Segerstrom Center to hold first Jazz Weekend
For the past 30 years, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts has presented jazz concerts featuring top-notch artists. This Friday through Sunday, some of those artists will be coming together for the venue’s first-ever Jazz Weekend.
The event will offer ticketed performances by artists, including the Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band and the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club. A Salsa Dance Party on the new Julianne and George Argyros Plaza will be presented free.
The new plaza will be the site of free live music, films, performances and events throughout the year, according to Segerstrom Center officials.
“We like to do a lot of things to engage different audiences here,” said Segerstrom Center President Terry Dwyer. “We wanted to look at the idea of a festival weekend, as far as attracting more attention to what we think are really terrific artists, and also create this sense of festival energy and people socializing to enjoy some great performances.”
Dwyer said there are multiple advantages to having a full-fledged Jazz Weekend.
One of the biggest is attracting a crowd that typically doesn’t attend shows at the center, he said.
“When you have a series of great performances in a shorter time span, that festival energy can be pretty dynamic,” he said. “We’re really excited that we’re going to be able to add some pre-show performances out on the plaza that will be free to the public.”
He also said Jazz Weekend is a great way to introduce the community to the new plaza.
Food trucks including Mustache Mike’s, The Burnt Truck and Dogzilla Hot Dogs will be parked near the plaza to feed attendees during Jazz Weekend.
Dwyer said he believes jazz music is popular around the world because it is transformative.
“I think it’s a great American art form,” he said. “It’s responsive to our culture but it’s not static. It’s constantly evolving and responds to the energy of the crowd. I think people find that energy really appealing.
“It’s almost interactive with the audience in how it plays out over the course of an evening. You’re taken along for a musical ride.”
Eddie Palmieri, one of Friday’s headliners, said he’s excited about the inaugural Jazz Weekend and what it promises for the future of the Segerstrom Center.
“This is going to be phenomenal,” he said. “When something new comes into town, the curiosity and interest grows among the community. I certainly want to see it grow into many more years in Orange County.”
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IF YOU GO
What: Jazz Weekend
Where: Segerstrom Center, 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa
When: 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday
Cost: $49 to $139 for daily tickets; $123 to $290 for three-day
passes
Information: scfta.org