JAZZ : Noteworthy Lineup for Live Series

It’s hard to imagine a more idyllic setting for jazz than the Hyatt Newporter’s outdoor amphitheater with the sun setting over Newport Bay and the stars popping out overhead. That will be the scene Friday evenings this summer as KLON-FM and the Hyatt Newporter are hosts for a weekly concert series dubbed “Jazz Live at the Hyatt.”

The 10-concert lineup leans heavily on performers from the world of swing. Headliners include such names as clarinetist Buddy DeFranco with vibist Terry Gibbs, guitarist Tal Farlow, tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips’ quartet, bassist Milt Hinton and keyboardist Hank Jones.

The series opens Friday with a rare solo concert from Dave McKenna, a pianist who came out of the bands of Charlie Ventura and Woody Herman to record a series of acclaimed albums on the Concord label.

Tom Dusing, director of sales and marketing at the Newporter, says the success of last year’s eight-concert series--which included such names as Buddy Collette, Bobby Shew and Pete Christlieb--led to the greater number of concerts this year and “an increase in the caliber of the musicians we’ll be presenting.”

McKenna is to be followed on June 21 by Gibbs and DeFranco; then Farlow on June 28; Gerald Wiggins on July 12 (no concert is scheduled for July 5); Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, July 19; Marshal Royal, July 26; Hinton on Aug. 2; the Flip Phillips Quartet, Aug. 9, and Jones, Aug. 16. The series concludes on Aug. 23 with drummer Louis Bellson.

Ken Poston, director of concert productions at KLON, says that he considered subtitling the series “A Celebration of Swing” when he began to book its acts, “but what happened as we went on was that a few musicians didn’t necessarily fit into that category--like Buddy DeFranco, who might be considered to work more from a be-bop standpoint.”

Poston says his objective was to bring in acts seldom seen in the area. “People like Dave McKenna, Tal Farlow and Hank Jones are hardly ever seen” in Southern California, he said. “Even the local people we’re using don’t really get much exposure here, especially in Orange County.”

For those unable to attend in person, KLON (88.1) will broadcast the second set of each concert live beginning at 9 p.m.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 shows. There will be kebabs, pastas and sandwiches for sale and also a full bar service near the performance space. Food and drink are allowed on the amphitheater lawn. The hotel also offers stay-over packages that include a picnic dinner served on your balcony overlooking the amphitheater.

What: “Jazz Live at the Hyatt,” a concert series.

When: Fridays at 7:30 p.m., beginning June 14 with Dave McKenna.

Where: Hyatt Newporter, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to Jamboree Road. Go west about 5 miles; the Hyatt is on the right just before the junction with Pacific Coast Highway.

Wherewithal: $7.

Where to Call: (714) 729-1234.