This weekend, the Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival turns 21.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e legal all over Canada,sa国际传媒� said Michael Campbell, president of the Jazz Festival Society.

People come from all over the country for the mix of music offered at Pentastic, and from elsewhere. sa国际传媒淲e have people coming from all over the USA, including, believe it or not, New Orleans. Itsa国际传媒檚 sort of like bringing the coals to Newcastle.sa国际传媒�

Part of the draw is the eclectic mix of Jazz styles on offer.

sa国际传媒淪ome festivals live and die on Dixie or traditional, some live and die on cool jazz, which is not us,sa国际传媒� said Campbell. That includes Dixieland, big band, swing, gospel and even a bit of rockabilly this year.

sa国际传媒淲e have as good a band lineup as there is anywhere in North America,sa国际传媒� said Campbell. sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 not braggadocio, thatsa国际传媒檚 fact. People are crazy about the talent we bring to town and people travel a long way to enjoy it.sa国际传媒�

The rockabilly Campbell refers to is courtesy of Dave Bennett and the Memphis Speed Kings, who are returning for their second year. But this year, Bennett is bringing a second band with him.

sa国际传媒淭he man is a virtuoso on the piano, on the guitar, on the clarinet and on the drums,sa国际传媒� said Campbell. sa国际传媒淭hen hesa国际传媒檚 got the Dave Bennet quartet, they devote most of their music to Benny Goodman, with Dave Bennet on clarinet.sa国际传媒�

This yearsa国际传媒檚 lineup is filled with first-timers and old favourites like Lance Buller, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Gator Nation, Bob Draga; so many that Campbell struggles to name them all.

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 want anyone to think I am playing favourites,sa国际传媒� said he said. sa国际传媒淢arilyn Keller with Black Swan, she knocks them dead. She makes me weep every time she does gospel.sa国际传媒�

One of the new bands is Sing sa国际传媒楴 Swing, a Penticton youth band, established last year as the Princess Margaret Secondary School Senior Jazz Combo.

sa国际传媒淚 am looking forward to seeing them again,sa国际传媒� said Campbell, who reviewed the band a few months ago at the request of their instructor, Don Grant. sa国际传媒淲e liked what we saw and heard, so we invited them to our event for this year.

sa国际传媒淲e like to showcase locals. Wesa国际传媒檝e had some pretty good musicians come up through the school ranks.sa国际传媒�

The bands will rotate through five venues around Penticton, giving everyone lots of opportunities to see their favourites. It all kicks off with the tradition outreach concert on Friday, a by donation show starting at 1:50 p.m at Princess Margaret Secondary and featuring Benny and the Good Men.

More information about the bands, tickets and schedules is available online at the Pentastic Hot Jazz website,