Mindy Abair David Benoit Rick Braun Ocean Institute

The Ocean Institute's popular Jazz Event fundraiser combines renowned jazz artists with an elegant evening of dinner, cocktails and auctions. This year's event will showcase Rick Braun and friends featuring Mindi Abair and David Benoit.

Opening night includes a complimentary reception featuring wine from Pear Valley Vineyards and appetizers provided by Il Fornaio followed by a concert performance for 290 guests.

The premier evening on Saturday starts with a silent auction accompanied by passed canapés prepared by The Balboa Bay Club & Resort and Park Hyatt Aviara Resort and wine from Pear Valley Vineyards.  This is followed by a live auction and an award-winning, four-course dinner presented by chefs from the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa, Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, Montage Laguna Beach, and The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. The evening will culminate with an intimate concert performance for 200 guests. 

All proceeds benefit the Ocean Institute.

For More Information/To Purchase Tickets:
Call Eileen Hayden at 949-496-2274 x 413 or ehayden@ocean-institute.org.

Tickets:
Friday, February 3rd - SOLD OUT

  • “Get Jazzed” Early-Bird Price (for seats purchased through December 15th)
    • $125 - Premiere Seating
    • $95 - General Admission
  • Regular Price (for seats purchased after December 15th)
    • $145 - Premiere Seating
    • $115 - General Admission

Saturday, February 4th

  • “Get Jazzed” Early-Bird Price (for seats purchased through December 15th)
    • $425 - Individual Seat
    • $5,100 - Patron Table of 12
    • $6,300 - Benefactor Table of 12
  • Regular Price (for seats purchased after December 15th)
    • $500 – Individual Seat
    • $6,000 – Patron Table of 12
    • $7,200 – Benefactor Table of 12

About the Artists

Mindy Abair

Mindi Abair

Saxophonist/Singer/Songwriter Mindi Abair has broken all the boundaries as she continues to define the less traditional future of jazz.  Her solo career has produced 10 #1 radio singles, and her records have consistently topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts. She has hosted the internationally syndicated radio show Chill With Mindi Abair for 5 years, and has 5 major label solo releases to her credit.  She's been featured on American Idol as a soloist with Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams, won Best International Instrumentalist at the 2011 Wave Awards in Toronto, and Best Female Artist of the Year at the 2011 Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards.

David Benoit

David Benoit

David Benoit's expansive career as a contemporary jazz pianist has included over 25 solo recordings.  Among his Grammy nominations are those for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance.  Benoit's ever expanding orchestral music endeavors include his ongoing role as conductor of the Asia American Symphony Orchestra. Benoit has also been a longtime guest educator with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. In 2010, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at The American Smooth Jazz Awards.

Rick Braun

Rick Braun

Rick Braun has been playing trumpet since he was a kid.  No news there for the legions of fans his richly melodic playing style has attracted since the release of his first album, Intimate Secrets in 1993.  A two-time winner of the Gavin Report's Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year award, he also collaborated with Boney James on the 2000 release Shake It Up. Kisses in the Rain followed a year later, and Braun continued issuing albums throughout the decade of the 2000s, including Esperanto in 2003, Sessions, Vol. 1 in 2004, Yours Truly in 2005, RnR (a duo set co-led by saxophonist Richard Elliot) in 2007, and All It Takes in 2009.  Braun adds his formidable singing talents to the mix in his latest offering, Sings with Strings released this year.

Event Details:

Friday, February 3rd

  • Wine Reception 6:30 - 7:30PM
  • Concert 7:30PM

Friday is opening night and features a concert performance for 290 guests who will enjoy a variety of complimentary wines from Pear Valley Vineyards, appetizers from Il Fornaio and desserts from Balboa Dessert Company.

Saturday, February 4th

  • Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Silent Auction 6:00 - 9:00PM
  • Performance 9:00PM
  • Saturday is the premier evening and features a cocktail reception, four-course dinner and intimate performance for 200 guests. The evening also includes a silent and live auction.
      • Wines provided by Pear Valley Vineyards
      • Passed canapés prepared by The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, and the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort
      • An award-winning, four-course dinner prepared by local chefs from:
        • The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa
        • Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa
        • Montage Laguna Beach
        • The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

 
Ritz Carlon St. Regis Montage Laguna Beach Pear Valley Laguna Cliffs Il Fornaio Park Hyatt Aviara® Resort The Balboa Bay Club & Resort 94.7 Wave KSBR