Art and music fill the air

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

February seems to be a diamond mine for arts and entertainment

events in Laguna Beach. It’s exciting to think of all the

possibilities of enjoyment swimming around our town.

From the get-go, on Saturday, there’s the ninth annual Jazz and

Blues Festival, featuring Thelma Jones with John Heussenstamm and the

Land of Jam, the award-winning Laguna Beach High School Jazz Ensemble

and other musical guests.

Also on Saturday is a book signing by artist Joachim Haupt at his

gallery.

Always one to keep things lively, Marion Meyer Contemporary Art is

having an art experience on Sunday that includes interpretive dance

by Kimberly Bixler Leeds of the California Choreographers Dance

Academy.

Leeds will interpret the music of Evren Ozan, a 9-year-old Native

American flute prodigy, who is in turn interpreting the art of

abstract impressionist Eva Carter. It represents the power of art and

how it is interwoven.

Sunday is the Laguna College of Art and Design’s popular “First

Sundays” concert series. The event will feature pianist Dorothy

Schechter performing the works of Edvard Grieg.

There will also be a student showcase, with top works from

students in illustration, drawing and painting, graphic design and

feature animation.

Comedy is brought into the mix by local comedienne Lynn Epstein,

featuring eight comics at Laguna Beach Brewing Company on Wednesday.

On Thursday, First Thursday’s Art Walk celebrates its five-year

anniversary with the Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. and a post-party at

the Festival of Arts with live entertainment.

Friday and Saturday is No Square Theatre’s winter concert “And the

World Goes Around,” performing a funny, romantic selection of songs

by renowned American songwriters.

Also on the weekend of Feb. 7, the Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre

is presenting the award-winning show “The Wrestling Season.”

Saturday is the greatly anticipated Art for AIDS II, with

celebrities Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Penny Marshall,

Annette Bening, Warren Beatty, Tom Petty, Barry Manilow and Suzanne

Sommers attending the event, which will benefit AIDS Services

Foundation Orange County and Laguna Art Museum.

HELPING HAND

Tonight, there’s a benefit concert for Darnell Perez, the wife of

Jimmy Perez, the bass player for the Missiles of October.

Darnell Perez has fourth-stage T-cell lymphoma. The money raised

will go toward the medical costs she has incurred and the stem cell

procedure she still needs. Missiles of October, Common Sense and

other well-known musicians will donate their time.

The concert is at the Coach House at 33157 Camino Capistrano in

San Juan Capistrano, which is donating the space.

Tickets are $25 each, and the doors open at 6:30 p.m. There is a

silent auction and a raffle with great items. For tickets, call

496-8930.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.