THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190272
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARSHA GILBERT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Music lovers, get ready. One of the best-kept secrets in the area finally has been revealed. The all-star lineup for the 29th annual Hampton Jazz Festival was announced Monday.
The musical extravaganza will cover four days, June 20 through 23, at the Hampton Coliseum. Tickets are $33.50 per day. They go on sale Saturday at the Coliseum box office and at Ticketmaster locations. All seats are reserved.
Not all of the recording artists slated to perform are jazz musicians.
``Each night represents a different segment of the rainbow of talent rooted in jazz and R&B music,'' said John Scott, associate producer of the festival for the past 27 years.
Shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will start at 7:30 p.m. Performing Thursday are Al Green, The Isley Brothers, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and Millie Jackson.
Friday will showcase the talents of Barry White, B.B. King, Joey De Francesco and Grover Washington Jr.
Saturday's artistry includes Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, David Sanborn and Chick Corea in a salute to Bud Powell. Corea will be accompanied by a first-rate band - Corea on piano, Joshua Redman on saxophone, Wallace Roney on trumpet, Christian McBride on bass and Roy Haynes on drums.
Sunday's concert starts at 2:30 p.m. and features Luther Vandross, Rachelle Ferrell and Ahmad Jamal.
Jamal is the only newcomer to the festival. He will have a busy weekend as he also performs in the Peninsula Association Sickle Cell Anemia Afrikan American Festival on Saturday in Mill Point Park.
There are free, pre-concert performances on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's artist is yet to be announced, but the concert is scheduled to start at6 p.m. On Sunday, at 1 p.m. look for Bill Doggett, the famed organist from the '60s and '70s who is best known for his hit ``Honky Tonk.''
``This has never been a 100 percent jazz festival,'' Scott said. ``We pride ourselves in presenting the best of American music across the spectrum, which has its roots in jazz and R&B. We lean towards more popular artists than jazz. We've lost a lot of the greats in jazz, but most of them performed here before they died.''
Festival organizers have created an exciting lineup that should help make up for the large sum of money they lost last year when singer Barry White was too ill with the flu to take the stage at the end of the evening. It was the first time they had to refund ticket money.
``We are re-assessing our refund policy,'' said Joe Tsao, director of the Hampton Coliseum. ``We will try to be equitable. Last year we gave back most of the money we made for that day. We suffered a significant loss. This is a festival - it's not a one-person concert. People come for the event and to visit the area.''
Despite the one-time financial loss, the festival gives the city of Hampton a financial boost with increased tourism.
``The Hampton Jazz Festival solidifies our relationship with the university,'' said James L. Eason, mayor of Hampton. ``The last 29 years have gone by fast. The festival is financially beneficial for the city.''
The festival is not only a money-making venture, but also a tradition.
``The festival is a reunion of sorts,'' said William R. Harvey, president of Hampton University. ``People come from all over and some plan their vacations around this. There'll be many Hampton University alumni and also alumni of the festival.'' ILLUSTRATION: PERFORMERS WILL INCLUDE:
B.B. KING
CHICK COREA
AL GREEN
AHMAD JAMAL
CHAKA KHAN
THE ISLEY BROTHERS
HERBIE HANCOCK
BILL DOGGETT
LUTHER VANDROSS
DAVID SANBORN
MILLIE JACKSON
by CNB