SANTANA IS BACK. He'll be spreading his black magic over the Pima County Fairgrounds on Sunday, May 28. It's a hot, dusty way to see the guitar master. I did it once and I'm very glad I did, but never again. Won't someone please bring Santana to a nice, cool auditorium with decent acoustics where the old folks can sit in chairs?

If you do go, don't forget your tie-dyed T-shirt, a bandanna for your face when the dust blows, another for your antenna so you can find your car, ear plugs, water and your favorite blankey. Also bring good friends to entertain you during the long wait because you'll want to get there early to get a good spot in the dirt. Tickets are $11 in advance at Dillard's for the show that starts at 4 p.m. with Sonia Dada.

The less adventurous may be more comfortable at Summerset Suite in the Tucson Museum of Art plaza, 140 N. Main Ave. (They have chairs, for one thing.) The Memorial Day holiday program will be, appropriately enough, traditional American jazz with Tucson's premiere dixie band, Jazzberry Jam. The series continues with a dance party with the Tucson Latin Jazz Orchestra on Sunday, June 4. This is a fundraiser to supplement a Tucson Community Foundation loan for their album project.

The series concludes with the Rob Boone Band on Sunday, June 11. Boone is one of those hyphen guys: trombonist-keyboardist-composer-arranger. He'll showcase his original songs and originals by the band's guitarist Howard Wooten. Also on the gig are stalwart rhythm players, Craig Faltin (on bass) and drummer Fred Hayes. Admission is $3 for TJS members and $6 for non-members. The three-hour show begins at 7 p.m. Goodies on the grill and a full bar are available.

Boone and Faltin, along with Daryl Hinson and the other musicians and dancers of Twilight Productions, lost a lot of equipment in the Old Tucson fire. Luckily all escaped with their hair intact. Kudos to Martha Reed who put together an ambitious benefit for the group on May 21. Martha can be heard in a new trio setting on Friday and Saturday nights at Ventana Canyon's Cascade Lounge, 7000 N. Resort Drive.

Trombonist Tom Ervin and pianist Jeff Haskell were featured in Jazzberry Jam at the Twilight fundraiser. They'll be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 16, in UA Crowder Hall. Their "Tribute to Glenn Miller" will highlight tunes by the famous trombonist-arranger-band leader (another hyphenated trombonist). The duo has been spotlighting some aspect of American popular song once or twice a year and they just can't help jazzing it up.

At their last show--a very successful presentation on lyricist Sammy Cahn--they did more singing than playing. This time they'll let vocalist Jean Oliver do the honors. Tickets range from $3 to $8, available at the door.

You can also hear Ervin and Haskell recorded live at the Telluride Jazz Celebration on Branford Marsalis' program Jazzset, on KUAZ 89.1 FM at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 31.

The Telluride fest is a popular destination for Arizona jazz fans during the dog days of August. This year's line-up includes jazz crooners Joe Williams and Marlena Shaw, Phil Woods, Kenny Barron, Ralph Moore, Holly Hoffman and many others. Call 1-970-728-7754 for information.

The Arizona Jazz and Blues festival will be held in Flagstaff from June 30 through July 2. The jazz acts include Michael and Margo Reed, Ellis Marsalis, the Northern Arizona University Jazz Ensemble, and Arturo Sandoval. Accent is on the rhythm and the blues in this festival. Blues acts include Koko Taylor and Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson. World music and other acts include Sister Sledge, Hiroshima, Burning Sky, Limbs Akimbo and Buckwheat Zydeco. Daily passes are $35, and are available at Dillard's.

Belà Fleck and The Flecktones will be in concert at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., on Friday, June 9. Get your tickets now--they're going fast at the usual record store outlets. Call 327-4809 for more ticket information. The latest Fleck-flash is that mandolinist Sam Bush, Belà's old pal from his New Grass Revival days, will be with the band. Bush is back on the scene after breaking his arm between sessions cutting Fleck's latest album, Tales from the Acoustic Planet. Other special guests may be announced.

Homeboy Tony Malaby returns to the Southwest Center for Music, 2175 N. Sixth Ave., on Thursday, May 25, for a concert in the Acoustic Café. As the tenorman's concert last year with Joey Sellers proved, it's a perfect setting for this adventourous group featuring David Scott on trumpet and piano, Trey Henry on bass and drummer Billy Mintz. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $10, $8 for students and TJS members.
--Yvonne Ervin

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