Jarreau, Marsalis, Mendes top Tri-C JazzFest lineup
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
John Soeder
Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic
The 26th annual Tri-C JazzFest has lined up performances by a far-flung roster of musicians, including Al Jarreau, Wynton Marsalis and Sergio Mendes.
"We're covering a whole lot of bases, from swing to cutting-edge stuff," says Jay Albert, the festival's managing director.
"Moonlighting" singer Jarreau, a hit at last year's JazzFest, returns Friday, April 15, to headline Playhouse Square's Allen Theatre.
Marsalis performs there Wednesday, April 20. The Pulitzer Prize-winning trumpeter released two albums last year, "The Magic Hour" and the soundtrack to the documentary "Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson."
Another standout gig promises to be "Slight Return: The Music of Jimi Hendrix and Gil Evans," with Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, tuba-playing JazzFest artist-in-residence Howard Johnson, and the Jazz Unit sharing the bill Saturday, April 23, at Cuyahoga Community College's Metro Auditorium.
The festival concludes Sunday, April 24, with a concert by bossa nova pianist Mendes and his Brasil 2005 band at Severance Hall.
Following is a list of JazzFest highlights. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are on sale at Tickets.com outlets, or charge by phone, 1-800-766-6048 or 216-241-6000. For more information, call 216-987-4400 or visit www.tricjazzfest.com.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
John Soeder
Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic
The 26th annual Tri-C JazzFest has lined up performances by a far-flung roster of musicians, including Al Jarreau, Wynton Marsalis and Sergio Mendes.
"We're covering a whole lot of bases, from swing to cutting-edge stuff," says Jay Albert, the festival's managing director.
"Moonlighting" singer Jarreau, a hit at last year's JazzFest, returns Friday, April 15, to headline Playhouse Square's Allen Theatre.
Marsalis performs there Wednesday, April 20. The Pulitzer Prize-winning trumpeter released two albums last year, "The Magic Hour" and the soundtrack to the documentary "Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson."
Another standout gig promises to be "Slight Return: The Music of Jimi Hendrix and Gil Evans," with Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, tuba-playing JazzFest artist-in-residence Howard Johnson, and the Jazz Unit sharing the bill Saturday, April 23, at Cuyahoga Community College's Metro Auditorium.
The festival concludes Sunday, April 24, with a concert by bossa nova pianist Mendes and his Brasil 2005 band at Severance Hall.
Following is a list of JazzFest highlights. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are on sale at Tickets.com outlets, or charge by phone, 1-800-766-6048 or 216-241-6000. For more information, call 216-987-4400 or visit www.tricjazzfest.com.
