Rippingtons, MacFarlane coming to Salt Lake jazz fest

For 10 years, The Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival has brought world-renowned musicians together for an affordable, three-day downtown festival.

In the past, artists such as vocalist Nancy Wilson, percussionists Sheila E., flugelhornist Chuck Mangione, fusion bands Spyro Gyra and Hiroshima, saxophonist Tom Scott and drummer Dave Weckl have all graced the SLC International Jazz Festival stage.

This year, The Rippingtons, featuring Russ Freeman, Ellis Hall and Patrick Williams will swoop into the Capitol city to play, sing and celebrate America's music.

Also, there will be an appearance by Seth MacFarlane, creator of Fox's "Family Guy."

The Emmy Award-winning creator/producer is also a singer. And he will sing classic hits with composer Ron Jones, who will conduct the Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra.

Reflecting on the past 10 years, festival director Jerry Floor said the event would have never happened if it weren't for then-S.L. Mayor Rocky Anderson.

"With Rocky passionately involved in this thing, it made all the difference in the world," Floor said during an interview with the Deseret News. "The boon was having this as a Salt Lake City event with the mayor involved."

After all these years, the city's administration is still involved.

"The city does want to see this continue," Floor said. "And they are cooperating with us to keep this running."

Floor said it is always a challenge putting on an international jazz festival, especially when the economy started its tailspin in 2008 and many of the festival's sponsors dried up.

"We had people who had committed serious money to us that backed out 30 days before the event," said Floor. "One sponsor who committed to us gave us a check for less than half the money and, with a tear in her eyes, said, 'We just can't do it. This is all we can do.'

"So, we did get hurt back then, but we've recovered, and we're back on the road to getting this thing back where it should be."

Adding to Floor's enthusiasm is this years' lineup. (See accompanying story).

"On Friday night, we're going to close with a tribute to Motown, soul and the Funk Brothers," he said.

Ellis Hall & the Truth, who performed the festival two years ago, will be captaining the tribute, which will include the music of the Funk Brothers.