MANILA, Philippines - A world-acclaimed guitarist and a group that brought flamenco music to a wide audience are two of nine acts performing at the 3rd Philippine International Jazz Festival?a 16-day celebration set from Feb. 29 to Mar. 15.

Lee Ritenour, nicknamed ?Captain Fingers? after his well-received album of the same title, is set to play on Mar. 10 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. The guitarist has collaborated with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan and Pink Floyd, Bob James, Harvey Mason Nathan East, among others.

In 1985, Ritenour explored his love of Brazilian music in the album ?Harlequin,? which he recorded with Dave Grusin. It won a Grammy Award that year.

Workshops

Chico Bouchiki, founder of the Gypsy Kings, has formed a new group called Chico and the Gypsies who will perform on Mar. 15 also at Sofitel. The Gypsy Kings introduced Rumba Catalana, a pop-oriented version of traditional flamenco music, to an international audience. Chico and the Gypsies are composed of a new generation of guitarists.

The first five days of the jazz fest will include workshops in different universities; a two-day clinic at Rockwell; and a mall tour featuring Bob Aves, Johnny Alegre and other local artists from Mar. 5-8.

Also scheduled to perform are:

Mar. 9, Rockwell Power Plant?Sara Gazarek, 25-year-old jazz vocalist known for her perfect pitch.

Mar. 11, Sofitel? Omar Sosa, Cuban-born, classically trained pianist who has recorded a trilogy of world-jazz albums. Mar. 12, Sofitel?Kurt Elling, singer with an idiosyncratic scat style, demonstrated in his Grammy-nominated album, ?This Time It?s Love.?

Mar. 13, Sofitel?Raul Midon, blind singer, songwriter and guitarist whose talents impressed Norah Jones? producer, Arif Mardin, that he signed him up for a record deal and led to the critically acclaimed album, ?State of Mind.?

Mar. 14, Sofitel?Incognito, British band regarded as one of the prime movers of the English acid jazz scene.

Mar. 2-5, mall tour?Frank Woeste, pianist who has won in
international jazz competitions in France, Switzerland, Monaco, Belgium and Spain.

Mar. 13 and 15, Sofitel?Lorraine Desmarais, pianist, composer, musical director, film scorer and professor who has produced a solo lecture-concert called ?The Evolution of Jazz Piano.?

Visit www.pijazzfest.com for details. Call 911-5555, 891-9999 or 551-5555 for tickets.