The three-day JVC Jazz Festival, which kicks off today in Newport, R.I., continues its tradition of bringing back familiar stars. Favorites Tito Puente, Earl Klugh, Grover Washington Jr. and Ray Charles are all scheduled.

"The alto saxophonist Thomas Chapin ended his first set on Tuesday night with Charlie Parker’s “Red Cross.” Mr. Chapin began it with a chorus or two of cleanly executed be-bop, rhythmically and harmonically assured and idiomatically correct. Slowly he added newer material, repeating ideas that didn’t always conform to the tune's harmony. Rhythm-and-blues figures, howls and strange, jumping sounds that recalled the playing of the saxophonist Earl Bostic showed up.