By Lori Bryant
It all started in 2016 on a quiet night with nothing to do. Newly minted Mexican resident, Dianna Clarkson was sitting in her Cabo San Lucas home when she declared, “What Cabo needs is a world-class jazz festival.” Eighteen months later, The Life Luxe Jazz Experience Los Cabos was born.“It was love at first sight,” says Clarkson of her adopted home of Los Cabos. “The jazz festival became my passion and a way to mix a music genre I have enjoyed for decades with the hospitality and beauty of my second home.”She and her partner, Terry Powell, sought advice from artists like Branford Marsalis, TS Monk, and production experts on how to produce a world-class concert. As jazz aficionados, however, they knew exactly what they wanted to make their festival stand out.
LIFE LUXE JAZZ EXPERIENCE 2019 LINE UP:Host: Actor, Comedian Mark Curry Artists:Gerald AlbrightAlex Bugnon Raul MidonKirk Whalum Donnie McClurkin Sheléa Roy AyersTom Browne Ronnie Laws Incognito Pieces of a DreamAverage White Band Ernest Quarles Rick ParmaDaline & Diego
JAZZING AROUND CABO EVENTS:Welcome Reception in Plaza Mijares featuring Rick Parma, Thursday, November 7thThe Honorable Mayor of Los Cabos, Armida Guzman, is delighted to host our official welcome reception in beautiful Plaza Mijares in San Jose del Cabo. Enjoy the warmth of authentic Mexican hospitality as the city welcomes us with arms wide open. You’ll be there to take in the famed art walk, do a little shopping and dancing, while experiencing the best of Mexico specialty wines, tequila and cuisine.
Delectable Darkness: A Dining-in-the-Dark Experience to benefit Cabo Ve, Thursday, November 7thWithout your sight, your other senses are heightened. Smells, textures, and sounds become more intense, and every bite is packed with pleasure. You’ll be blindfolded as you dine on a menu especially created for powerful sensory impact and safe, tidy consumption. Savor an intimate tapas feast enjoyed in DELECTABLE DARKNESS and smooth jazz. This delicious dining-in-the-dark experience benefits the Cabo Ve (Cabo Sees), LLG’s 2019 community outreach commitment to bring the gift of improved sight to hundreds of children and seniors.
The Spirit of Jazz Sunday Brunch, Sunday, November 10th Our tribute to the fusion of gospel and jazz featuring the amazing Kirk Whalum with Donnie McClurkin and the beautiful Sheléa. Top off your Life Luxe Jazz 2019 experience by dining while jazzing to these gospel greats.
Jazzing Around Cabo Sunset Cruise Sunday, November 10thSet sail and let the sun go down on another amazing Life Luxe Jazz Experience, while being serenaded by the talented likes of Ernest Quarles and featuring Los Cabos jazz team Daline Jones & Diego Ramirez.
“We’re determined to provide a superior music event and vacation experience that is both luxe and all- encompassing,” Clarkson explained.The result is their “Jazz Experience of a Lifetime.” Last year’s inaugural weekend, nestled on the beach at the beautiful Pacifica Resort, featured the artistry of world-class musicians like Gregory Porter, Boney James, Keiko Matsui, and Mindi Abair, just to name a few. The event also held its promise to deliver topnotch musicin an upscale destination for the hundreds of jazz enthusiasts in attendance. This year’s lineup includes Grammy nominated and winning arts: Gerald Albright, Alex Bugnon, Raul Midón, Roy Ayres, Average White Band, and Pieces of a Dream.Their success caught the attention of the Los Cabos government, who has named the Life Luxe Jazz Experience as its official annual jazz event, and will host the official 2019 Welcome Reception on the Plaza Mijares in San Jose del Cabo. The LLJ team has parlayed this into Jazzing Around Los Cabos partnerships, providing guests expanded opportunities to enjoy the best of Los Cabos.“In 2018 we concentrated on creating a luxurious atmosphere centered around amazing performances,” explained Powell. “This year, we’ve added a variety of exciting options in addition to the great music.”2019’s must-do events include: A Dining-in-the-Dark Experience; The Spirit of Jazz Gospel Brunch; Sunset Cruise, featuring Cabos’s own Daline Jones and Diego Ramirez. Also central to the Life Luxe Jazz Experience is community outreach and is an official part of the musical weekend.“We believe that giving back is part of the luxe life, especially here in Los Cabos,” said Clarkson.“An important part of the LLJ mission is to leave a kind and caring foot print in the communities we live and do business.”2018’s community outreach was Cabo Cares, a medical outreach effort of both locals and international medical support, that served over 300 residents with much needed medical attention and supplies. In 2019, the organization will give back through Cabo Ve (Cabo Sees), a vision outreach effort with local partners of the Lions Club International and volunteer doctors from the U.S. In addition to eye screenings and eyeglass distribution, Life Luxe Jazz plans to donate over 300 eye screening kits to teachers and raise money for local glaucoma and cataract surgeries.A major fundraising effort for Cabo Ve will be Delectable Darkness: A Sensuous Dining-in- the- Dark Experience. This intimate event creates a unique and memorable tasting occasion for blindfolded guests and tells a delicious love story though the creative intermingling of delectable darkness, cuisine, and the classic hits of the late, great jazz legend, Al Jarreau. Delectable Darkness will be held on Thursday, November 10th, 8:00 PM at the Mesquite Restaurant at the Vidanta. Locals are encouraged and welcome to attend this novel experience in support of the Los Cabos’ neediest residents. Space is limited. Tickets: $185 US per person.Clarkson and Powell’s commitment to create a fresh festival experience has not gone unappreciated. As one satisfied Life Luxe Jazz fan posted, “Never had a better festival time. I mean, EVER!” For more information and tickets for Delectable Darkness and concerts go to www.lifeluxejazz.com.