Those Who Take a Taste Will Also Get an Earful

Concerts by country chanteuse Crystal Gayle and a trio of highly regarded Latin jazz bands will highlight the musical offerings at A Taste of Orange County ’92.

Gayle, who started out touring at 16 with her older sister, Loretta Lynn, came into her own during the ‘70s when she scored a major country-pop crossover hit with what still is her signature song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” Her concert takes place Friday at 8 p.m. on the festival’s main stage.

Preferred seats and tables are available at $25 per person. Information: (714) 753-1551.

The Latin jazz bill caps the entertainment on the main stage Saturday with salsa and Brazilian sounds generated by three bands led by ace percussionists.

Pete Escovedo, a veteran Bay Area player whose credits include a tour of duty with Santana, will lead a 13-piece band to start the show at 7 p.m.

Next up is Poncho Sanchez, a conga player whose band has been a regular presence on the local jazz scene.

Airto Moreira and Fourth World, featuring Flora Purim, close the show with the Brazilian sound that Airto (his stage name) and Purim, his singer wife, were instrumental in bringing to the ‘70s jazz-fusion movement.

Preferred seats and tables for this concert are available for $50 per person. Information: (714) 665-6925.

Gerald Albright, a jazz-pop saxophonist who turns up regularly at mainstream pop-R&B; recording sessions, will headline a jazz program on the main stage Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

“Taste” also will draw some tasty local talents to the festival’s four separate stages, including the Mike Reilly Band, a hot blues-rock outfit; Big Jay McNeeley, one of the seminal R&B; saxophone talents who emerged in the 1950s, and surf rock pioneer Dick Dale & the Deltones.

A TASTE OF ORANGE COUNTY ’92

Who’s Playing When

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

MILLER GENUINE DRAFT LIGHT STAGE 5:30-7 p.m.: Mike Reilly Band (blues-rock)

7:30-9 p.m.: Big Jay McNeeley (R&B;)

10-11 p.m.: Mike Hamilton (solo guitar)

MAIN STAGE 8-11 p.m.: Crystal Gayle

TIMES ORANGE COUNTY STAGE 5-6:30 p.m.: Mike Hamilton

7-8 p.m.: Einstein Brown (reggae/steel drum)

FORTUNE STREET STAGE 5-6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Ambition (rock ‘n’ roll)

8-9:30 p.m.: Planet “10” (reggae)

10-11 p.m.: Einstein Brown

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

MILLER GENUINE DRAFT LIGHT STAGE Noon-1 p.m.: Kim Olson (county)

2-3:30 p.m.: Derek & the Diamonds (soul)

4:30-6 p.m.: Vic L’Orange Band (oldies)

6:30-8 p.m.: Zydeco Party Band

8:30-10 p.m.: Lois Greco (R&B;)

10:30 p.m.-midnight: Robert August Williams Band (jazz)

MAIN STAGE 1-2 p.m.: Cross Culture (formerly Gnarly Braus, reggae)

3-4 p.m.: Max Bennett & the Maxx Band (jazz)

7-8 p.m.: Pete Escovedo (Latin jazz)

8:30-9:30 p.m.: Poncho Sanchez (Latin jazz)

10-11 p.m.: Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Fourth World (Latin jazz)

TIMES ORANGE COUNTY STAGE Noon-1 p.m.: Sandi Castleberry (country)

2-3 p.m.: Einstein Brown

4-5 p.m.: Mike Hamilton

6-7 p.m.: Acoustic Renovators (bluegrass)

FORTUNE STREET STAGE Noon-1:15 p.m.: California Connection (polka)

2-3 p.m.: Radio Flyer (country)

4-5 p.m.: Chanting Madly (rock)

6-7 p.m.: Ambition

8-9:30 p.m.: Boom Generation (rock ‘n’ roll)

10:30-11:30 p.m.: Eric Henderson (jazz guitar)

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

MILLER GENUINE DRAFT LIGHT STAGExu Noon-1 p.m.: Company B (Broadway show tunes)

2-3:30 p.m.: Dick Dale & the Deltones

4:30-6 p.m.: Sapadilla (reggae)

7-8:30 p.m.: Derek & the Diamonds

u,.7 MAIN STAGExu 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Robert August Williams Band

6-7 p.m.: Freeway Philharmonic (jazz)

7:30-9 p.m.: Gerald Albright (jazz sax)

u,.7 TIMES ORANGE COUNTY STAGExu Noon-12:20 p.m.: Mike Whipple (jazz piano)

1-2 p.m.: Acoustic Renovators

2:30-3:30 p.m.: Random Allies (world beat)

4-5 p.m.: Mike Whipple

u,.7 FORTUNE STREET STAGExu 1-2:30 p.m.: Rick & the Recuperators (formerly the Regular Guys, R&B;)

3:30-5 p.m.: Greg Topper Band (oldies)

6-7:30 p.m.: Mike Reilly Band

8-9 p.m.: We Presents (alternative rock)

Los Angeles Times