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In less than a month, the sounds of car engines and seagulls will be temporarily replaced by smooth jazz and rhythm and blues.
The 18th Annual Rehoboth Autumn Jazz Festival is set to get under way on Wednesday, Oct. 10, and so far ticket sales have been brisk, Delaware Celebration of Jazz President Dennis Santangini said.
The event will kick off with the opening Mardi Gras party, starting at 6:30 p.m. The party will feature a performance by The Miracles with special guest Claudette Robinson, as well as the Best Taste of Rehoboth contest. Besides chicken, crabmeat and dessert tasting has also been added, Santangini said. For the crabmeat tasting, restaurants will have to come up with a signature taste from the same ingredients. Santangini said 12 restaurants have signed up so far for the crabmeat tasting, while three have signed on for the dessert tasting.
The biggest names performing at this year’s festival will be Oscar-nominated actress and singer Queen Latifah and Grammy-award-winning singer Dionne Warwick. Latifah will be performing at 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12, at the Rehoboth Convention Center. She will be performing songs from her newest jazz album, “Trav’lin’ Light.”
Warwick will be performing songs from her lengthy catalog, which includes 60 top-100 charted songs. Santangini recently announced through the jazz festival’s website that Warwick will be performing with Eboni Strings. Warwick’s show is scheduled for 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13.
Among the other acts at the convention center will be Brenda Russell and Candy Dulfer at 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 11 and at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13, will be Jason Miles’ “Celebrating the Music of Marvin Gaye and Motown” starring Maysa, Bobby Caldwell, James “D-Train” Williams, Walter Beasley, Nick Colionne and Jason Miles. This performance will also feature Sherrod Barnes, Jerry Brooks and Brian Dunn. Finally wrapping up festivities at the convention center will be the Smooth Jazz All-Star jam featuring Gerald Veasley and his band starting at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14.
Also recently announced for the festival is a set by rhythm and bluesman Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach. Santangini said Johnson’s style is very similar to blues legend Buddy Guy. Swing band Big Tubba Mista is also on the bill, which is scheduled for 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13.
Other acts scheduled to take place at the Rudder are Leroy Hawkes and The Hipnotics, set for 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13; Mary Lou and The Untouchables and Big Tubba Mista at 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12; and finally, the Grand Jam and Closing Festival Party starting at 6:30 p.m.
For ticket information on the jazz festival, visit www.rehobothjazz.com
Contact Ryan Mavity at ryanm@capegazette.com
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