1997

BUDDY GUY
Simply put, Buddy Guy is the premier electric blues guitarist in the world. He has recorded with such legends as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Sonny Boy Williamson. He has released dozens of albums, capturing four Grammy Awards along the way. Buddy's connection the Blues & Jazz Festival goes back to the second year, 1973. Eric Clapton is among his biggest fans, calling him "the best blues guitar player alive."

JOHNNIE BASSETT & THE BLUES INSURGENTS
Former Detroit resident Johnnie Bassett can play just about anything from the clarinet to his famous rhythm-and-blues guitar. The multi-talented musician is joined by organist Chris Codish, drummer R.J. Spangler and tenor saxophonist Keith Kaminski.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5 & 6 - Bird of Paradise

KURT ELLING WITH THE LAURENCE HOBGOOD TRIO Vocalist Kurt Elling combines slow, soulful crooning with scat and occasional spoken word poetics to develop an innovative, trademark style. The Chicago-based Laurence Hobgood Trio join Elling for a unique ride across the frontiers of modern jazz.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6 - Gallup Park

MEDESKI, MARTIN AND WOOD
This instrumental trio might best be described as jazz musicians with a rock 'n' roll fan base. Keyboardist John Medeski, drummer Billy Martin and bassist/guitarist Chris Wood continue to mystify critics with their groundbreaking juxtaposition of an acid jazz/fusion groove with a more traditional jazz aesthetic.

DON BYRON QUARTET
Internationally acclaimed jazz clarinetist Don Byron was featured prominently in the Verve Jazz All-Stars concert earlier this year. While widely recognized for his work with Klezmer (which he refers to as Jewish hip-hop), Byron also lends a breath of fresh air to a variety of traditional styles. His group is rounded out by Uri Caine (piano), Drew Gress (bass) and veteran Billy Hart (drums).

BIG JACK JOHNSON AND THE OILERS
Jack Johnson's electric blues carry the listener on a musical journey down the banks of the Mississippi. Known to many as the guitarist of the Jelly Roll Kings, his command of the Delta blues earned him Living Blues awards for Best Live Performer in 1994 and Most Outstanding Blues Musician in 1995.

MISS LAVELLE WHITE
This grittty R&B songbird has been cultivating a mean vocal style since her days on the Houston blues circuit in the 1950s. Her recent Detroit-area appearances have prompted frantic reactions from audiences and critics alike. Seductive, powerful... you have to hear it to believe it.

MUDPUPPY
This Detroit-area band kicks out New Orleans-style blues, soul, funk and jazz and features members of Domino, a local favorite during the 80s. Experience the flavor of Mardi Gras without ever leaving Michigan.

LADY SUNSHINE and THE X BAND
With a voice that packs the power (and the bite) of Mike Tyson, Lady Sunshine has established herself as the rising young star of the Detroit blues scene. Using a combination of choreography and extremely well-executed musical dynamics, she and her X Band deliver a spellbinding show. Critic Alan Goldsmith calls it "pure R&B heaven."

MARCIA BALL
A perennial Ann Arbor favorite, East Texas native Marcia Ball is often referred to as a "triple threat." Behind the piano keyboard, she's ranked right up there with Professor Longhair and Jerry Lee Lewis, she's an excellent blues singer, and with a six-foot tall, model-thin frame, she also puts on an unforgettable live performance.

BEAU JOCQUE AND THE ZYDECO HI-ROLLERS
Back by popular demand from the 1994 Blues & Jazz Festival, Beau Jocque and the Hi-Rollers take zydeco--a mixture of French-Creole accordian music and African-American Rhythm & Blues - to exciting new heights. The Utne Reader calls his music "the fattest zydeco groove ever played in the Delta".

HONEYBOY EDWARDS
At 82-years-old, guitarist Honeyboy Edwards is an active member of the blues scene as well as a precious resource, sharing his keen memories of over 60 years of blues history with enthusiastic audiences around the world. Others imitate the authentic Delta style; Honeyboy breathes it. His illustrious career has included stints with Robert Johnson, Big Walter Horton, Little Walter Jacobs and Howlin' Wolf.

THE PAUL KELLER SEXTET
Well-known to local jazz fans via his work with the Bird of Paradise Orchestra and the Keller-Kocher Quartet, bassist/composer Keller is making a national name for himself as well. He has just wrapped up two years on the road with Diana Krall, in support of her Grammy-nominated Impulse release, "All for You" (on which he plays), and is in demand for sessions both in New York and in the Detroit area.

TRANSMISSION
Ann Arbor quartet Transmission blow audiences away with high-energy music that nearly defies description. The band refers to their sound as "unprotected interactions: improvised and not ... Ornette Coleman meets Primus."

TWO O'CLOCK JAZZ BAND
The award-winning Community High School jazz program, led by Micke Grace has spawned dozens of outstanding performers over the years. The current crop has played the Northsea Jazz Festival in the Hague and the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival, among others. Come hear them yourself.