For the last several years, I have been extremely fortunate to have seen some of the true iconic artists of Contemporary Jazz at one of the best venues in Southern California. But as the Fall of 2019 began, I still hadn’t been able to get to Temecula for one of the Champagne Jazz Series shows at Thornton Winery. Luck and timing changed that last weekend, and “West Coast Jam” treated us to one of the most entertaining concerts I have seen at ANY venue in quite a while!

“West…

To many hundreds of fans of jazz and wine the “Champagne Concert Series” at Thornton Winery in Temecula, CA needs no introduction. Now celebrating its 30th season, it has become one of the premier entertainment event series in Southern California. This year’s lineup, now underway through includes some of the best known headliners of the Contemporary Jazz world such…

The Thornton Winery in Temecula, southern California is now hosting the 29th edition of its “Champagne Jazz Series,” and while I might seem like a relative “newcomer”, I have been fortunate to attend shows for the last seven years, enjoying jazz icons like Lee Ritenour, David Sanborn, and Pat Metheny, to name just several. Now let’s add the name Boney…

Lee%20Ritenour-Spyro%20Gyra.doc Lee Ritenour (top) & Spyro Gyra onstage at Thornton Winery Temecula,…

Jazz lovers from Southern California and all over the Western United States have been coming to Thornton Winery in Temecula (north of San Diego) for an amazing twenty six seasons. And amazingly, both the talent line up and the concert experience continue to get better. I’ve been fortunate to have seen some of the true…

The Thornton Winery in Temecula, CA is home to one of California’s longest running concert series. In fact, this year is the 25th anniversary of the Champagne Jazz Series. As you would expect, this summer’s lineup features some of the biggest and most popular of today’s Jazz performers (Dave Koz, Spyro Gyra, Kenny G, George Benson, Chris Botti, Boz Scaggs, etc.)…

If you’re a jazz fan living in California, you look forward to the summer season of festivals & winery shows in nice venues and great weather.  None is more highly anticipated than the Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz series in Temecula, this year celebrating their 25^th anniversary.  And as usual, the lineup of talent is stellar with names like Michael McDonald, Dave Koz, Kenny G, Spyro Gyra, Bobby Caldwell, Boney James, & Chris Botti.

But this Saturday June 15 will…

You may have heard about the current Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz series in Temecula wine country, and there’s lots of excitement about this year’s lineup.  Kenny G & Earl Klugh perform July 22nd, and such luminaries as Rick Braun & Richard Elliott, Dave Koz, and George Benson are also scheduled for this 24th season.

While these shows are sure to be great, the bar for sheer entertainment value has been set quite high at the sold-out “Dream Tour”…

The Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz Series in the formerly “undiscovered” Temecula, CA wine country has set a standard for big names and great performances in an intimate venue, but this 24^th season just might boast their best lineup ever.  It’s more than remarkable that a venue seating less than 600 can bring in the likes of Chris Botti, Bobby Caldwell & David Benoit, Dave Koz, George Benson, Boney James, and Peter White, just to name a few.  And a beautiful venue it is, with…

  As a frequent traveler between Los Angeles and San Diego, I've watched the "sleepy" little town of Temecula, in fact the entire Temecula Valley, transform into a thriving wine community.  Thornton Winery is a centerpiece of Temecula Wine Country, best known for fine champagnes.  But it's also a destination in itself, and for 22 years has been home to one of California's most successful jazz & wine "pairings."  The 8/7 show in the Champagne Jazz Concert Series featured keyboard favorite…