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Music festival
The
Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival
is an event held in the
Hollywood Bowl
that celebrates jazz and features both established and up-and-coming jazz musicians. Founded in 1959 by
Hugh Hefner
as the
Playboy Jazz Festival
, it was held in Chicago but did not recur until 1979, when the venue was moved to the Hollywood Bowl.
In 2022, the festival changed its name. It was held June 25 and 26 that year and hosted by comedian
Arsenio Hall
.
The event is organized by the
Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
, which presents the summer
Hollywood Bowl
concerts.
History
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The festival was founded as the Playboy Jazz Festival by
Hugh Hefner
and first held in Chicago at the
Chicago Stadium
in 1959. However, the festival did not occur again until 1979, when the
Hollywood Bowl
played host in
Los Angeles
in celebration of the magazine's 25th anniversary. The event is held there annually;
[1]
in 2022, it changed its name to the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival.
[2]
The Festival
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The Festival is held on a Saturday and Sunday in mid-June.
Bill Cosby
was the
emcee
of the majority of the annual festivals from 1979 to 2012. In 2013, comedian
George Lopez
took over after Cosby retired,
[3]
and continued hosting through 2019.
[4]
The 2022 and 2023 festivals were hosted by comedian
Arsenio Hall
.
[5]
In 2014, the
Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
, which presents the summer
Hollywood Bowl
concerts, assumed presenting and booking duties.
[6]
The Festival is broadcast live by the
Southern California
jazz
public radio
station
KKJZ
.
In 2020, the festival was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
.
[7]
[8]
In November 2021 the name was changed to "Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival" effective June 2022.
[2]
[4]
References
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External links
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