There’s lots of stuff to pass along in this edition, beginning with the upcoming Seacoast Jazz Festival at Prescott Park on Sunday, July 9, from noon to 6 p.m. Featured performers, in order of appearance, include the Wolverine Jazz Band, a wonderful traditional jazz band; Portsmouth’s own Amigo Blanco, led by Jon Peiffer, a young band that blends Latin and jazz into a seamless and fiery mix (better bring your dancing shoes for these guys); The Jim Howe/Press Room Trio with Ryan Parker and Les Harris Jr. and featured guests Jeff Galindo on trombone—one of Boston’s finest jazz performers—and the always reliable Fred Haas on saxophones; and rounding out the event, the inimitable Seacoast Big Band featuring various performers such Charlie Jennison and Marc LaForce on saxophones, John Hunter on bass, and Craig Skeffington on trumpet. As you can tell from the lineup, this isn’t an event that stretches the boundaries of jazz. Nonetheless, this is always a good, solid event that places an emphasis on the local performer. And it’s held in Prescott Park, one of the most beautiful settings on the Seacoast for a fine afternoon of good music.

Local Web site nejazzscene.com is currently putting together a sampler CD of local and regional jazz artists, which will be available for free at selected locations around the area. According to site founder Tim Webb, the concept is to “expose listeners in the area to artists they may not have heard.” As an added twist, Webb encourages those who pick up the sampler to burn a copy  and then pass the disc onto friends, family, colleagues, etc. Or you can return it to the place where you found it, maybe with a brief note included offering your thoughts. “The goal is for people to pass it on to others,” Webb says. A release date has yet to be determined, but will be announced through the local media.

Soul Music Online, the people who run the Tower of Power Web site, recently announced that guitarist Bruce Conte has rejoined the band after a 20-year hiatus. Longtime fans know of Conte’s incisive contributions to such ’70s TOP classics like “Back to Oakland” and “Live in Living Color.” Conte has been quite busy playing and recording in the Bay area over the past several years. He has several recordings available through Strokeland Records on the TOP Web site, www.bumpcity.com. Conte will be a perfect fit in the current band, especially with drummer David Garibaldi, bassist Rocco Prestia and organist Roger Smith.

The latest issue of Jazz Times magazine features a story on Michael Brecker’s ongoing battle with the blood disorder MDS. According to the article, Brecker received an experimental partial matching stem cell transplant in early January and made it through the initial recovery period without experiencing any harsh side effects. Since that time, Brecker has been responding well to steroid treatments and, on his good days, has been playing his electronic wind instrument, and e-mailing friends and colleagues. He still is in need of an actual blood stem cell transplant, and he still has his not-so-good days. But actually playing some music is surely therapeutic for him and encouraging for his fans. Here’s hoping that the progress continues to be steady and positive.

Finally, a piece by Marc Fisher of the Washington Post was forwarded to me a few days ago. In the article, Fisher details the ongoing struggles of bassist Butch Warren, who is currently a patient at Springfield Hospital Center (no location given). Warren has had a long history of drug-related problems and at one time was diagnosed as being a paranoid schizophrenic. His career has included a stint as the house bass player for Blue Note Records in the late ’50s and early ’60s, appearing on such classic titles as Dexter Gordon’s “Go” and “A Swingin’ Affair,” and Sonny Rollins’ “A Night at the Vanguard.” He also often played and recorded with pianist Sonny Clark on numerous recordings for the label. What was astonishing for me about this article was the fact that Warren was still alive. I thought he had passed away years ago, so it’s very gratifying to know he is still with us. From my reading of the article, Warren has many personal obstacles to overcome before he can return to actively playing his bass. Let’s hope he can, so that a talented musical voice from another era can be heard once again.