L.A. Philharmonic to present, book Playboy Jazz Festival
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For years, the Playboy Jazz Festival has been the genre’s marquee event in Los Angeles, but it faced big questions about how to evolve with modern audiences. Now the festival is partnering with another major city musical mainstay -- the L.A. Philharmonic Assn.
Beginning with the 2014 festival at the Hollywood Bowl, the Phil will be presenting and booking the lineups of classic and contemporary jazz (alongside the festival’s booker, Darlene Chan, and longtime promoter, FestivalWest).
An L.A. Phil spokesperson said the new arrangement would “maintain continuity from previous festivals, featuring both emerging artists and established superstars of the genre.”
Comic George Lopez will return as host after inheriting the duties last year from longtime host Bill Cosby.
The Phil has long included ambitious jazz programs in its annual summer offerings at the bowl, and the jazz fest has shared the venue for 35 years with an annual blend of straight ahead jazz and artists from R&B, world music and pop. But the Philharmonic’s new involvement with the festival is an escalation of its reach, and an acknowledgment from the fest that some fresh thinking and new voices are welcome.
The Phil expects to announce performers for the festival in February.
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