In the Wings -- Jennifer K Mahal

Whenever I think of summer, my mind lingers on the memory of the

outdoor concerts in Seaport Village that my mother used to take me to.

Listening to the sweeping majesty of Ravel’s “Bolero” while lying on a

blanket and looking at the stars, the sound of San Diego Bay lapping

nearby.

I have a soft spot for music echoing outside on the evening breeze.

The wail of a solo saxophone sounds softer among crickets. The driving

beat of the drums backing a rock ‘n’ roll band sounds wilder.

What’s marvelous about Newport-Mesa is how much music there is

available in the open air. Some of it is pricey, some of it is free.

There are concerts of every variety.

The Hyatt Newporter’s Summer Jazz series, which started June 14 and

will continue on Friday nights through Oct. 11., gives jazz lovers an

alternative to driving all the way to the Hollywood Bowl. On Thursday --

the Fourth of July -- the series will break its all-Friday routine and

present trumpeter Rick Braun with some sparkly fireworks at the end.

Crooner Bobby Caldwell headlines on Friday. You can find details at

www.summerjazzseries.com or by calling (949) 729-6400.

Dennis Quaid and the Sharks will kick off Fashion Island’s popular

(and free) concert series on July 10. Be prepared to rock and roll with

the actor who did a spot-on impression of Jerry Lee Lewis in “Great Balls

of Fire.” Other Fashion Island concerts, held in the shopping center’s

Bloomingdale’s Courtyard, will include Ambrosia, John Ford Coley and

Stephen Bishop on July 17; Sheila E. and the E-Train on July 24; and

Pablo Cruise on July 31. Reserved seats are available for $15. More

information can be found by calling (949) 721-2000.

The Orange County Fair Concert Series usually makes summer nights

jump, jive and wail with its variety. Last year, they hosted Big Bad

Voodoo Daddy and Suzy Bogguss. This year, the fair brings Huey Lewis and

the News to town on July 12, Doors tribute Wild Child on July 13, Linda

Ronstadt on July 14, Martina McBride on July 15, the Indigo Girls on July

16. . . . That’s only the start of the list, which also includes the

B-52’s, Keith Urban, Save Ferris, Styx, Heart, Collin Raye, Lynyrd

Skynyrd and more. The concerts are free with fair admission, but reserved

seats are available for $10. For information, call (714) 708-3247 or

check out www.ocfair.com.

There are also free concerts in the parks in Newport Beach and Costa

Mesa, sponsored by the respective parks and recreation departments. The

next Newport Beach concert will be July 28 at Mariners Park. White Room

will perform.

While not in Newport-Mesa, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra’s Summer

Festival is of note as well. The orchestra will play everything from

Sousa (Thursday) to Bugs Bunny on Broadway (Aug. 24) at the Verizon

Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine. You might want to check its selection by

logging on to www.pacificsymphony.org or calling (714) 755-5799.

Outdoor concerts, like watermelon and barbecues, are a summer treat.

Be sure to treat yourself to one.

* * *

Do you know a local artist, writer, painter, singer, filmmaker, etc.,

who deserves to get noticed? Send your nominee to In The Wings, Daily

Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627, by fax to (949) 646-4170 or

by e-mail to o7 [email protected]

* JENNIFER K MAHAL is features editor of the Daily Pilot.