Sixth Annual Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival Romance & Jazz with mellow jazz by Susan Sutton & Steve Webber with vocalist Linda Jean Whale Watch Inn Saturday, April 12, 2008 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. ~ Special Wine Tasting 6:00 p.m. ~ Gourmet Buffet & Live Jazz

Enhance your romantic coastal getaway by joining us in our lovely Whale Watch Room for a special wine tasting reception by Mendocino Wine Company, featuring Parducci Wines followed by a Gourmet Buffet and live jazz entertainment.

Enjoy stunning views of the coast and mellow jazz by Susan Sutton on piano, Steve Webber, acoustic bass, and classic vocal stylings by Linda Jean. Whale Watch Inn guests may participate for only $20 per person. Outside guests, $35 per person includes wine, buffet & jazz. Please call Whale Watch Inn 800-WHALE.4.2 (800-942.5342) for both lodging and event reservations or visit www.whalewatchinn.com.

Jazz Artists

Susan Sutton: Piano

Brooklyn born composer/pianist/vocalist Susan Sutton has performed professionally with the Susan Sutton Trio over the past twenty years, recording seven albums on the Sutton Sound Label. Sutton's passion for music began at the age of five, when she began her classical training in piano and cello. She holds a degree in Music Composition and Performance from Dominican University and studied jazz piano and composition with Bryce Rohde of the Australian Jazz Quintet, and jazz piano with George Cables. Her original works include a series of contemporary modern chamber pieces as well as eight published volumes of jazz songs. Seasoned by touring dates with jazz combos from New York to San Francisco and inspired by influences from Monk, Corea and Hancock to Satie, Gershwin and World Beat, Sutton launched her own uniquely eclectic trio in 1981, establishing a distinctively original and popular voice in the Bay Area jazz scene ever since.

Sutton and her Trio have been captivating West Coast audiences for years, offering an exciting blend of original upbeat Latin-inspired jazz compositions and favorite standards from soft romantic to festive and highly spirited. The seventh and latest release, "BEYOND" is produced by Sutton Sound and available on CD. This album includes original material as well as carefully chosen standards. Sutton is joined by Lloyd Wick, whose progressive Latin influence is evident in his crisp, neat, magical on-the-dot drum work. He has been an integral part of the Trio for the past twenty years. Featured on bass is Miles Wick, son of Lloyd Wick. This gifted, young player has been with the Trio for a year.

Susan has played with several groups at Gualala's Cypress Village Open House events, and has been a featured performer at St. Orres on Saturday evenings this past January. Festival patrons have enjoyed her wonderful jazz music at St. Orres for both the 2005 and 2006 Dinner & Jazz events, joined by acoustic bassist Steve Webber. This year Susan is delighted to be collaborating with Terry Simcik on acoustic guitar at the 2008 Dinner & Jazz event at Sea Ranch Lodge in addition to her performance with Steve Webber and Linda Jean at the Whale Watch Inn.

Steve Webber: Acoustic Bass

Steve Webber has been playing the bass for over thirty years, studying at Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Webber has worked with many bands of all sizes from duo and trio combos up to full 18-piece jazz bands, and has performed regularly with many notable jazz musicians including Dick Conte, Susan Sutton, Bill Moody, Terry Henry, Benny Barth, Randy Vincent, Si Perkoff, Michael Aragon, Steve Heckman, Rob Roth and Jay Thomas. Currently, he plays with the Dick Conte Quartet, frequently with Susan Sutton as a duo and with The Michael Aragon Quartet.

Linda Jean: Vocals

Linda Jean (Kenner) was born in the hamlet of Branson, Missouri before it became the music-theater attraction it is today. A California girl since the age of two, she started singing with her father at a young age and has been involved with music every since.

The late blues/jazz musician Jimmy Rivers encouraged her interest in jazz by inviting her to sit in on his Sunday sessions in Placerville, the heart of the Gold Rush country where Linda made her home for 35 years. During her last decade there, she was privileged to hear and perform with an ever-changing roster of stars from the Sacramento Jazz Society, who loved to drop by and jam with Jimmy. The late Tom King heard her singing with Jimmy's band and featured her with his band at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

Since moving to Gualala, Linda Jean has appeared frequently in a number of local venues, including the Cypress Village Open House series with Susan Sutton. Impressed by her talent, Fred Adler invited her to join Susan and Steve for this new Festival event, Romance & Jazz.