on this unlikely jazz instrument. Known for his complex finger work, his music also brings in aspects of rock and pop which adds to his phenomenal crowd appeal. Playing ukulele since age 4, he initially gained attention in Hawaii at 22 as a member of Pure Heart trio when the group released its eponymous first album which won it four Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (the...

Pianist Jacky Terrasson is a painter on the keyboard, and this can be heard in the jazz portraits created in his new release Push. Since the early nineties, European born Terrasson has been lauded as a bright new star. His eponymous debut on Blue Note in 1995 predicted a successful career in the United States and worldwide. From the beginning, Terrasson has displayed power, passion and creativity to spare. As well, he is a talented arranger, as witnessed by his unique take on well-known tunes. H

Jazz star Maria Schneider, Grammy-winning composer and big band leader, makes her Ojai Music Festival debut at the 65th Ojai Music Festival with two concerts on Sunday, June 12 at 11a.m and 5:30p.m. The annual Southern California event, June 9 though 12, usually features classical composers and performers. This year, however, music director, Dawn Upshaw is bringing together a wide-range of programs and artistic collaborations over the course of the four days. On Sunday, Schneider will offer the world premiere of "Winter Morning Walks," composed especially for soprano Upshaw, who has been described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. Performing with her in the premiere will be the Australian Chamber Orchestra.