Jazz

Gypsies will once again roam the streets of Laguna Beach as the third annual Djangofest kicks off tonight at the Festival of Arts. The festival will host a gypsy jazz performance tonight at 8 p.m. as well as shows at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Forum Theatre, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. It will feature local musicians as well as gypsy jazz musicians from abroad. Tonight's show is $34 and will feature Hot Club Pacific, Andreas Öberg and John Jorgenson. Tomorrow's matinee is $36 and will feature the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet, and duo Angelo Debarre and Ludovic Beier.

When Jimmy Spencer strolls onto the stage at Mr. B's restaurant in Burbank impeccably dressed in a gray tailored suit, satin tie, handkerchief and silver cufflinks, he looks like a member of the Rat Pack. But once the room fills with the sound of his rich, velvety baritone voice, it's clear he sings with the intimacy of Nat King Cole. Spencer is a versatile singer who courts his audience with smooth and gentle phrasing and a warm, vibrant delivery.

Suzie Harrison On May 5th, Laguna Beach, Music in the Park, Inc. and the Festival of Arts will sponsor the first Cinco de Mayo concert at the Festival of Arts grounds. Chico will perform from 5 to 7 p.m. The band has performed at various functions for 29 years throughout the Southern California area. Chico performs an array of traditional and contemporary jazz and salsa. KSBR public radio will be interviewing the band on May 4, on its weekly jazz spot.

The Art-A-Fair will reinvent itself this year as an Italian affair. The Venetian Carnival theme is aimed at showing off Art-A-Fair's distinction as the only international summer festival in Laguna. The property's entryway will be revamped in time for the festival's June 29 opening, and artists have been asked to work the theme into their offerings and booth designs in creating "Palazzo Laguna." "They never had a theme before," said Vicki Burkhard, the festival's vice president of marketing and brain behind the transformation.

Winning combo with wine, chocolate and jazz Thursday nights just got a lot more delicious. The "Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate: What Could Be Better?" series continues from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday until Aug. 25 at the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. The event features select wines by Kendall Jackson, gourmet chocolates by Xan Confections and a broad variety of jazz styles and performances. The musical lineup includes Max Bennett and Private Reserve on Thursday; jazz vocalist Kate Reid with the Evan Stone Trio on July 28; jazz vocalist Annie Sellick on Aug.4; jazz vocalist Denise Donatelli with the Evan Stone Trio on Aug. 11; jazz guitarist Steve Oliver on Aug. 18; and jazz vocalist Anne Walsh on Aug. 25. The event is for those 21 and older.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS Opening day Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. ? ?String Planet, 6 to 8 p.m. ? ?Junior Art Day 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ?Ceramic Workshop, 1 to 6 p.m. ?The Girls, acoustic vocals, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ?Peter Dobson Blues Band, 6 to 8 p.m. ? ?The Art of Cooking, 1 to 2 p.m. Amelia Saltsman author of ?The Santa Monica Farmers? Market Cookbook: Seasonal Foods, Simple Recipes,? will demonstrate how to shop in season for ingredients and how to use them to create easy and fresh recipes.

SUZIE HARRISON Between AIDS Services Foundation's "World's Fair -- Lost Vegas," the Moonshine Festival and Lagunatics, my head is still spinning from the fun. The momentum just keeps going with the Laguna Art Museum auction and Laguna Beach Live's jazz workshop and concert ... will the fun ever stop? LAGUNA ART MUSEUM'S ART AUCTION Laguna Art Museum will have it's 22nd annual art auction on Saturday. The event is always a blast and a great way for people to buy art from esteemed artists at reasonable prices.

Send DATEBOOK items to the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA 92652; fax to 494-8979; call 494-4321 or e-mail coastlinepilot @latimes.com or through our online calendar at www.coastlinepilot.com . Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. ? ?Art? is onstage at Laguna Playhouse, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.; 2 p.m. matinee Sundays, through Oct. 14. For ticket information, call (949) 497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.

When the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra takes the stage Saturday in Laguna Beach, it may have a few souls to soothe and nerves to calm. And the group has been there before. On Sept. 12, 2001, the venerable big band ensemble co-headlined at the Hollywood Bowl, playing to a scattered audience — according to the Los Angeles Times review , less than half of the 6,800 ticket buyers came in the wake of the terror attacks. The band was diminished, too, as some members were unable to attend due to air traffic being grounded.

More music is coming to town, thanks to Laguna Beach Live! Jazz Wednesdays. Critically acclaimed jazz singer Sara Gazarek and her quartet will be at Aliso Creek Inn on Wednesday. According to a press release, "Gazarek won the prestigious Downbeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Collegiate Jazz Vocalist while at USC, where she is now on the faculty in the Jazz Studies department. She studied privately with vocalists Tierney Sutton and Carmen Bradford, pianist Shelly Berg and bassist/arranger John Clayton, who became one of her most important champions.

YOUR WEEKEND Friday: Folk group Big Wide Grin, shown, will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Anns Drive. Before the show, concertgoers can attend a picnic at 5:30 p.m. on the church's lawn. Tickets are $10. For more information, email info@ncclaguna.org or call (949) 494-8061. SATURDAY: An artist reception for photographer Al Gerk will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at Artist Eye Laguna Gallery, 1294-A S. Coast Hwy. Gerk's photos will be on display at the gallery through August.

Winning combo with wine, chocolate and jazz Thursday nights just got a lot more delicious. The "Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate: What Could Be Better?" series continues from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday until Aug. 25 at the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. The event features select wines by Kendall Jackson, gourmet chocolates by Xan Confections and a broad variety of jazz styles and performances. The musical lineup includes Max Bennett and Private Reserve on Thursday; jazz vocalist Kate Reid with the Evan Stone Trio on July 28; jazz vocalist Annie Sellick on Aug.4; jazz vocalist Denise Donatelli with the Evan Stone Trio on Aug. 11; jazz guitarist Steve Oliver on Aug. 18; and jazz vocalist Anne Walsh on Aug. 25. The event is for those 21 and older.

The Artists? Theater will be swinging March 7. Guitarist John Heussenstamm will perform ?Nothin? But the Blues,? along with the award-winning Laguna Beach High School Jazz Orchestra and jazz singer Jamie Shew during the Fifth Annual Laguna Beach Blues & Jazz Festival at 7:30 p.m. March 7 at the Artists? Theater, 625 Park Ave. The concert benefits school district music programs. Twenty-five members of the high school?s jazz orchestra just returned from Orlando, Florida, where they competed in the Disney Jazz Fest.

She spent her early years in New York’s Colored Orphan Asylum, worked as a lookout in a bordello and helped a Mafia-affiliated numbers runner. And became one of the greatest jazz singers the world has known. That was Ella Fitzgerald, and her story will be told in detail starting next week when the Laguna Playhouse mounts the Orange County premiere of “Ella.” With Tina Fabrique in the title role, “Ella” will offer some of Fitzgerald’s classic tunes — including “A Tisket, A Tasket,” “How High the Moon,” “That Old Black Magic” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” “‘Ella’ is a dream come true for me,” said director Rob Ruggiero, who conceived the show along with Dyke Garrison.

The 18th annual Winter Fantasy will celebrate its final weekend of ?A Season of Dreams? Saturday and Sunday on the Sawdust Art Festival grounds, decorated in a holiday style. Some 150 artists and artisans will show their wares amid special activities and entertainers. Closing weekend activities and entertainment will include: ?T-shirt contest winner. The winner of the T-shirt design contest will be announced at 3 p.m. Saturday. Children 12 and younger have been submitting their T-shirt designs to the Children?