Singer Al Jarreau and bassist Stanley Clarke will celebrate the legacy of their friend and musical partner George Duke on the opening day of the 36th annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, which is presenting the festival for the first time, announced the lineup for the June 14-15 event on Monday. George Benson and fellow smooth jazz guitarist Earl Klugh will headline the closing concert.
Saturday’s concert will pay tribute to Duke, the keyboardist, singer, composer and producer who headlined last year’s Playboy opener and was a frequent participant in the Los Angeles area’s biggest jazz event. Duke, 67, died of leukemia last August shortly after releasing his chart-topping contemporary jazz CD “Dreamweaver,” which included a straight-ahead acoustic jazz track featuring Clarke.
The Saturday lineup includes singer Dianne Reeves, who featured her cousin Duke on several of her albums; pianist Kenny Barron’s trio with guest saxophonist Ravi Coltrane; trumpeter Arturo Sandoval’s big band and British singer-pianist Jamie Cullum.
On Sunday, the performers include bassist Dave Holland’s Prism with guitarist Kevin Eubanks, the former “Tonight Show” bandleader; pianist Craig Taborn and drummer Eric Harland; “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino; and the James Cotton Blues Band with guest saxophonist Big Jay McNeely.
George Lopez will once again host the festival. He took over for longtime emcee Bill Cosby last year.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
