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The Essence Music Festival has plenty to celebrate this year and it will be about a lot more than music, said Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc.
The festival, slated to run from July 3rd through the 5th, will include events marking the festival’s 15th anniversary and the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Billed as one of the nation’s largest annual events celebrating black music and culture, this year’s list of headliners will include Beyonce, John Legend, Al Green, Anita Baker, Robin Thicke and dozens of others. There will also be a tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes, the Dallas pastor who gave an Inauguration Day sermon in Washington.
The format for this year’s festival will be the same as in years past: Ticketed musical performances are slated at night and free empowerment seminars will be held during the day.
“That’s the wonderful thing about Essence,” Ebanks said. “It’s not one particular genre of music. It’s a celebration of the music of our lives, of all the music that we know and love.”
The festival began in 1995 as a one-time celebration of the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine. Over the years, it has hosted performances by Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J, the Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, the O’Jays, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton and Patti LaBelle, among others.
An estimated 200,000 people attended the festival in 2007, the year it returned to New Orleans after being held in Houston in 2006 because the city was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The festival had one of its biggest turnouts last year with more than 270,000 attendees.
For more information you can visit the festival website, essencemusicfestival.com.
Kenny G is just one of many exciting and internationally renowned names in jazz who will come together when the 2009 Playboy Jazz Festival, now in its 31st year, presents its stellar lineup of talent Saturday and Sunday, June 13th and 14th at the landmark Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.
The two day event, which annually attracts over 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.
Back for his 28th year as master of ceremonies is Bill Cosby and the talent-heavy roster of performers includes Kenny G, Patti Austin, The Neville Brothers, Norman Brown, Wayman Tisdale, Eric Darius and many more.
Jazz bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding and soul/funk outfit Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are among the seven acts making their debut appearance at the 2009 Playboy Jazz Festival.
The festival performers were announced during a press conference at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion. Among those performing is Quincy Jones’ new protégé Alfredo Rodriguez who will be making his festival debut. Jones first encountered the 23-year-old Cuban pianist/producer/musical director during a performance at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival.
A special tribute to the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis’ landmark, best-selling jazz album “Kind of Blue” is set for Saturday (June 13th). Leading the salute is Jimmy Cobb, who is making his festival debut and is the only surviving member from the original recording.
Tickets are currently available via the Hollywood Bowl website, hollywoodbowl.com.
Chuck Loeb is set to release his forthcoming album, Between 2 Worlds, on March 24th, and it would appear that the album title may in fact allude to another side of Chuck’s brain.
The jazz guitarist has taken his talents to the page, writing a spy novel titled, “Double Read.” The first three chapters of his first-ever book are currently available as a free download on his website.
In regards to his upcoming album release, Loeb says that this album gets away from most of the technology used with his previous recordings and instead focuses on the basic trio of guitar, bass and drums.
He does however have a little help on this album, with contributions from smooth jazz superstars, including Brian Culbertson, who has a trombone solo, and saxophonist Eric Marienthal, as well as trumpeter Till Bronner and bassists Gerald Veasley and Will Lee.
Between 2 Worlds also features vocal contributions from Loeb’s wife, Carmen Cuesta, and daughter, Lizzy Loeb. Song titles include the cover track and James Taylor’s “Mean Old Man,” as well as “Let’s Go,” “Mittens,” “Let’s Play” and “Hiram,” the latter a tribute to the late guitarist Hiram Bullock. In addition, the song “360” is dedicated to fellow guitarist Pat Metheny.
Chuck Loeb has proven himself to be a versatile composer, arranger and producer. In addition to fronting his own bands and projects, Chuck has produced the work of such high-profile artists as Spyro Gyra, Bob James, Walter Beasley, Larry Coryell and Kim Waters.
He’s also composed the score for numerous television programs and crafted the theme music for the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves, and performed on several motion picture soundtracks.
For more information on Chuck Loeb, including a preview of his first novel, you can visit his website, chuckloeb.com.
