Pacific Jazz Orchestra Hosts Ivan Lins 80th Birthday Celebration at Segerstrom Center

Pacific Jazz Orchestra – a renowned 40-piece hybrid big band and string orchestra led by seven-time Grammy-nominated Artistic Director Chris Walden – pulls out all the stops for Ivan Lins’ 80th Birthday Tribute. The celebration features Lins himself performing some of his extraordinary songs that have inspired audiences around the globe for more than six decades. Joining Pacific Jazz Orchestra to help fête the legendary Brazilian songwriter/vocalist/pianist and multi-Latin GRAMMY Award winner are vocalist Jane Monheit and guitarist Lee Ritenour.

Two premier Southland venues host the musical bash: Friday, January 17, 8:00 pm, at Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa, and Sunday, January 19, 3:00, at McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert.

Ivan Lins, a melodist with few equals hailed for his effortless baritone and nuanced vocal phrasing, is one of the most treasured and recorded composers in the world with more than 40 albums in his storied career. His most recent recording, 2023's My Heart Speaks on the Resonance label, which includes Monheit as one of the featured guests, contains songs that span Lins’ career. Lins’ music has also been recorded by Sarah Vaughan, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Manhattan Transfer, Al Jarreau, and Michael Bublé, among many others.      

Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist with a deep passion for the Great American Songbook. With many highly acclaimed solo albums, countless awards and accolades, and over two decades of international touring experience, Monheit has had the privilege of making music with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz.

Grammy-winning guitarist Lee Ritenour, a gifted jazz artist and stylistic chameleon, is known for his work in the fusion, crossover, post-bop and Brazilian jazz idioms. The Southern California native, and USC graduate, is a noted session musician who earned the nickname "Captain Fingers" for his uncommon dexterity on the guitar.

Pacific Jazz Orchestra has garnered critical acclaim for thrilling performances that “entertain, inspire, and enrich” (Variety). Thanks to the generosity of The Herb Alpert Foundation (HAF), the Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s inaugural season was fully funded, and HAF continues to support the ensemble in its 2024-25 season. Additional support this season is provided by Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg.

Segerstrom Center is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626. For tickets (starting at $44) and information, visit scfta.org or call (714) 556-2787.

McCallum Theatre is located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260. For tickets (starting at $65) and information, visit www.mccallumtheatre.org or call (760) 340-2787.

For information about Pacific Jazz Orchestra, visit www.pacificjazz.org.