Calling all NYC R&B & Jazz lovers!

J&R MusicFest 2008 takes place this weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) in City Hall Park in Manhattan starting today at 5 pm. The festival has a variety of R&B artists lined up for the three days of free music including some R&B veterans, a few new (and maybe questionable) acts, and others reinvented. I'd like to head over to see the show tonight and tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm hopping on a plane to go to sunny Florida Saturday morning so I'll miss my FAVORITE ARTIST, JOE [THOMAS], perform.

 In any case, I digress! Here are some stand-out names for the 3-day festival....

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST (SHOW STARTS AT 5 PM)

Solange: She's really taken her music in a different and unique direction. Check out her myspace page to take a listen: http://www.myspace.com/solange. It'll make you groove in your office chair! Her album, "Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams," drops next week, August 26th.

Michelle Williams: After experiencing several album release pushbacks, she's keeping strong! While the machine that is Beyonce overshadows her & Kelly Rowland's solo projects, I hope her label and management really push her album. She deserves some recognition! This lady's got a new look & a new sound. Take a gander: http://www.myspace.com/michellewilliams.

Terrence Howard: Yes, I'm writing of the amazingly talented actors, Terrence Howard. For all of you who saw him in the film, "The Best Man," the scene with him playing the guitar at the lounge was him really playing. And dude can really play the hell out of a guitar. But who knew he could sing? Not me, at least not until recently when I noticed he got signed to the label I used to work for, Columbia Records. His new album, "Shine Through It," will be in stores September 2nd. http://www.myspace.com/terrencehoward

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22ND (SHOW STARTS AT 5 PM)

I'm unfamiliar with the below jazz artists but definitely would love to hear them play.

Aaron Parks, Espereanza Spalding, Caribbean Jazz Project Featuring Dave Samuels, Roy Hargrove

If I go on Friday afternoon, I'll defo fill you in on how they were.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23RD (SHOW STARTS AT 1 PM)

Joe Thomas: Formerly known just as Joe, the 'New Man' is going with his full name, Joe Thomas. His new indie album, New Man, releases on September 23rd. I'm defo excited because his single, "Why Just Be Friends," is a great hit. I hope his new indie label, Kedar, will really push his career and his music to the next level. Jive Records did not do Joe justice. Thank goodness he's out of that contract! With the help of his manager/business partner, Kedar Massenburg, I hope Joe succeeds in his new journey. For someone who has had a 10-year career already, his future seems bright with the new direction he's going in. Check out his myspace page:  http://www.myspace.com/officialjoemusic

Jo de la Rosa: Um, I'm unsure of why she's in the line-up but Jo, of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" and "Date My Ex" fame, has a debut album titled, "Unscripted," that released on August 19th. I haven't heard her single, "U Can't Control Me," get any radio play but who knows - maybe she'll surprise all of us and actually put on a great performance.

Ashanti: With her new album, The Declaration, already in stores, she's making a comeback from a hiatus that took her away from music and into acting. With the likes of Babyface, Jermaine Dupri, and Pharrell Williams, as producers on this album, I hope the album has more good singles for her label to release to give the album some legs to stand on. Her first single, "The Way That I Love You," did okay on the radio but I think she can do better. And I'm sure she'll give a great performance on Saturday.

I'm still so sad that I can't see Joe perform BUT you can! Get out there and support these artists' performances, especially since the festival is FREE! J&R's website says that the artists (except Joe) will be available for in-store autograph signings right after their performances. Hey, getting Terrence Howard's autograph and seeing him up close & personal could make me swoon and then...faint. ;) Be on your best behavior girlies!