Critically acclaimed jazz singer/songwriter GREGORY PORTER, jazz guitar powerhouse LEE RITENOUR, father-daughter percussionists PETE ESCOVEDO and SHEILA E will headline the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival Sept. 1-2 in High Point.

GREGORY PORTER is an acclaimed jazz vocalist and songwriter. He has made five albums and has one Grammy Award win for Best Jazz Vocal Album and two nominations and he performed at the 2016 Coltrane festival. 

Since his early recordings in the 1970s, LEE RITENOUR has earned 19 Grammy nominations. At 16, he performed with the Mamas and Papas (who dubbed him “Captain Fingers” for his incredible dexterity while still a teen). He also performed for Lena Horne and Tony Bennett and has recorded more than 40 albums that have yielded 35 chart songs. 

In the ‘90s, Ritenour was a founding member of Fourplay, the most successful band in contemporary jazz, with keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason. The first Fourplay album in 1991 spent 33 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart. 

Legendary percussionist, PETE ESCOVEDO is an artist who broke down the barriers between Smooth Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz and contemporary music. His name has been synonymous with these genres for more than 50 years and he is known worldwide for his live performances, session work and solo albums. 

PETE ESCOVEDO returns to the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, leading his orchestra and hosting his famous daughter, SHEILA E as special guest.  The elder Escovedo performed with the Latin Jazz All Stars at the 2016 Coltrane Jazzfest. 

The John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival will take place on Sept. 1 and 2 at Oak Hollow Festival Park in High Point. The yearly celebration of jazz and blues music honors Coltrane who first began playing music in High Point. He graduated from William Penn High School, now Penn Griffin School of the Arts.