Very excited about Wilco, Spoon and Kings of Leon!

Don’t disagree with you, Wesley - it’s just weird that those bands are neither jazz nor heritage.

Re Re and EW&F weren’t surprises for you? They certainly are welcome ones for me!! I can’t WAIT to see Re Re’s big ole behind up there, riffing and screaming and chortling. She’d better have it together tho… The last time I saw her five years ago in L.A., cigarettes had ravaged her voice beyond recognition. I’m only optimistic that’s she’ll be better this time because she’s doing a lot more public performances these days.

Anyway, it’ll be fun as always. Getting my designer shrimp boots ready!

Red, I love EW&F and Aretha (in whatever condition her condition is in). And I’d love to see Sharon Jones (again). But where are the real surprises?

Ledisi? It was a huge year for her.

Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy? That CD kicked ass.

Tony Bennett, but not k.d. lang? She’s played jazz festivals around the world, but I don’t think she’s ever been here.

Hell, even David Byrne/Brian Eno would be a surprise. Their new collaboration is Byrne’s best thing by far since Talking Heads.

I’m excited to see Ben Harper again. And I really hope KoL impress me more than they did at Voodoo in ‘07.