Terence Blanchard, Bobby Watson headline 2006 Jazz Festival

More bands, more venues and headliner performers like the Terence Blanchard Sextet and legendary alto saxophonist Bobby Watson define the 16 th annual Purdue Jazz Festival, Jan. 20-22, on the West Lafayette campus.

Festival director Dr. Mo Trout says Elliott Hall of Music will be added to the list of competition venues to accommodate all the high school and middle school bands performing at the festival on Saturday, Jan. 21. Sessions run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on eight stages in four buildings. Besides Elliott, there are three performance sites each in the Purdue Memorial Union and the Stewart Center , plus one stage in University Church . Admission is free.

Headlining the festival's two concerts are men who rose to prominence by performing with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard comes in with his sextet for an 8 p.m. concert Friday, Jan. 20, in Loeb Playhouse. Saxophonist Bobby Watson, will be featured with the Purdue Jazz Band at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in Loeb. Also featured on that concert is trombonist Steve Wiest. Tickets are needed for both events, visit www.purdue.edu/bands/jazzfest for info.

Two free concerts by one of the jazz scene's top female performers, Ellen Rowe, are planned. Rowe, a triple threat composer/arranger/educator from the University of Michigan , performs with her quartet at noon Jan. 21 in Loeb Playhouse. They will also be featured at the festival's warm-up jazz jam at the Holiday Inn City Centre on Jan. 19.

The festival has a new site for its popular jazz brunch. Food and live music will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Holiday Inn City Centre. Reservations are suggested; call 423-1000. Also on Jan. 22, Al Jones and the Riverboat Ramblers will perform at a Jazz Church Service at University Church at 11 a.m.