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B.B. King, Herbie Hancock Join Montreux Jazz in Switzerland

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B.B. King, Herbie Hancock, Dave Matthews Band and, surprisingly, the Black Eyes Peas have joined the bill at this years Montreux Jazz Fest.

The Jazz festival is taking place in Switzerland between July 3rd-18th. Steely Dan and Rock Hall inductee Jeff Beck have also scheduled gigs at the famed European event.

Founder Claude Nobs announced the eclectic line-up of 1,000 musicians for the 43rd festival being held in the Swiss lakeside town. This year's edition of 90 concerts promises a “360 degree musical panorama," favoring unique events over huge stars.

“It's a festival like no other. You don't have to buy a ticket to take advantage, there are lots of free events from noon to five in the morning.Expect the unusual. The unions aren't in charge and a concert finishes when it finishes," he said.

But hard economic times and competition from other festivals in Europe and the United States meant organizers “didn't want to be rug merchants and haggle over artists' fees," the Swiss said. “That forces us to go for exclusivity."

Susan Tedeschi will open on July 12 for blues legend King, who three years ago bid an emotional farewell to fans at Montreux on what was billed as his final tour of Europe.

Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright and Angelique Kidjo are booked to headline an homage to American civil rights activist, soul singer and songwriter Nina Simone, who died in 2003. Hill will follow on the fabled stage of Stravinski Auditorium the same night, July 11.

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