Paula West

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival doesn’t open until June 3, but you don’t have to wait that long for good jazz.

The festival will present an early event “An Evening with Paula West”  Saturday, May 21, at the Lambert Bridge Winery. The concert’s proceeds will help support the 13th annual festival this summer.

The event, which is limited to 100 people, includes a tasting and food pairing of Lambert Bridge’s award-winning wines from the Dry Creek Valley winemaker, as well as a benefit auction and a  performance by the song stylist.

West was raised in San Diego, but it was in San Francisco that she became a recognized cabaret and lounge singer, performing at the Ritz Carleton, before going on to the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel in New York.

She  currently performs on a regular basis in the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.

“She’s an incredible performer,”  said Jessica Felix, artistic director of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. “She’s worked all the major rooms in the country, and to have her in such a intimate setting in the wine country is a real treat.”

The event begins at 6 p.m. at the winery, 4085 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg.

Tickets cost $100 for the wine and food pairing, auction and performance. Following the performance there will be a  “Meet the Artist” dinner with Paul West and Lambert Bridge winemakers Jill Davis and Jennifer Higgins. Dinner is limited to 12 guests, and the $250 price includes the concert.

Information: healdsburgjazzfestival.org, (707) 433-4633.