CHAKA KHAN, SERGIO MENDES HEADLINE JGB JAZZ FEST

The official theme of the 2008 JGB Syracuse Jazz Fest is “Worldwide Rhythms and Global Grooves.” That will translate into nine internationally known acts performing on the festival’s Y94FM Main Stage June 27 and 28, at Onondaga Community College, including soul singer supreme and 10-time Grammy-winner Chaka Khan and Latin Grammy-winner, Brazilian jazz legend, pianist and bandleader Sergio Mendes.

“As a pop, soul, funk and jazz superstar with 10 Grammy Awards to her credit, Chaka Khan is one of the world’s greatest vocalists ever, as evidenced by her 2008 double-Grammy-winning disc ‘Funk This,’” said the festival’s founder, Frank Malfitano. “And the legendary Sergio Mendes has been laying down those hot Brazilian and Latin jazz grooves for four decades.”

The Y94FM main-stage schedule for Friday, June 27 features the international Oz Noy Trio from the U.S., South Africa and Israel, the West Coast-East Coast Dream Band, Brazilian composer, vocalist and keyboardist Ivan Lins and Sergio Mendes & Brasil 2008. “Ivan Lins is the heir apparent to Antonio Carlos Jobim,” Malfitano said.

On Saturday, June 28, the Y94FM Main Stage schedule includes the Steelheads, the Moutin Reunion Ensemble from Paris, Bill Evans’ Soulgrass group, the Mike Stern Band and Chaka Khan.

The festival’s new two-day, two-stage format, will present continuous music with 24 sets alternating between the Y94FM Main Stage and the National Grid Scholastic Stage. In all, nine international acts and 15 student combos will perform at this year’s special encore presentation of Syracuse Jazz Fest.

Admission to the 2008 JGB Syracuse Jazz Fest is free and all events are open to the public.