Live! now offering Sunday jazz

Suzie Harrison

Cindy Prewitt, Laguna Beach Live!’s co-founder and president, said

the organization is looking forward to having its first afternoon of

jazz at the Lounge in Hotel Laguna on Sunday.

Professional jazz musicians -- pianist Eric Dries and bass player

Roger Shew, who is also the Laguna Beach High School jazz director --

will perform together.

“It’s similar to what we do with the chamber music at First

Sundays,” Prewitt said. “We’ve got a lot of good response, so we

thought let’s try something else, jazz on a Sunday.”

Prewitt said Laguna Beach Live! wants to experiment and see if

there is interest in this type of performance in an informal setting.

The Lounge is a cozy setting with a fireplace and plenty of

cushiony seating. Wine by the glass and tapas will be available for

purchase.

“We’re testing the waters,” Prewitt said. “We have a grant and are

using the cultural arts funding.”

Prewitt hopes Sunday’s jazz will spark the interest of residents

and visitors alike.

“Music is a great way to do that,” Prewitt said. “We just want

more music in town wherever we can get it. We’re trying to enliven

the art scene. For us, that’s music and bringing in professional

musicians.”

Having intimate performances like this opens it up to more venue

options in Laguna Beach.

“We hope to bring people in, a broader audience and maybe find a

new audience,” Prewitt said.

Laguna resident, Dries met Prewitt through Laguna Beach Live! and

its chamber music festival.

“Last year we were talking about jazz music and started talking

about a regular venue Laguna Beach Live! jazz in Laguna,” Dries said.

“We were trying to think about different venue possibilities not

immediately obvious to Laguna Beach jazz.”

Dries said acoustic jazz in a small intimate setting works well

for a duo. .

“It would be nice to bring in different musicians under the

heading of jazz,” Dries said.

The duo likes to focus on music from Duke Ellington and Thelonious

Monk and some jazz standards.

“The idea is to draw from great jazz composers and play our

interpretations and arrangements based on that material,” Dries said.

Prewitt appreciates hotelier Claes Anderson for giving the program

a try on its first run.

“We’re interested in more music and more arts and he [Claes] makes

it easy,” Prewitt said.

The duo will play from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Hotel Laguna, 425 S.

Coast Highway. There is no cover charge. Donations are welcomed to

help underwrite future jazz afternoons. For information, call (949)

715-9713.