Renowned drummer Sheila E promises to 'raise the bar' at the Playboy Jazz Festival

“After the crazy time last year when we had drummers and salsa dancers, we expect to raise the bar this year,” she said in a telephone interview with The Wave. “I have a few ideas right now, but I can’t tell you, we’ll know when we get there; I can’t blow the surprise.”

Legendary “Rockit” fusion pianist Hancock will make a special appearance with Naturally 7, who have pioneered a dynamic a capella style they call “vocal play,” where each band member uses only their voice to re-create the sounds of different musical instruments.

“My favorite part is just the excitement of the audience, people come with their kids and relax, there’s a family spirit,” Hancock has said of the festival. “It’s not like it’s them and us, during the afternoon it’s like one big party, and then as night comes around they focus more on the stage.”

One big change this year will be the host pulling the strings, as Bill Cosby, who has emceed the festival since 1979 gives way to comedian George Lopez.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Lopez said. “I’ve always been around jazz through some of the hits that made it to the mainstream. … I love music, it’s a huge part of my life.”

Duke, who a reporter fondly remembers riding next to on the media bus for the announcement party a few years ago, is set to appear as a special guest with R&B favorite Osborne, who is making his Festival debut.

It will be a reunion for the two artists, Duke having produced Osborne’s breakthrough solo album “Stay With Me Tonight,” featuring the hit singles “We’re Going All the Way” and “You Should Be Mine.”

Of course, what would the Festival be without its sense of global eclecticism and music fans will get to hear Grammy-winning vocalist Angelique Kidjo, described by the London Daily Telegraph as “the undisputed Queen of African music.

Kidjo is returning with a special guest, renowned world music trumpeter Hugh Masekela, who played an integral role in Paul Simon’s classic album “Graceland”, that helped introduce African music to a wider audience.

Meanwhile, last but not least, presidential favorite Arie is also making her Playboy Jazz debut.

The poet-singer-songwriter, known as much work as an advocate, has sold over eight million albums and is an inductee to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.