For the 31st year, the Playboy Jazz Festival will return to the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, CA on June 13-14. Wayne Shorter, a Miles Davis tribute, the Neville Brothers, Kenny G, Patti Austin and others are the featured performers. Bill Cosby is the master of ceremonies.
The two-day event, which annually attracts more than 35,000 fans, celebrates the entire spectrum of jazz. This year’s slate of performers will feature an eclectic mix of veteran jazz icons, today’s hottest young stars, world music performers, and festival favorites.
Darlene Chan, president of Festival West Inc., is the producer for the Playboy Jazz Festivals for the 31st consecutive year. Hugh Hefner is the executive producer, and Richard Rosenzweig is president of the Playboy Jazz Festival. The festival used to be produced by Festival Productions and later Festival Network LLC, which remains in financial straits. Chan used to work for Festival Productions and later Festival Network.
The June 13 lineup includes The Neville Brothers; Kind of Blue @ 50 with Jimmy Cobb’s So What Band featuring Wallace Roney, Vincent Herring, Javon Jackson, Larry Wills and Buster Williams; Summer Storm starring Norman Brown, Wayman Tisdale, Eric Darius featuring Gail Johnson; Jon Faddis Quartet; The Jack Sheldon Orchestra; Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings; Pete Escovedo Orchestra featuring Sheila E., Peter Michael and Juan Escovedo Esperanza Spalding; Cos of Good Music featuring Dwayne Burno, Ndugu Chancler, Anat Cohen, Tanya Darby and Geoffrey Keezer; Direct from New Orleans – New Birth Brass Band; and Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble.
The June 14 lineup features Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Brian Blade, John Patitucci and Danilo Perez; Kenny G; Patti Austin; King Sunny Ade ;Dave Holland Big Band; Monty Alexander’s Jazz & Roots; Oscar Hernandez and the L.A Salsa All-Stars; Anat Cohen Quartet; Quincy Jones Presents Alfredo Rodriguez; and North Hollywood High School Jazz Ensemble.