7 Shows, Just 1 Singer in New Jazz Season

After a 1998-99 season in which four of seven performers were vocalists, the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Jazz Club in Founders Hall series for 1999-2000 comes down squarely on the side of instrumentalists. Center officials announced Tuesday that the series will offer only one vocalist, Dianne Reeves.

The seven-concert schedule, which begins Sept. 24 with blues- and gospel-inspired pianist Gene Harris, mixes a fairly diverse blend of jazz styles with a number of returning performers.

Three trumpeters--hard-bopper Roy Hargrove, Cuban Arturo Sandoval and New Orleans-born Nicholas Payton--are in the lineup. All have appeared previously at the Costa Mesa cCenter.

Also included are pianist Brad Mehldau, whose sensitivity and individualism have earned him comparisons to Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, and flutist/UC Irvine instructor James Newton, who has recorded highly praised collections of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus material for Blue Note.

The Jazz Club in Founders Hall schedule:

* Gene Harris, Sept. 24-26.

* Brad Mehldau, Dec. 3-4.

* Dianne Reeves, Dec. 17-18.

* Roy Hargrove, Jan.21-23

* James Newton, Feb. 11-12.

* Arturo Sandoval, March 3-5.

* Nicholas Payton, April 28-29, 2000.

* Subscription renewals are due May 28. New subscriptions go on sale June 20. Each program is performed twice nightly. Subscriptions are $216 for the 7:30 p.m. series and $176 for 9:45 p.m. Information: (714) 556-2787.