Jazz Greats to Perform at Playboy Festival

03/04/2004 8:26 AM, AP


Wynton Marsalis will bring his trumpet, Etta James will bring her voice and tap-dancer Savion Glover will bring his feet to the upcoming Playboy Jazz Festival, organizers said Wednesday.

The 26th annual festival, set for the Hollywood Bowl on the weekend of June 19 and 20, coincides with a yearlong celebration of Playboy magazine's 50th anniversary.

The event, hosted by Bill Cosby on Saturday and NBC's "The Tonight Show" band leader and guitarist Kevin Eubanks on Sunday, highlights a range of jazz genres from contemporary to traditional, big band, blues, salsa and world music.

Marsalis is set to perform with his septet in what will be his tenth appearance on the Playboy stage, while James will sing with her Roots Band.

Glover and his dance troupe Ti Dii will make their Playboy festival debut. The performer, choreographer and director — who won a Tony Award for his choreography of the Broadway hit "Bring In Da' Noise, Bring In Da' Funk" — will appear with a jazz quintet for a combination of song and dance variations. Concertgoers will be able to see Glover's footwork on gigantic screens introduced to the festival last year.

Other performers include the Christian McBride Band; Charles McPherson Quartet; Yerba Buena; Jose Rizo Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars; Bela Fleck and the Flecktones; Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Brian Blade Quartet; and The Washington Preparatory High School Jazz Ensemble.