Smooth Jazz News - October-November-Decemeber - 2024

2 0 | S M O O T H J A Z Z N E W S By Melanie Maxwell Grammy-nominated saxophonist Mindi Abair has dreamed about hosting a New Year’s Eve event for many years. So has Kathy Payne. The chief financial officer- treasurer of Payne Pest Management had sponsored one in San Diego with her late husband, Willie, in 2018, and she always wanted to do it again. Fortunately, fate intervened during last year’s Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival to make both of their dreams come true. “Mindi and Eric [Guerra, Abair’s wine-expert husband] approached me while visiting me at my vacation rental on Catalina last October. They thought it was a natural fit since I had previously sponsored and promoted events in my hometown of San Diego, not to mention our close friendship,” Payne said. During that visit, they decided to team up to launch Mindi Abair’s Wine and Jazz New Year’s Eve 2024, adding to the WineandJazz.com Adventures portfolio that Abair and Guerra host throughout Northern California’s Wine Country and at luxe wine regions worldwide. They describe this event as “a three-day celebration of the finest wine, food and music to ring in the new year from the sun and sand of beautiful Coronado Island,” just across the bridge from the San Diego skyline. “I’ve always loved celebrating New Year’s Eve. It’s all about joy, renewal and making resolutions to live your best life moving forward,” said Abair. “I’ve performed for so many New Year’s Eve celebrations over the years, and recently, there have been less and less. I found myself yearning for somewhere inspiring to play and celebrate the coming new year. It occurred to me to make my own and make it that special luxury event that I was dreaming of. I love the idea of ringing in the new year in an inspiring way with artists I love and people I love.” Two of those people are Roy and Penny McClurg, premier sponsors of the event. Abair said that Roy has been the executive producer for every CD on her Pretty Good For A Girl Records label. And, of course, another one is Payne, the event’s title sponsor. “We’ve been friends for many years,” said Abair. “I think anyone who’s loved smooth jazz met and fell in love with her late husband, Willie Payne. Both of them championed this format, the artists in it, and helped to build N E W Y E A R ’ S E V E MINDIABAIR’S CORONADO, CALIFORNIA | DEC. 29 31 Photo: Monica Orozco