The 2012 Playboy Jazz Festival attempted to be all things jazz-related and then some, to fill the historic 20,000-person Hollywood Bowl amphitheater. Despite the audience’s near-legendary penchant for mingling, nibbling, guzzling and doing very little listening, they actually responded appreciatively to mainstream, unadulterated groupings. Many aspects of PJF (number 34) were rote, with few surprises to keep the audience and longtime master of ceremonies Bill Cosby awake. It was his final stretch at the helm, after 31 years, and he says this year it’s definite.
There were pop, funk and R&B jaunts that enthralled concert-goers: New Orleans’ Soul Rebels with Leo Nocentelli, Ivan Neville and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux; super soul singer Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings; smooth jazz reedman Boney James; Nigerian rocking soul vocalist KG Omula; and blue-eyed soul/pop heartthrob singer/pianist Robin Thicke. Singer/guitarist Keb’ Mo’ somewhat covered the blues category; he intermixed the inspirational “The Door” with the gritty blues of “Government Cheese” and “Further on Down the Road.” It ignited the Bowl when local blues/jazz diva Barbara Morrison sat in to totally rock the house.
