Guitarist Bob Boss is a familiar presence in the Idyllwild jazz scene. The San Diego-based musician plays in many Idyllwild events, often with Idyllwild jazz icon Marshall Hawkins at his side.

Boss brings his Latin-focused jazz quintet to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series on Thursday, Aug. 18, for an evening of bossa-nova melodies, poppin’ percussion and some Dizzy Gillespie Latin-influenced collaborations with Chano Pozo.

Joining Boss are Marshall Hawkins on bass, Ramon Banda on drums and timbales, Michael Peed on keyboard and Roy Gonzales on percussion.

“We’re dedicating this concert to the memory of our dear friend, percussionist Kiko Cornejo, who died recently,” said Boss. “Kiko was among the first bunch of musicians that Marshall brought to Idyllwild to play concerts and work with students. We were friends for nearly 30 years.”

Boss said the idea of the Latin theme and honoring Cornejo is to be playing music that is uplifting, enjoyable and fun. “I want to feature the two drummers, and remember Kiko’s big smile when he played,” said Boss.

Boss has recorded with Hawkins, Daniel Jackson, Jason Jackson and A.J. Croce, Jim Croce’s son. He has appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, “CBS This Morning” and “Entertainment Tonight.” He has taught at the University of California, San Diego; San Diego State; Idyllwild Arts; and Palomar College.

Boss and his quintet take the stage at 7 p.m. at Butterfield Commons on Strawberry Creek. The opening act, not known as of this writing, begins at 6:15 p.m.

As Ken Dahleen and the ISCS board do each year, they sign contracts with featured acts and undertake production of the series before having funds for the entire budget. At this point, with only three concerts remaining, the board is short just over $9,000. Of the $32,420 budget, $23,260 has been raised to date, through donations and sponsorships.

So bring your chairs, food, libations and cash for the donation jars. Remember that ISCS presents this series for Idyllwild locals with no admission charge. Proceeds from ice cream and water sales on the site are donated to fund the series.

For nearly 40 years, Dr. Eric Barr taught acting, directing and writing at the University of California, Riverside. For 30 years, he chaired UCR’s Theater Department. A key architect of UCR’s master’s degree in fine arts in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts, Barr was responsible for launching the program at the UCR, Palm Desert, campus.

Then, a long-simmering staph infection following open-heart surgery in 2013 triggered numerous strokes that left Barr incapacitated — unable to speak, move, comprehend or continue his life as he had previously lived it.

His one-man show is a candid examination of his journey from near-certain death to his reawakening and cognitive rewiring. Although he still experiences short-term memory loss, Barr has reclaimed his life, having found ways to work around the “piece of his mind” that was severely damaged.

His is a story of perseverance, grit and optimism while facing a seemingly endless string of challenging medical crises. Aided by his wife, Karen Genet, Barr fought back with determination and humor over a three-year rehabilitation and recovery period.

At Stanford University’s hospital, where Barr’s critical surgeries were performed and his path to recovery launched, Barr is known by doctors and staff as their “miracle man.”

And as a theater professional who knows the importance of plot elements in telling a story, Barr appreciates and credits the many serendipitous occurrences that gave him the life he has today — Stanford’s chief cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. D. Craig Miller flying in from Montana to perform a surgery that others could not, completing the surgery while still in his cowboy boots, and, subsequently, overruling other staff and directing that Barr be given acute brain and spinal-cord rehabilitation.

During rehabilitation, Barr had the good fortune to meet and be under the care of a neuro-therapist, Dr. Mahnaz “Naz” Motayar, who believed in treating the whole being. She fully understood Barr’s outbursts during rehab. “There’s nothing wrong with this man,” she said. “He’s just angry; he’s had a stroke.”

Barr’s one-man show, which he performs for audiences that can benefit and be encouraged by his story, is also fueling his continued recovery and optimism. “Doing the show has really been a trip, a true transcendent experience,” he said. “When I tell my story to a stroke survivor, it builds a bridge and creates hope. I had lost the whole left side of my body. My recovery, with the help of so many, was like magic. I knew I needed to tell this story.”

Barr performs “A Piece of My Mind” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Rainbow Inn on South Circle Drive. Tickets are $18 and are available at the door or online at www.idyllwildactorstheatre.com.

For more about Barr, visit http://theatre.ucr.edu/emeritus-professor-eric-barr-returns-to-the-stage.

The 23rd-annual Jazz in the Pines festival is only a week away with anticipation building and visions of sweet jazz hovering over the valley.

The first notes will begin setting feet “a-tapping and heads bobbin’” at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. But the ever-popular Patrons Dinner is Friday night.

This year, the dinner’s theme is “Magic in the Forest,” said organizers Pam Goldwasser and Anne Erikson.

“Pamela [Jordan, Idyllwild Arts Foundation president] has often talked about the unique feature of Idyllwild Arts, which sets it apart from other boarding schools, which is its locality, which she refers to as the magic of Idyllwild,” they related. 

“Our environment influences the students’ creativity and is unique,” they proudly said.

Attendees at the dinner will experience some first-hand magic during the evening and throughout the crowd as it dines, mixes and talks, Erikson promised. Without revealing details, she promised that attendees would see happenings during the festivities. “Be prepared, because there is no simple stage show,” they confirmed.

During the evening, the magical voice of Deanna Bogart will entertain the patrons as well as the magical music of Besos de Coco.

Bogart will be accompanied by Chuck Alvarez, Bill Saitta and Jeff Olson.

But jazz Chair John Newman reminds us, “The Patrons Dinner always inspires spontaneous ‘sit-ins’ from other musicians, so it is a lively, interactive, improvisational party.”

While the performers enrapture the diners, Idyllwild Arts Lead Chef Chris Stroud will entice them with two carving sites, one with black-and-bleu prime rib. Then when dessert entreats the diners, they can expect a star-topped fruit wand threaded with various pieces of fruit. But some may favor the always attractive and enchanting chocolate choices.

The patrons’ bonanza continues with a special concert Saturday night. The Seahawk Modern Jazz Orchestra will perform in the new William M. Lowman Concert Hall.

Finally, both Erikson and Goldwasser referred to another magical moment, one they both enjoy and that occurs at each dinner. “Seeing the crowd get up to dance. Everyone dances with everyone,” Erikson wrote. Separately, Goldwasser said, describing one of her favorite moments as “the dancing toward the end of the evening with the last patrons and all the volunteers.”

These moments will magically re-occur next Friday. Just as one patron said presciently to Goldwasser last year, “This is the magical Idyllwild that I have always loved.”

For $350, a patron also will receive many other benefits (see the accompanying box). Patrons Dinner tickets are available online at the festival’s website (www.jazzinthepines.com) or in town at the school’s new shop on N. Circle Drive.