鈥淭he best ever鈥� is a claim heard for everything from a new laundry soap to, in this case, the Pentastic Hot Jazz festival 鈥� but they鈥檙e backing up their claim.

鈥淚t is. It is the best one ever,鈥� said organizer Michael Campbell, talking about the 2018 Pentastic, which runs Sept. 7 to 9 this year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the best one yet because we鈥檝e never had this many headliners in one bill. Every one of these bands is a headliner.

鈥淲e鈥檝e even talked Tom Hook out of retirement. He鈥檚 making the trip from New Orleans.鈥�

Like some of the other bands coming to the three-day jazz fest, Tom Hook and the Terrier Brothers are no strangers to Penticton.

And though she seems like a new addition to the list, neither is Bria Skonberg, a New York City trumpet player, singer, songwriter and winner of the Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at the 2017 JUNO Awards.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to have Bria Skonberg and her New York All Stars. Bria was first with us about 17 or 18 years ago, when she was a high school student with a group called the 51st Eight out of Chilliwack,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淪he was a bright light at that time and has done nothing but grow.

Skonberg moved to New York City a few years ago, Campbell explained, 鈥渢o better her trade.鈥�

鈥淪he鈥檚 a star and we talked her into coming back to visit us,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淪he sings like an angel, she plays trumpet like you don鈥檛 want to believe.鈥�

Campbell said nothing is certain, but it鈥檚 not beyond the realms of possibility that trumpet player, and Pentastic fixture, Lance Buller could end up squaring off or doing some jamming.

鈥淗e knows Bria and Bria knows him and they like each other, so we鈥檒l see if we can conjure something up that would have them on the same stage at the same time,鈥� said Campbell.

Tom Rigney and Flambeau, who Campbell describes as a constant favourite at jazz festivals throughout North America is back for 2018, as is Coronet Chop Suey another of the most popular groups on the jazz festival circuit in North America.

鈥淒ave Bennett and the Memphis Speed Kings is a story in itself,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淲e have exit surveys and we ask our guests to rate the band from 0 to 10. Bennett got seven 14s.鈥�

Yes. And they were both very well-received last year.

The Cocuzzi Coots Courtet is coming back for the second year. Campbell said he recruited them when he and wife Beth were 鈥渂lown away by them鈥� at the Sun Valley Jazz Festival.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud to say that we have a very good reputation amongst the travelling musicians,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a place to be seen at. Some festivals look to our success and try to pattern some of their stuff after what we do. That鈥檚 always a good sign.鈥�

Another returning favourite is the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band, featuring singer Marilyn Keller.

鈥淥ur festival has always loved them and they put on the gospel show on Sunday morning that is free to everybody,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淧eople line up for that. Not just because it鈥檚 free but because it鈥檚 a great band.鈥�

Campbell said it鈥檚 easy to say 鈥渢his is the best ever鈥� but he truly means it.

鈥淚 cannot think of a festival anywhere that has a better lineup than ours,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not one band on there that we鈥檙e anything less than very proud to have on our lineup.鈥�

For the full lineup and more information, visit .