Eric Marienthal
HIGH HOPES is a non-profit charitable organization that helps brain-injured adults often recover from traumatic injuries that leave them unable to talk or walk. This was the 21st Annual Eric Marienthal and Friends Benefit Concert held in an outdoor setting overlooking picturesque Newport Bay as the sun set behind the stage.
The event kicks off with a catered dinner for donor VIPs held in one of the ballrooms with live music by a band comprised of top studio musicians led by Ron Kobayashi, featuring singer Mary Desmond, daughter of Mark Desmond who is the Founder and creator of the High Hopes organization.
Mary Desmond
We interviewed Miss Desmond, who is a stunning beauty, vivacious and pursuing her goals of singer songwriter and collaborator in music school and by working closely with the best of the best in L.A. She is only 18 but well on her way to a career that she envisions covering many of her contemporary genres as well as jazz singing. She has a great future ahead!
I also had the pleasure of interviewing the great Lee Ritenour, known affectionately as “Captain Fingers” the Grammy Award winning guitarist and composer best known for his jazz, jazz-funk and jazz fusion styles. His career spans a period in history with the most diverse guitar heroes from Wes Montgomery to Eric Clapton to Jimi Hendrix to name a few and to illustrate the rich palette of influences he had to choose from. He was very excited to join in and give of his immense talent for the High Hopes concert.
The VIPs then walked over and through the hotel around the back where they could take their seats in the outdoor amphitheater for the main event, bid on the silent auction items that were displayed, eat some cheeses, crudités, fruit, crackers, hot Mexican finger foods and baked desserts as well as a full bar.
Rick Braun
The attendees were a glittering crowd of enthusiasts for music and for the cause who have made this event such a success. The fun began when the auctioneer took up the microphone with his fast-talking professional bidding technique and worked the donors into purchasing some wonderful travel packages, jewelry and even a custom crafted guitar to the luckiest giver.
Grammy Award winning Eric Marienthal who has led the musical charge for High Hopes since the beginning, played selections from his vast 14 CD solo repertoire, taking his signature wailing stance as he riffed improvisational solos on his alto sax backed by an all-star band consisting of Andre Berry on bass, Mitch Foreman on keyboards, Dean Brown (from the Brecker Brothers band) on guitar, the spectacular Bernie Dresel (who is the drum sound of most drummers in the movies), Joey deLeon on percussion. It takes great ears and a lot of skill to produce such a balanced fine spectrum of instruments in an outdoor setting, thanks to Dennis Moody the sound engineer.
The first of two special guest artists that joined the band was Rick Braun known for his smooth jazz trumpet who led the band into “Wade in the Water” where he featured guitarist Brown, the two of them playing solos back and forth. The audience learned that it had been Braun’s birthday so they sang Happy Birthday to him. He ended his set with his well-loved version of “Grazin’ in the Grass.” The second guest Grammy Award winning guitarist composer Lee Ritenour, brought his son onto the bandstand to play drums for his set. There was great variety in his performance spanning the many decades of recordings, from jazz into funk and R&B territory as he performed “Night Rhythms” and his Grammy Nominated song (and tribute to the great Wes Montgomery) “Wes Bound.” He got the whole place bopping to the finale “Rio Funk”
Lee Ritenour
The event had over 1,000 guests and raised $100,000, which will go toward a scholarship program for the many that need financial assistance to attend High Hopes programs, and for much needed rehabilitation equipment. Truly one of the great reasons so many top artists are thrilled to bring their fine musical skills every year to the event held in the Hyatt Newport Beach.
Smooth Jazz Benefit Concert 2019 Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
Alicia Previn / BackStage360
Interviews at the 21st Annual Eris Marienthal & Friends Benefit Concert for High Hopes. Featuring:
Mark Desmond, Lee Ritenour, Rick Braun, Mary Desmond & Terri McDonald