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Kiki Ebsen:
Joni Mitchell Project
Peformance of the Month

A versatile artist whose work includes multiple music genres—jazz, folk, pop, classical, Kiki Ebsen is respected by a litany of GRAMMY-winning, platinum-selling artists with whom she’s toured internationally as keyboardist/vocalist, including Christopher Cross, Al Jarreau, Michael Paulo, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald and Tracy Chapman, among others.

In 1968, Kiki Ebsen discovered the magic of Joni Mitchell on Song to a Seagull. With each subsequent release including Clouds, Ladies of the Canyon, and onto Blue, Kiki discovered the magic of Mitchell’s brilliant lyrics, amazing arrangements, and solid song stylings, each new album giving greater insight into Joni’s artistry.

Ebsen created the "Joni Mitchell Project” as an opportunity for Joni-inspired professional musicians to join her in declaring, as she describes, “our respect, regard, and unending appreciation for her gifts.” Concert repertoire includes selections from nine of Mitchell’s albums, from Song to a Seagull through Wild Things Run Fast (1968–1976).



This performance was originally recorded live on August 19, 2017, at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, CA.

Brian Simpson

Inspired keyboardist, composer, prolific studio musician, and producer, Brian Simpson is a master of all he purveys. His eloquent approach to playing, sophisticated harmonics sense, bluesy overtones, R&B flavor, and keen sense on how to craft a song that stands the test of time have made him the go-to man for many.

Through the years, Simpson has been revered for his unparalleled ability to compose unforgettable melodies and irresistible grooves. Simpson’s breakthrough as a solo artist began in 2005 with the #1 radio hit “It’s All Good.” The title track of It’s All Good proved instantly and joyfully prophetic, as it hit #1 on the Radio & Records Smooth Jazz Airplay chart and remained in the Top 5 for four months. His follow-up single “Saturday Cool” went Top 15.

He has toured with some of the greats of recent jazz history, including George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, George Howard, Billy Cobham, and Gerald Albright. Brian has been the musical director for jazz saxophonist Dave Koz for nearly 20 years, and almost a decade the Musical Director of the ambitious and highly popular Smooth Jazz Cruise.



This performance was originally recorded live on August 4, 2016, at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, CA.

John Proulx

His piano playing is hot and swinging, and his voice recalls the smooth, mellow sounds of a young Chet Baker. GRAMMY-winning composer, singer, pianist, and recording artist, John Proulx's latest CD Say It features Chuck Berghofer, Joe LaBarbera, Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard, a duet with Melissa Manchester, and three string quartet arrangements by Alan Broadbent. In addition to touring with his own trio, John has performed with the likes of Anita O'Day, Natalie Cole, Melissa Manchester, and Marian McPartland.

John began his formal musical education at the age of three on violin, but quickly switched to classical piano lessons. His late grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist who introduced him to the world of jazz. Hooked on the freedom of improvisation, his education took him to Chicago to study at Roosevelt University’s Chicago School of Performing Arts then moved to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits. He also spent four months at the prestigious Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency hotel in New York City playing a nightly solo piano/vocal engagement.

Since then, John has appeared on Michael Feinstein’s radio show on NPR, “Song Travels” as well as on Marian McPartland’s radio show “Piano Jazz”. John serves as adjunct faculty at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Long Beach.



This performance was originally recorded on August 14, 2016, at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, CA.

Dave Tull
Performance of the Month

Yamaha artist Dave Tull has long been known as one of the world’s finest jazz drummers and has also built a reputation as a premiere jazz singer and songwriter. For this performance, Dave brings his Billboard chart-topping comedy for an amazingly fun night with laugh-out-loud songs like "The Texting Song", "The Minutes Pass Like Hours When You Sing", and "I Just Want to Get Paid."

When not leading his own trio, Dave is one of the busiest drummers on the scene. In 2016, Dave became the drummer for Barbra Streisand and has played five tours with Streisand including at Madison Square Garden in July 2019, and on Barbra’s Grammy-nominated live Netflix concert video “Barbra – The Music...The Mem’ries..The Magic!” Prior, Dave toured from 2000 to 2010 as drummer and lead vocalist for Chuck Mangione. Dave’s vocal on Mangione’s “The Children of Sanchez” and his bebop scat vocal on “Dizzymiles” were featured at the Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl and The Blue Note in New York City. Dave toured and recorded two CDs with Maynard Ferguson from 1987 to 1991. Dave plays drums on four of Michael Bublé’s CDs including Bublé’s notable version of “Moondance”.



This performance was originally recorded live on August 27, 2021, at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, CA.

LP and the Vinyl

LP and the Vinyl sends pop and R&B favorites through a kaleidoscope of jazz, providing the best of both worlds: familiar songs dear to the heart, freshly intensified with beautifully mastered improvisation. Vocalist Leonard Patton draws upon his rich background in jazz and gospel to energize the virtuosic interplay of pianist Danny Green, bassist Justin Grinnell, and drummer Julien Cantelm. From the lively dance-inducing numbers of Michael Jackson to the soulful hits by Stevie Wonder – no two performances are the same.

Patton’s most recent solo release, A Beautiful Day, included jazz heavyweights Antonio Sanchez, Lionel Loueke, Ben Williams, and Aaron Parks. His previous release, Expressions, is a collection of duos with Grammy-nominated pianist Geoffrey Keezer. Green, Grinnell, and Cantelm have been playing together since 2010 as the Danny Green Trio. In that time, they have released four albums, all receiving high praise from the press, and international radio airplay. The trio and Patton joined forces in 2015 to form LP And The Vinyl.



This performance was originally recorded live on August 4, 2019, at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, CA.

Greg Manning

A Berklee College of Music alum and an amalgam of cultures. Born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland. Greg Manning moved to Los Angeles in 2002 and has had an incredible career. He is a three-time certified platinum producer for Universal Music Switzerland, and has had several Swiss Chart toppers since 1996.

Greg is the former keyboardist and music director for GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Jonathan Butler -- and keyboardist for Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Richard Elliot, Brian McKnight, Chante Moore, and Kirk Whalum, just to mention a few. After touring extensively for ten years throughout the U.S., Europe, South Africa, and the U.K., Greg made a conscious decision to come off the road. Not too long thereafter, he started composing music for film and television.

As an artist, Greg's own music is the union of jazz, soul, and funk, which can be heard on his album Sugar and Spice, which was released on Kalimba Records. The title track went on to spend 20 weeks on the charts rising to #5 on Billboard. Most recently his chart topping single "Top Down" was celebrated as Billboard's 2019 Smooth Jazz Song of the Year.

His latest single, "Twinkle" a 2020 cover of Earl Klugh's 1981 classic, debuted at #29 on the Billboard charts.



This performance was originally recorded live on July 20, 2017, at Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, CA.