Third Annual San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival Brings Music, Acclaimed Jazz Artists, And More, June 28-30

By Molly Sanders | June 21, 2019

Music lovers unite! Join the Third Annual San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival in the celebration of smooth jazz, a variety of delicious cuisine, and an amazing atmosphere that creates an unparalleled experience for friends and family of all ages. Returning to San Diego at the picturesque Embarcadero Marina Park North, June 28-30, 2019, the festival features an impressive lineup of musical talent including Boney James, West Coast Jam ft. Peter White, Richard Elliot, & DW3, Norman Brown, Sax to the Max ft. Michael Lington, Paul Taylor, Vincent Ingala, and more.

My band and I have been having a great time on the 2019 leg of The Honestly Tour.  The new show is a mix of songs from the latest record, fan favorites, as well as some stuff from my my other 15 records that I’ve not played live for years. We’re excited to come back to San Diego for our second time at this festival! In between gigs I’ve started writing my next record, so keep an eye out for that in 2020!

-Boney James

The Smooth Jazz Festivals kicks off on Friday, June 28, 7-10 p.m., with a three-hour dinner cruise on the Inspiration Hornblower from Hornblower Cruises. Attendees drink, dance, and get the party started with hosted beverages, buffet dinner, and a cigar bar. The event features special guest performances from Althea Rene, the first flute player in the history of Billboard Chart to reach a number one spot, as well as Grammy-nominated artist, Selina Albright. Tickets for Friday’s opening night event are priced at $129 per person.

Eric Darius, a now internationally renowned performer, is set to host the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival. As a saxophonist, composer, producer, and vocalist, Eric Darius is considered one of the most exciting musicians to enter the Contemporary Jazz scene in the last decade. Darius was announced Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News in 2004. Since his debut as a recording artist at the age of 17, Darius currently holds six critically acclaimed albums under his belt, along with a number one hit single and seven top ten radio hits.

Headlining the Jazz Festival is saxophonist, composer, and four-time GRAMMY nominee, Boney James. Boney was named one of the Top 3 Contemporary Jazz Artists Of The Decade in 2009 and released his 16^th album, titled Honestly, in September 2017. Artists including Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Jazmin Ghent, Brian Simpson and Norman Brown will be joining Eric Darius and Boney James at the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival.

The festival gates open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30, with music beginning at 12 p.m. Festivalgoers will take in the sights and sounds of local vendors, revel in tasty food and drink offerings, and frolic along the Embarcadero to sweet sounds of jazz.

“We are thrilled to return to San Diego for the Third Annual Smooth Jazz Festival,” said Kimberly Benoit, producer of the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival. “The Embarcadero provides a scenic venue that offers music lovers the perfect place to enjoy performances from some of today’s most acclaimed jazz artists. This year’s talent lineup brings a truly unique experience to San Diego and we look forward to creating a remarkable event filled with good food, views, and of course, music.”

The festival is family friendly and will take place rain or shine. General admission tickets, in which attendees can bring blankets and chairs to relax on the lawn, are $65 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sandiegosmoothjazzfestival.com.