This week’s sign that the year is already moving fast: the 19th Annual Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival has announced artists for the five-day event at the Rehoboth Convention Center, scheduled for Oct. 15-19.
While festival organizers are still looking for its Saturday, Oct. 18 headliner, the lineup so far is as star-studded as the festival has seen.
The event will kick off at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, with the traditional opening night party, featuring a set by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group The Drifters. Celebrating their 50th year, The Drifters are responsible for such hits as “On Broadway,” “This Magic Moment” and “Under The Boardwalk.” Included is the annual Best Taste of Rehoboth cook-off, with prizes going out to the best seafood and chicken of the 2008 festival.
At 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, the festival will welcome The Neville Brothers on their 30th anniversary tour. Dennis Santangini, president of the Delaware Celebration of Jazz, said the brothers are stopping in Rehoboth before heading off for the Japanese leg of their tour.
Santangini said he was very excited about the 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17 headliner: The Legends of Jazz Tour 2008 Presented by AARP, starring Ramsey Lewis, Fourplay and Paquito D’Rivera. Santangini said the show would feature sets by all three acts and then a finale with all three together.
“This is the show of shows,” he said. “Fourplay are some of the best musicians in the world today.”
At 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, is the show “To Grover With Love,” starring Jason Miles with an all-star cast featuring Everette Harp, Kim Waters, Andy Snitzer, Maysa, Phil Perry, Chuck Loeb, Gerald Veasley and Buddy Williams.
The festival will wrap up on Sunday, Oct. 19, with two shows. At 1 p.m., The New Urban Jazz Party starring Bob Baldwin, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Eric Darius will take the stage. The festival will close at 6:30 p.m., as 11 artists will take the stage for the All-Star Jazz Jam Closing Party. Performers include Jason Miles, Braun, Whalum, Harp, Waters, Snitzer, Maysa, Perry, Loeb, Veasley and Williams. Santangini said many of these artists have their own show and to have them onstage at one time was huge for the festival.
Santangini said the plan for the festival this year was to provide a wide variety of performers so lots of people would have the chance to see their favorites. He said with the economy in such bad shape and gas prices being what they are, festival organizers tried very hard to keep ticket costs down for this year with tickets ranging from $58 to $99, depending on which show and the seating level. Santangini said tickets would likely go on sale in mid-June, once the Saturday night headliner is confirmed and will again be available online only at www.rehobothjazz.com.
source: capegazette.com