Lineup Set for Playboy Jazz Festival

An eclectic lineup of talent will be presented at the 11th-annual Playboy Jazz Festival, to be held June 17-18 at the Hollywood Bowl.

The bash will introduce a new group led by Larry Carlton, it was announced Wednesday at a press conference at the Playboy Mansion. The guitarist is now almost fully recovered from injuries suffered in a shooting outside his home last year. Also on hand will be pianist Dave Brubeck, who underwent heart surgery last week, but is expected to be well enough to take part.

Along with Carlton, the Saturday show will include Ruben Blades y Son Del Solar; Terry Gibbs leading a big band; Wynton Marsalis; Grover Washington Jr.; Stanley Clarke and George Duke; singer Dianne Reeves; Michel Camilo, the fast-rising pianist from Santo Domingo; Buckwheat Zydeco playing Creole dance music; and the winning high school or college big band from Western Jazz Search.

Set for the Sunday program are Brubeck; George Benson with the McCoy Tyner Trio; Spyro Gyra; Diane Schuur; the vocal group Take 6; tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet leading his New York-based big band; Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers; Michael Brecker’s group; and the winner of the Hennessy Cognac Jazz contest.

There will be a series of free events presented as forerunners to the festival, including school workshops, a senior citizens’ concert, and a three-hour cruise June 11, with the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut Band and Brandon Fields.

Tickets for the festival are available by mail; call (213) 450-9040 during normal business hours for a mailer. Tickets go on sale at Ticketmaster locations April 17.