Ray Charles to Open a ‘Safe’ Center Series

The Orange County Performing Arts Center has announced its 1996 Jazz at the Center series, to begin June 6 with Ray Charles. The six concerts take a wide stance, covering contemporary, mainstream and Latin styles and focusing on names even nonjazz fans should recognize instantly.

Following Charles, the popular singer-keyboard player whose jazz credentials are overshadowed by his R&B; reputation, the center will offer singer Al Jarreau on June 8, saxophonist David Sanborn on June 19, percussionist Tito Puente on Aug. 10, pianist Herbie Hancock on Aug. 15 and pianist-composer Dave Brubeck on Oct. 12.

The Jarreau, Hancock and Brubeck concerts are available as a subscription series, with tickets ranging from $63 to $126 for all three. The Charles, Sanborn and Puente appearances will be open, nonsubscription shows at prices ranging from $18 to $49.

Hancock, Sanborn and Jarreau will be making their center debuts.

While crowd-pleasers Jarreau, Charles and Puente should all be large draws, they serve to underscore the safe nature of the series.

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Conspicuous by their absence are members of the jazz mainstream’s crop of young lions and such serious jazz composers and ensembles as saxophonist Joe Lovano’s chamber group or bassist Dave Holland’s quartet.

Including such innovators in future bookings, possibly in the smaller confines of the center’s Founders Hall, would go a long way to distinguish what is now a predictable, not quite something-for-everyone series.

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JAZZ AT THE CENTER

The 1996 season:

* June 6: Ray Charles

* June 8: Al Jarreau

* June 19: David Sanborn

* Aug. 10: Tito Puente

* Aug. 15: Herbie Hancock

* Oct. 12: Dave Brubeck

The Orange County Performing Arts Center is at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 556-2787.