The really great thing about hearing that the Big Sur Jazzfest is afoot again is that it makes me think of Spring and sunshine through the redwoods and the sound of the river intermingling with the sounds of jazz. It means a weekend of venue hopping around the Big Sur Valley and a Grand Finale Concert at Pfieffer Big Sur State Park. And it means communicating with the crew that puts the festival on; these are really nice people.

Bob Cosgrove, president of the festival, makes the announcement in the press release out this week. "We are happy to have come to an agreement with the California State Parks to hold our Third Annual JazzFest Grand Finale on Sunday, April 19, 1998 in the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.We have been every fortunate to have secured, as we have the last two years, some outstanding performers."

That''s true. For one thing, Roy Hargrove is returning this year. Executive Producer Paul Vieregge in a phone conversation the other day laughed hard at the thought he was bringing back a performer for two years in a row. "I''ve got to watch out," he says. "When I was with the Monterey Jazz Festival (he was stage manager with the venerable institution for 30 years) I watched while (founder) Jimmy Lyons was chastised for bringing the same performers back year after year."

As anyone can attest who was there last year, Hargrove knocked out the 700 or so people who saw his performance at the Grand Finale. He also made numerous other appearances; a few as part of the fest, and others with schools in the Monterey area for the benefit of young jazz artists. He was very generous with his time and talent.

JazzFest Publicist Toby Rowland-Jones and Vieregge gave me info on the rest of the lineup, which at this time includes tenor saxophonist Dave Ellis and quartet, Latin vocalist/guitarist Claudia Gomez, veteran reed player Jerome Richardson, flutist Ali Ryerson, Tee Carson Trio, Jack Perla Quintet, and the Monterey Bay Jazz Allstars (including festival host Jackie Coon), plus Bob Phillips, Roger Eddy, Kenny Stahl, Andy Weiss, and Buddy Jones. Dimitri