Critic at Large Greg Moody reports on the festival’s date change and the “top-heavy” artist lineup. Watch the great footage CBS4 compiled for the preview.

Click here to watch.

Do You Know About Raul Midon? He’ll Be Here This Summer at the Jazz Fest – He’s a bracing talent, 43-year old Raul Midón is among a select group of artists who transfix their audiences in concert. Midón’s soaring voc

als and rapid-fire, flamenco-inspired guitar playing bear comparison to the work of earlier stars including Richie Havens and Jose Feliciano. And, his jazz-inflected, positive soul sound also recalls socially conscious R&B mentors Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield. Blinded in an incubator soon after birth, Midón initially earned a living singing background vocals for Latin acts including Shakira and Julio Iglesias. After a string of his own critically acclaimed albums, Midón recently relocated from New York to Los Angeles and has begun an association with Grammy® Award-winning producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Melody Gardot, Herbie Hancock). Their first masterwork is entitled Synthesis, already out in Europe and slated for U.S. release in 2010.

Discounted Early Bird tickets are still available online now through Feb. 28in our store. Keep the Jazz vibe alive in Telluride…

Save $125 on Patron Passes and $45 on Weekend All-Access Passes. All tickets are on sale now. Get em before they go up after February 28.

Pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi creates music noted for its complex, distinctive textures and Japanese influence. When Manchuria-born Toshiko learned of how Ellington’s music reflected his African heritage, she embarked upon the journey to investigate her own Japanese musical heritage. Although her music continued to remain firmly planted in her life-long study of jazz, she began composing with Japanese themes, harmonies, and instruments. Her music has been lauded for its masterful blending of hypnotic, Eastern atmosphere and swirling textures with traditional jazz figures. The Toshoko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band was renowned as one of the most important and influential big bands in jazz. While in Telluride, Toshiko will direct the Crescent Super Band featuring tenor great Lew Tabackin.

Pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi creates music noted for its complex, distinctive textures and Japanese influence. When Manchuria-born Toshiko learned of how Ellington’s music reflected his African heritage, she embarked upon the journey to investigate her own Japanese musical heritage. Although her music continued to remain firmly planted in her life-long study of jazz, she began composing with Japanese themes, harmonies, and instruments. Her music has been lauded for its masterful blending of hypnotic, Eastern atmosphere and swirling textures with traditional jazz figures. The Toshoko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band was renowned as one of the most important and influential big bands in jazz. While in Telluride, Toshiko will direct the Crescent Super Band featuring tenor great Lew Tabackin.

The Telluride Jazz Celebration is pleased to host Toshiko Akiyoshi as its 2010 Guest of Honor. A few of her many accomplishments include 14 Grammy nominations, NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) Jazz Master designation, Best Arranger and Composer Awards by DownBeat Magazine, popular international recognition as a major figure in jazz composition and an impressive lifelong discography of more than three dozen recordings.

We are thrilled that Toshiko Akiyoshi will be joining us as our Guest Honoree at the 2010 Telluride Jazz Celebration,” says Paul Machado, Executive Director, “Toshiko’s contributions to jazz are respected around the world.” He continues, “I met her almost 20 years ago at the 1990 Telluride Jazz Festival and I have never forgotten the inspirational impression she had on me. Her dedication to jazz was a critical factor in my becoming the director for Telluride Jazz Celebration starting in 1991.”www.berkeleyagency.com/html/jazz.html

“She began playing piano at the age of 6, and a local record collector introduced her to jazz by playing a recording of ‘Sweet Lorraine’ by Teddy Wilson.”

Pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi creates music noted for its complex, distinctive textures and Japanese influence. When Manchuria-born Toshiko learned of how Ellington’s music reflected his African heritage, she embarked upon the journey to investigate her own Japanese musical heritage. Although her music continued to remain firmly planted in her life-long study of jazz, she began composing with Japanese themes, harmonies, and instruments. Her music has been lauded for its masterful blending of hypnotic, Eastern atmosphere and swirling textures with traditional jazz figures.

The Toshoko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band was renowned as one of the most important and influential big bands in jazz. A few of her many accomplishments include 14 Grammy nominations, NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) Jazz Master designation, Best Arranger and Composer Awards by DownBeat Magazine, popular international recognition as a major figure in jazz composition and an impressive lifelong discography of more than three dozen recordings.