Thursday, June 25, 2009

Jazz in June returns for 26th year in Norman

Jazz in June returns for 26th year
By Adam Scott

With any outdoor music event, the forecast can change everything. Fortunately, the 26th Jazz in June is expected to kick off under clear skies at 7 p.m. today with Blues Under the Stars in Brookhaven Village at the corner of Robinson Street and 36th Avenue NW.

"It's a little busy, but the weather shouldn't be too much of a worry this year," said Jim Johnson, festival chair and program director at KGOU-FM on the University of Oklahoma campus.

"It looks good and hot, but it looks good. The only rain there will be in the form of sweat pouring off of our performers."

Asked if there were any last-minute changes to the lineup of the free concert series, Johnson said, "No, we're all set, exactly as planned."

To get an early start on the three-day festival's events, "some of our artists are coming in late tonight (Wednesday)," Johnson said, including slide guitarist Lloyd Jones, tonight's headliner for Blues Under the Stars.

The second headliner for the concert series will be famed stride piano player Judy Carmichael, who will bring the energetic and demanding style of music to Jazz Under the Stars Friday night at Brookhaven Village. Opening for Carmichael is local saxophone icon Morris McCraven.

The headliner for Jazz in the Park at Andrews Park Saturday will be Jeff Lorber, pioneering electric jazz keyboardist and Best R--B Instrumental Grammy nominee in 1986 for the radio hit "Pacific Coast Highway" and in 2007 for his Blue Note Records release, "He Had A Hat."

For more information about events during the free Jazz in June concert series, call 325-2222.

Adam Scott 366-3533 pop@normantranscript.com



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