Festival Serves Jams, Main Courses and Mixers

The jam session, that most revered of jazz institutions, is at the heart of this weekend’s West Coast Jazz Party. The event, scheduled for the Irvine Marriott tonight through Monday, will feature five jam sessions each day, followed by a closing headliner.

Many of the headlining bands will furnish participants for the jams, and a host of other musicians will assemble in mix-and-match action.

Among those appearing will be trumpeters Conte Candoli, Jack Sheldon and Stacy Rowles, drummers Grady Tate, Jake Hanna and Frank Capp, saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Red Holloway, seven-string guitar whiz Ron Eschete, bassist Andy Simpkins, trombonist Bill Watrous, flutist Holly Hoffmann and guitar legend George Van Eps.

Tonight’s headliners are the Kings of Swing, led by Gibbs and clarinetist Buddy DeFranco. On Saturday, the Jack Sheldon Orchestra, directed by saxophonist Tom Kubis, caps the evening. On Sunday, Gibbs returns with his star-studded Dream Band. And Monday it’s a “Monster Jam” with dozens of musicians.

The slogan of the WCJP, “Right Down the Middle and Straight Ahead” reflects the organizers’ philosophy.

“We just signed the kind of musicians [co-producer John McClure] and I love,” says co-producer Joe Rothman, “the kind that play straight-ahead jazz music that you can tap your toe to or hum or sing along with.”

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While lineups for each day’s jams were being formulated at press time, here are some highlights:

The potent brass team of trumpeter Jack Sheldon and saxophonists Holloway and Rickey Woodard will be backed by pianist Roger Kellaway and drummer Tate to kick off the festivities tonight. And tonight’s duo of seven-string guitarists Eschete and Van Eps promises to be magical.

Saturday, trumpeter Rowles is scheduled to make a duo appearance with her father, revered pianist Jimmy Rowles. Trombonists Bill Watrous and Urbie Green will match skills Sunday. Monday’s lineup features solo spots from Kellaway, Van Eps and others before the monster jam closes the event.

“Anybody who likes good, swingin’ jazz is not going to be disappointed,” said headliner Gibbs. “It’s not going to be like some of those festivals where you have one real jazz band followed by some fusion band or something like that. This is all the real thing.”

* The West Coast Jazz Party will be at the Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. Tonight through Sunday, 7:30 p.m., and Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Four-day priority seating, $145 to $175. Daily reserved seating, $35 to $45. (714) 798-3320