Bell-Atlantic Jazz Festival To Hit Four Eastern Cities

The four-city Bell-Atlantic Jazz Festival has announced this year's concerts, which include premieres by Ornette Coleman, a duo performance by Cecil Taylor and Max Roach, and shows by leading improvisers such as Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford, Uri Caine and Matthew Shipp.

The cities and dates for the festival are Washington, D.C. (May 4-7), Philadelphia (May 11-14), Boston (May 17-21) and New York (June 1-11). The first three cities are scaled-back versions of the 11th annual main festival (formerly called the ''What Is Jazz?'' festival). Notable acts in the three non-New York cities include Indian classical sarod player Ali Akbar Khan, pianist Paul Bley, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and saxophonist David S. Ware.

New York's extensive lineup includes many creative musicians from the downtown Manhattan scene (Michael Formanek, Tim Berne, John Zorn), modern mainstream players (Kenny Garrett, Greg Osby, Jeff ''Tain'' Watts), West Coast guitarists (Nels Cline, Joel Harrison, Charlie Hunter) and artists from other genres, such as Los Lobos, Los Van Van, the Neville Brothers, Al Green and Steve Nieve, whose opera features Elvis Costello.

Several shows in New York will be free, and select concerts from all the cities will be webcast live and archived on the festival's website. The site also lists the complete lineup and ticket information.