One of my favorite events of the year (whether I actually attend or not) is the Playboy Jazz Festival (NSFW). For an entire weekend in June, Playboy brings in some of the big names in jazz (traditional, smooth, dixieland, you name it) to perform for a enthusiastic, picnicking crowd at the Hollywood Bowl.  For the past years, the Masters of Ceremonies has been renowned comedian Bill Cosby. This year is no different as Bill will return to MC the show. If you're in the Los Angeles area mid-June, here's some of the events taking place as well as the line-up for the main show.

Free Community Events:

Sunday, May 2, 3 p.m.
Playboy Jazz in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills Civic Center Plaza
Bill Cunliffe Septet; Celebrating Oliver Nelson; The Blues and the Abstract Truth
Johnny Crawford and His Orchestra

Sunday, June 6, 4 p.m.
Playboy Jazz at Warner Center Park
Warner Center Park, Lou Bredlow Pavilion, Woodland Hills
Special Guest TBA in April
Sal Marquez and his trio
Lao Tizer and his band
Calabasas High School Band

Thursday, June 10, 7:30 p.m.
Jazz on Film with Ebony Repertory – New Location!
At the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles
An evening of rare and often never-before-seen jazz footage and musical rarites hosted by noted jazz archivist Mark Cantor

Main Festival Lineup:

• Chick Corea Freedom Band with Christian McBride, Roy Haynes, Kenny Garrett
• Sax for Stax featuring Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber and Kirk Whalum
• Kurt Elling
• Los Van VanMarcus Miller Band with featured guest artist Christian Scott
• The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra Salutes Louie Bellson
• Javon Jackson Band with special guest Les McCann
• Naturally 7
• Jake Shimabukuro
• Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
• El Dorado High School under the direction of Richard Watson

• George Benson
• Manhattan Transfer
• Bobby Hutcherson and Cedar Walton Quartet
• Salif Keita
• Robert Randolph & The Family Band
• Esperanza Spalding
• Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
• Tiempo Libre
• Cos of Good Music with Dwayne Burno, Ndugu Chancler, Mark Gross, Jay Hoggard, D.D. Jackson and Ingrid Jensen
• Jazz Mafia’s Brass Bows and Beats
• L.A. All District High School Jazz Band under the direction of Tony White and J.B. Dyas