Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/13061
LONGBEACHMAGAZINE.COM 43 Starting on Friday, the headliners are the Original Jazz Crusaders featuring Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder reunited and playing their blend of jazz, pop and soul. The band, in its various incarnations, have been around for forty years with more than that number of albums produced. It was only in April that the announcement of a reunion tour starring Sample, Henderson and Felder back together came down the wires, a collaboration last witnessed in 1974. Also headlining on Friday will be the three-time Grammy Award nominee saxophonist Boney James. A songwriter and producer, James helped popularise urban jazz, and remains one of the most successful instrumental artists, with record sales nearing three million. The tribute to Grover Washington Jr. takes place on Saturday, and the use of the term all- star is not an exaggeration. This special tribute is the brainchild of Musical Director Jason Miles and is sure to be an audience favorite. The line-up includes noted saxophonist Ronnie Laws, as well as Tom Scott, musician and composer famous for creating the themes for TV shows The Streets of San Francisco and Starsky and Hutch. Scott is also well-known as the bandleader of west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble, The L.A. Express. R&B and jazz singer Chanté Moore (who's fifth solo album, Love the Woman, was released in 2008) will also be gracing the stage on Saturday, along with L.A. born guitarist, Paul Jackson Jr. Jackson Jr. (who currently plays on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) will be demonstrating exactly why he was chosen by Michael Jackson to play on a number of the King of Pop's albums including "Thriller" and "Bad". The dynamite duo of saxophonist Dave Koz and singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler will be augmented further by special guest Sheila E., the latter known, among other things, for her collaborations with Prince. Kanye West's Canadian protégé, Melanie Fiona is also scheduled to perform on Saturday. Fiona's debut album, The Bridge (released in 2008), earned her a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding New Artist, while her breakout song, "It Kills Me," achieved a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Rounding off a day of electrifying music will be the saxophonist, Shilts, front-man for the urban, funky jazz band "Down To The Bone". Onto Sunday, and a legend who really needs no introduction, Al Jarreau, the seven- time Grammy Award winner and vocalist extraordinaire, headlines with piano and synthesizer pioneer, George Duke (with his trio). Also featured on the last day of the festival is legendary bassist Marcus Miller, who has played with a laundry list of greats including Miles Davis. Finally, besides the regular slot from the always superb Al Williams Jazz Society, percussionist Poncho Sanchez will be helping to round off the festival for another year with his seven-piece jazz ensemble. Sanchez and his ensemble are yet another Grammy Award honored group among this star-studded line- up, earning the Best Latin Jazz Award for the Concord Picante album, Latin Soul. One of the longest-running annual jazz festivals in Southern California, the Long Beach Jazz Festival continues to stay up-to-date and broad in its appeal, offering something for everyone — from soulful party- vibe, smooth jazz grooves to more traditional jazz improvisation. Relax, enjoy, and have a matchless musical weekend. n Tickets for this perennially enjoyable festival are available through Rainbow Promotions by calling 562.424.0013, or you can buy online with ticketmaster.com. See longbeachjazzfestival.com for details. THE COMMODORES