Sponsored by Payne Pest Management We at Payne Pest Management are so proud and honored to share the news of the release of a very special single by Latin Grammy Award-winning flautist Nestor Torres dedicated to our Co-Founder and former CEO Willie Payne Jr., called “Thank You Willie.” Payne Pest Management has supported live music […] The post Nestor Torres dedicates his latest single, “Thank You Willie,” to Willie Payne Jr. appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

By Melanie Maxwell We are sad to report that guitarist Nick Colionne passed away on Jan. 1, 2022. The Chicago native died unexpectedly at a local hospital. His cause of death has not yet been disclosed. As a teen, Colionne honed his guitar skills playing with The Staples Singers, The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield and Natalie […] The post Nick Colionne Tribute appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

Willie was a positive person, and rather than mourn his loss with sadness, he’d probably prefer that we celebrate the fun times we had with him. The post In Memory of Willie Payne appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

By Melanie Maxwell Heidi Klum may be the queen of Halloween for the fashion and acting crowd, but in the smooth jazz world, Camella Elliot and her GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist husband, Richard Elliot, slay the holiday with dragons, skeletons, ghouls, goblins and a DW3 dance party! Camella’s decor, both inside their home and throughout their vineyard […] The post Camella and Richard Elliot’s 2019 Halloween Bash appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

Partying down in Elliot town on Halloween! Spooky and spectacular is the type of Halloween bash Camella and Richard Elliot threw last Saturday night. Nearly every inch of their North San Diego County ranch was decorated in spirited, scary and sometimes shocking flair: From the entrance of their home filled with skulls, angry pumpkins, a […] The post Camella & Richard Elliot’s 2018 Halloween Bash! appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

Saxophonist Richard Elliot and his wife, Camella, hosted their annual Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 28, in the North San Diego community of Escondido. As usual, it was equal parts spooky and uber cool, and 100 percent fun! Those lucky enough to receive an invitation to this concert/costume party were treated to music by DW3 […] The post Camella & Richard Elliot’s Halloween Bash pics! appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

The Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens’ Jazz & Wine Festivals have taken root with jazz fans, blossoming into an enchanting outing for thousands of genre enthusiasts since its inception in 2013. However, when the owners of this storybook wedding and private event venue in Fallbrook, California, partnered with The Centre in Escondido to create The […] The post Enchantment is the Grand Tradition for Jazz in Fallbrook, CA appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

With a stellar lineup of fan favorites and popular emerging artists, The San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival returned to the Embarcadero Marina Park South to record crowds! Presented by Payne Pest Management (Kathy & Willie Payne, along with their son, Jason) and Rainbow Promotions, this classy and scenic event featured Brian Culbertson (as host and […] The post San Diego re-emerges as America’s Finest “Jazz” City! appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

Like an orchestra with many different musicians and instruments, publishing Smooth Jazz News requires a lot of people playing a variety of roles. One of the key components of nearly every artistic endeavor is funding. And, for magazines, advertising sales keep the presses rolling. So, each year, we host the Smooth Jazz News Anniversary Brunch […] The post Check out the surprise guests at the SJN party appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more

Al Jarreau, one of the world’s great singers and a song stylist who defied categorization for decades, died today, the same date as the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards, in Los Angeles at the age of 76. The seven-time GRAMMY winner had recently announced his retirement from the entertainment business after being hospitalized for exhaustion. Jarreau had […] The post Legendary singer Al Jarreau dies at 76 appeared first on Smooth Jazz News ..read more