Chocolate, wine, and all that jazz sweetens up the Festival of Arts this summer! On Thursday nights, indulge your senses at the “Art, Jazz, Wine and Chocolate” series.

Wine and Chocolate Pairings: Sample a wide variety of Kendall-Jackson wines expertly selected to compliment and enhance the nuanced flavor of high-end chocolates from XAN Confections. Cost: $20 (does not include Festival of Arts admission or reserved seating)

Fans and followers of contemporary jazz need no introduction to Max Bennett. An internationally known bassist and composer, the scope of his experience spans from concert touring, recording and producing to composing music for feature films and television.

Max has toured and performed in concert with Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin, a list that literally runs from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa and includes jazz greats Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie.

The list of outstanding artists with whom Max has recorded includes Quincy Jones, The Beach Boys, Elvis, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Frank Zappa, Motown Artists, Celine Dion, Nelson Riddle, Henry Mancini, Ray Charles, Michael Franks, Frank Sinatra, Phil Spector, Michel LeGrand, Lalo Schifrin, The Crusaders and countless others.

His many years of working in the studios resulted playing on 17 Grammy winning albums and have given him the opportunity to exercise his affinity for jazz, blues, rock and latin music and to combine those elements into his music.

He created a new concept of jazz in the world-renowned L.A. Express which included Joe Sample, Larry Carlton and John Guerin, under the leadership of Tom Scott. Max then formed his own group “Freeway” and currently heads his most recent band “Private Reserve.”