Tag Archives: Trombone Shorty

Demi Lovato to Perform at This Year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

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Demi Lovato is getting jazzed for the fall…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actor will perform at the 2021 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in October.

Demi Lovato

Lovato joins a roster of performers that includes Foo Fighters, The Beach Boys, Lizzo, H.E.R. and Brandi Carlile.

Organizers have announced that the festival, which annually celebrates the culture and heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana alongside performances by national and international artists, is scheduled over two weekends in the fall from October 8-10 and October 15-17. Approximately 50 of the artists who will take the stage have been announced, while the full lineup will be presented next month.

Lizzo, Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks, H.E.R., Dead & Company, The Black Crowes, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Wu-Tang Clan feat. The Soul Rebels, Tank and The Bangas, The Isley Brothers, Trombone Shorty, Big Freedia and PJ Morton are among the performers who were previously set for the 2020 edition of the festival, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New Orleans Jazz Fest traditionally takes place at the end of April and early May for eight days and was once again scheduled for that time of year but was postponed due to COVID-19.

Additional performers include Jimmy Buffett, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Ludacris, Jon Batiste, Brittany Howard, Randy Newman and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

Three-day weekend general admission passes, VIP packages and travel packages for the 2021 New Orleans Jazz Festival are currently on sale at nojazzfest.com. Single-day passes will go on sale in July.

Those who purchased the VIP and weekend packages for the 2020 festival and held on to their tickets will receive an email from the ticketing company with instructions on how to exchange their tickets for the weekend of their choosing. Single-day ticket-holders can make their selections when information about this year’s single-day passes is available next month.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation Inc. is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other raised funds, for year‐round activities in education, economic development and cultural enrichment. The annual event is a co‐production of Festival Productions, Inc.‐New Orleans and AEG Presents.

Lopez to Emcee This Year’s Playboy Jazz Festival

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George Lopez is the next jazz master… of sorts.

The 51-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor has been named the new master of ceremonies for the Playboy Jazz Festival, which will be taking place at the Hollywood Bowl on June 15-16.

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This year’s lineup includes India.Arie, Sheila E., Trombone Shorty, Bob James/David Sanborn, George Duke with Jeffrey Osborne, Angelique Kidjo with Hugh Masekela and Taj Mahal.

The two-day fest, celebrating its 35th anniversary, will also present three world premieres. These include Naturally 7 with special guest Herbie Hancock; an 80th birthday salute to Quincy Jones by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with special guests Patti Austin and Hubert Laws; and jazz pianist Elew who, like India.Arie and Mahal, is making his first appearance at the festival. In addition, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet will perform a special tribute to the late Dave Brubeck.

Lopez takes over the emcee duties from Bill Cosby, who helmed the fest for more than 30 years. Described as the “perfect choice” to host by Playboy Jazz Festival’s president emeritus Richard Rosenzweig, Lopez called it a “most tremendous honor” to get the call from Cosby to be emcee.

He also noted that Cosby was giving him pointers like “don’t let the musicians in your dressing room because they will eat up all your food.”

Lopez later told Billboard.biz that he’s a longtime jazz fan. “To attend the show in this capacity is beyond whatever I could have imagined.” A guitar enthusiast, he noted that he’d also “love to play one song” with an act during the show. “That’s my goal.”