Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Plenty of Wine & Brews Set for May 17 California Jazz & Wine Fest in Thousand Oaks

Samples of wine, microbrews and boutique spirits will be served along with extra helpings of hot jazz during the fourth annual California Jazz & Wine Fest in Sunday, May 17 at Thousand Oaks Community Park (2525 N. Moorpark Rd.) in Thousand Oaks. Headlining the jazz lineup is four-time Grammy award-winner Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Presented by the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise, proceeds support school music programs and other nonprofits.

Golden Star Vineyards, Sunland Vintage Winery, Panaro Brothers Winery & Tasting Room, Surf Brewery, Twisted Oak Tavern, Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, Channel Islands Distillery Rum and Ventura Limoncello Company will be pouring at the fest. “There will be plenty for festival-goers to sample,” says Nadine Rothermel, festival spokesperson.

Gourmet food trucks, including Baby’s Badass Burgers, The Lobos Truck, Belly BombZ,
Slammin’ Sliders, Tocky’s Pitas, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Tokyo Doggie Style and Cousins Maine Lobster, will be on hand to sell their culinary creations. Artists and craftspeople will also be displaying their wares.

Gordon Goodwin is a 2006 Grammy award winner for his instrumental arrangement of “Incredits” from the Pixar film “The Incredibles,” He’s won three Emmy awards, and has had 13 Grammy award nominations. He formed the 18-piece jazz ensemble the Big Phat Band in 1999. Goodwin composes most, and arranges all, of the group’s performance pieces, famous for their driving rhythms, fast, almost frantic tempos.

Also performing on the main festival stages is Oskar Cartaya Enclave with guest Justo Amario, the Lao Tizer Trio and the Westlake High School Jazz Band. Performers on the Bistro stage will be Paul McCallum & Friends, Ottesen, Flowers & Clark, The Barrelhouse Wailers and Tony Ybarra & Friends.

Festival sponsors include HUB International, Ventura County Star, RMS Printing, Shaver Automotive Fiat, Stratosphere Marketing Solutions Inc., Guitar Center, VMSG, Montecito Bank & Trust,
The Oaks, Baxter, Warner Pacific, Waste Management, California Lutheran University, Squashed Grapes and Kirby Automotive Group

This year’s festival is being held at a new location: Thousand Oaks Community Park. “They’ll be more shade and easier parking,” says Rothermel. It will also be open an hour longer (1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., noon to 5:00 p.m. for VIP ticket holders).

Tickets are $50 per person/general admission and $100 per person/VIP admission. Both include unlimited beverage tasting and a tasting glass. Besides early entry, VIP ticket holders receive preferred parking and have access to a private enclosed lounge with complimentary wine and food.

Festival goers must be age 21 or older. For more information: 805-380-6010, info@californiajazzwine.com, Facebook.com/califjazzwine, Twitter, twitter.com/califjazzwine. To purchase tickets, go to the festival website, http://www.californiajazzwine.com. For a 10 percent ticket discount, type in promo code 15CJWFPR when ordering online.