It was a lovely and very warm summer afternoon and evening in Tarzana as almost 200 guests tasted over 30 California wines and listened to some of the best young jazz artists in our community. The beautiful home of Helena and Dario Galatolo with their sparkling pool was the perfect setting for the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s “A Taste of Wine, A Touch of Jazz” on July 25th. The event culminated with an outstanding performance by LAJS friends – Bill Cunliffe and Denise Donatellli, with Jake Reed and Jonathan Richards.

Graduates of the LAJS Bill Green Mentorship Program – Spencer Lemann on jazz guitar, and John Miller – tenor sax, with Matan Goldfil on drums and Chris Palmer on bass, performed during the first two hours. Danny Janklow – sax and Steve Cotter – bass, performed next, followed by the concert. (Danny also was the leader of our Jazz Coolcats program earlier this year).

Delightful wines were poured by Graef Wines, Laetitia Vineyard nd Winery, Navarro Wines, Vinemark Cellars, Ascension Cellars, Lorimar Vineyards & Winery, Wiens Family Cellars, Cobblestone and Vina Sympatica Sparkling Wines. A big thank you to all of them for sharing their day, and especially their wines, with out guests. We encourage you to try their wines — many of our guests signed up and/or placed orders for their varietals.

Special thank you’s as well to our sponsors and donors – Lois Saffian, Rita Zwern & Irwin Sato, Flip Manne, Samara Saffian, Phronie Sanders, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Vitellos, Chuck & Julie Berghofer, Trader Joe’s, Costco, Say Cheese, BJ’s, Peasant Wine Bistro, Ralph’s, Haggen’s, Desert Rose Restaurant, Ira Nepus and many others. Huge gratitude to an outstanding committee — Lois Saffian, Rita Zwern, Samara Saffian, Julie Berghofer, Elaine Koonse, Phronie Sanders, Flip Manne, and Scherr Lillico, and to the LAJS Board of Trustees and everyone who attended and supported the event.

Maybe we’ll have to do it again next year!!