Loading Events

Chocolate, wine, and all that jazz sweetens up the Festival of Arts this summer! Indulge your senses at the “Art, Jazz, Wine and Chocolate” series every Thursday night throughout the summer.

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

Performer: Steve Oliver

After a decade and a half of #1 Billboard jazz instrumental hits, singer, songwriter and guitarist Steve Oliver releases his first ever all-vocal album Pictures and Frames. It is Oliver’s first official venture into the pop format after nine contemporary jazz albums. Oliver has always sprinkled a few pop/R&B vocals into his instrumental albums — but “Why” and many of the other tracks on the album mark a deeper emergences as an observational, socially conscious songwriter.

As he chronicled on his popular 2008 CD/5.1 Surround Sound DVD package One Night Live, Oliver is renowned throughout the contemporary jazz world for his charismatic one on one relationship with the audience and a wild array of sonic delights that include soulful lead vocals, snappy guitar lines, wild vocal percussion excursion, playful “vocalese” and wonderworking with the synth guitar. He’s always sprinkled a few full-on pop/R&B vocal tunes on every album.

As a songwriter, Oliver runs the gamut from pointed social observations like “Instant Gratification” (about the lack of human communication due to our collective obsession with cell phones in our demanding, “push button society”) to lush romantic expressions like “A Waltz To You,” written in 3/4 time, and the lighthearted “Long Time Comin’,” which showcases Oliver’s trademark a capella virtuosity and energizing vocal percussion.

Connect with Steve Oliver

Reserve a Seat!

Art, Jazz, Wine and Chocolate concerts are free with Festival of Arts Admission. Limited seating available in reserved section for $25 per person per concert.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!