JAZZ FEST LISTS NOTABLE DEBUTS

Herbie Hancock, Nina Simone and Miles Davis will be among the headliners at the eighth-annual Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl, producer George Wein announced Thursday.

This year’s lineup is unusually heavy in first appearances. On opening day, June 14 (a Saturday), only Miles Davis, Mel Torme and Art Blakey will be previous participants. Andrae Crouch will bring the festival its first gospel group, Rob McConnell its first Canadian big band and the Newport All-Stars will keynote Wein’s first participation here as a pianist, alongside Scott Hamilton, Slam Stewart and others.

Also set for debuts are guitarist Al Di Meola, vocal group Rare Silk and saxophonist George Howard.

Returnees on the June 15 program will be Herbie Hancock’s Quartet, with a guest appearance by George Benson; B. B. King with guest Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Maynard Ferguson’s Orchestra. Newcomers will include the Capp/Pierce Juggernaut Band with singer Ernie Andrews, Honi Coles, Nina Simone, Azymuth with Flora Purim and Airto, the L.A. Jazz Legends, and Kenny G.