Jazz

George Wein is apparently indestructible — and New York City is very lucky that he is.

Three years ago Wein, the man who gave the world the Newport jazz and folk festivals, sold his company, Festival Productions, to a new entity, Festival Network. He was retained in an ill-defined capacity — the company called him producer emeritus — and, though he vowed to remain active, it wasn’t unreasonable to assume that he was being kept around as not much more than a figurehead, and that he was essentially if not formally retired. After a half-century as one of the towering figures in a business he had helped create, surely he had earned the right to take it easy.

He didn’t, though. The 2008 Newport and JVC New York jazz festivals bore his stamp if not his name; to the casual fan and even many of the performers, Wein appeared to be still very much in charge.

Then, last year, the jazz hit the fan.

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Headliners: Mary J. Blige, John Legend

Notables: Robin Thicke, Teena Marie, Joe Sample, Boyz II Men, Cassandra Wilson, David Sanborn

Comment: Only in its fifth year, Miami's Jazz in the Gardens has followed the model of Jazz-Aspen or Jazz + Sonoma in programming for a well-heeled corporate audience with two nights of big-name light jazz and R&B performers. It runs March 20-21 at Sun Life Stadium (formerly Dolphins Stadium) in Miami.

After a year's absence, George Wein's flagship New York City jazz festival is back in a big way, under new sponsorship but with a trademark program covering the most important developments in contemporary jazz.

The rebranded CareFusion Jazz Festival New York runs 10 consecutive days June 17-26 in large and small venues throughout the city. Tickets for many of the shows are priced at $20 or less (some are free), enabling fans to enjoy multiple events and enjoy a complete festival experience.

In all, the program offers 44 concerts, including headline shows in major concert halls, intimate sessions in clubs, themed shows with multiple artists and special events such as discussions and late-night jams.

Among the highlights is a celebration of Herbie Hancock's 70th birthday with the honoree and special guests Terence Blanchard, Bill Cosby, Joe Lovano and Wayne Shorter; a double bill with the McCoy Tyner Quartet and Stanley Clarke Band; and an evening with smooth jazz superstar Chris Botti.

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Ticket sales opened for the 2010 Tanglewood season, including the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, on February 14. The season begins on June 26 with a live broadcast of Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keilor and follows with a full schedule of performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops throughout July and August. The prestigious summer series also includes a handful of popular music concerts, including a much anticipated joint appearance by James Taylor and Carole King.

The season ends over Labor Day weekend with the annual running of Tanglewood Jazz, featuring performances by Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, The Lengendary Count Basie Orchestra and lots more. Reserved seating prices range from $18 to $115; one day lawn passes are priced at $34. For complete information

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced its daily breakouts for the 2010 festival, making it possible to evaluate which weekend or which days you would most like to attend. Following are the first dozen names listed for each of the festval's seven days.

Friday, April 23: Lionel Richie, Black Crowes, Dr. John, Steel Pulse, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Baaba Maal, Elvin Bishop, Chocolate Milk, Jon Cleary, Frankie Ford, Deacon John, Joe Lovano

Saturday, April 24: Simon & Garfunkel, My Morning Jacket, Drake, Better Than Ezra, Ledisi, Sam Bush, the funky Meters, Campbell Brothers, Smokie Norful, Cowboy Mouth, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Walter “Wolfman” Wahington & the Roadmasters

Sunday, April 25: Allman Brothers Band, Anita Baker, Darius Rucker, Jonny Lang, The Levon Helm Band, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Imagination Movers, Keely Smith,  King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, Blind Boys of Alabama, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin

New Orleans Jazzfest scored a coup with its announcement of a rare performance date by legendary vocal duo Simon and Garfunkel for April 24, 2010, the second night of this year's festival. It will be the first appearance for the duo at Jazzfest (though Paul Simon has made notable appearances before), and it will be the only U.S. performance by Simon and Garfunkel in 2010.

Chief festival producer Quint Davis noted Simon's previous history at the festival, which is considered by many to be the most important U.S. music festival. “From his early visit to the Festival to experience the Neville Brothers in the 80’s, to the thrill of his epic performance of Graceland, leading up to his never-to-be-forgotten closing-day set at the first post-Katrina Festival, Paul Simon has woven himself into the fabric of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,” Davis said.

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