Playboy Jazz Festival: Tenth Time Around

The lineup for the 10th Anniversary Playboy Jazz Festival, set for June 18-19 at the Hollywood Bowl, will be a mixture of mainstream jazz, fusion, avant-garde and fringe elements.

The performers were announced by producer George Wein Thursday in a canopied garden area of the Playboy Mansion, facing an audience of media people and a few of the musicians who are due to participate.

The June 18 program will make use for the third time of saxophonist Kenny G. Three locally based attractions will be heard: Bob Florence with his Limited Edition band, Carmen McRae (who will be backed by Florence) and the Ray Brown Trio.

Rounding out the first day will be the World Saxophone Quartet, Larry Carlton, the Fabulous Thunderbird, the Michael Brecker band and King Sunny Ade, whose 19-piece African beat “Ju-ju Band” will add an exotic Nigerian touch.

The June 19 show will open with the winner of the annual Hennessy Amateur Jazz Band contest. Two artists who took part in the original Playboy Festival in Chicago in 1959 will be on hand: Dizzy Gillespie (heading an all-star big band directed by Jon Faddis) and Ahmad Jamal. Jimmy and Jennie Cheatham will co-lead their Good Time Blues band. Spyro Gyra will return.

Also set for that day are Bobby McFerrin, the Timeless All Stars (Bobby Hutcherson, Curtis Fuller, Harold Land, Cedar Walton, Buster Williams and Billy Higgins), a Latin set (with Flora Purim, Airto, Dave Valentin and Freddie Hubbard) and Ray Charles with his orchestra and show.

Because the regular emcee, Bill Cosby, will be overseas shooting a movie, comedian Mort Sahl, who took part in the 1959 festival, will serve as host.