Jazz attracts thousands

Not a foot was stationary as the Jurbena Jazz Band warmed up in a meeting room at the Costa Mesa Hilton Thursday morning in preparation for this weekend’s Orange County Classic Jazz Festival.

It was impossible not to tap along to the Dutch band’s joyful melodies, which means the players are doing their job.

“We look at the audience, and we see the foot going and we know everything is OK,” said Cees Bont, who leads and plays banjo for the nine-member group.

“When you play, you feel something inside you getting bigger and bigger and then … WHOP!” added sousaphonist Adri Baan, his hands raised in the air.

Though most of the band’s members have never traveled to California, they do have a connection to Costa Mesa. Their Frisco-style jazz is modeled after the famed South Frisco Jazz Band, founded in the 1950s by Costa Mesa’s own Vince Saunders, and features more bass and fewer solos than traditional New Orleans jazz.

“It’s a lot more collective so you are always playing,” Baan said. “After an hour, you are really flat out. It’s really hard work, but it’s so nice.”

Highlighting more than 20 bands and solo artists, the festival returns for the seventh year to bring the great American music of the ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s to Costa Mesa. The musicians rotate between five venues at the Hilton and the lobby of the Holiday Inn down the street.

After directing a similar event in Los Angeles, John Dieball founded the Orange County festival simply for the love of the music.

“When I was 25, I went to a jazz festival for the first time and I knew it was me,” said the 70-year-old co-director, who also owns a security company and plays piano on the side. “I just love it.”

Dieball called jazz “America’s only original art form,” adding it’s verve appeals to a diverse crowd.

“You don’t get people with moods in here,” he said. “They dance, they sing and they are just happy.”

Organizers expect more than 13,000 jazz enthusiasts to flock to the city to enjoy the Dixieland tunes of Dan Levinson’s Roof Garden Jass Band, the country western rhythm of Igor’s Jazz Cowboys or the big band sounds of the Mike Henebry Orchestra.

But one devoted fan will be noticeably absent from this year’s festivities.

A tribute to Floyd Levin, who died in January after penning the city’s official theme song, “Costa Mesa, U.S.A,” is planned for 2:15 p.m. at the Hilton.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The Orange County Classic Jazz Festival

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa

COST: $225 for patrons, $85 for all events. $45 today, $50 Saturday and $35 Sunday

INFO: Tickets are available at the door and online. For more information, call (888) 215-6222 or visit www.oc-classicjazz.org.

The Jurbena Jazz Band is set to perform today at 2:30 and 5 p.m. in the Catalina room and at 8:45 p.m. in the Pacific room, on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. in the Hilton lobby, 5 p.m. in the Bristol 3 room and at 7:30 p.m. in the Catalina room and on Sunday at noon in the Pacific room and at 3:45 p.m. in the Catalina room.