Lalah Hathaway, Chick Corea to headline Kansas City Jazz and Heritage Festival

Editor’s note: This post has been updated.

Singer Lalah Hathaway and keyboardist Chick Corea are taking the headline slots for the inaugural Kansas City Jazz and Heritage Festival over Memorial Day weekend,

Corea, first with Miles Davis and later with bands such as Return to Forever and the Chick Corea Elektric Band, defined fusion music, melding jazz and rock. He has been nominated for 63 Grammy Awards — and 22 of them. For the festival, he is bringing a trio with Carlitos del Puerto on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums.

Hathaway, daughter of the late soul icon Donny Hathaway, won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance in 2014 and Grammys for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Her 1999 album with legendary jazz pianist Joe Sample, The Song Lives On, hit No. 2 on Billboard‘s jazz chart. 

Hathaway is no stranger to outdoor stages — or to jazz festivals in Kansas City. In 2014, she performed a free concert with singer Ruben Studdard in the Power & Light District. In 2010, she headlined the Rhythm and Ribs Festival in the 18th and Vine district. This time she’ll perform in the middle of the street.

In a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Sly James confirmed that the Paseo will be closed for the festival between 18th Street and Truman Road, making way for a main stage on the boulevard’s broad, parklike median at 17th Terrace, facing north.

Other main-stage headliners include Grammy-winning jazz guitarist John Scofield, violinist Regina Carter, the Hot Sardines, and R&B singer Brandy. The festival is set for May 26-28. More information is at kcjazzfest.com. (The American Jazz Museum originally announced Janelle Monáe as the festival’s star headliner but subsequently withdrew and apologized for the announcement, saying Monáe had not been confirmed.)