Neo-Soul Legend Roy Ayers Set For Bluesfest Sideshows

With a career spanning over five decades, LA vocalist/vibraphonist Roy Ayers is as relevant today as he was in the '60s when he was an award-winning jazz player.

Set to play next year's Bluesfest, the man known as the Godfather of Neo-Soul has now added two extra Australian shows while in the country.

Ayers will play shows at Sydney's The Basement and Melbourne's The Croxton in April with tickets going on sale 10am, Wednesday 19 October.

Ayers' milestones after his jazz and R&B career in the '60s include creating the soundtrack to the 1973 Blaxploitation classic Coffy and recording with Whitney Houston in the '80s. In the '90s his music was rediscovered by a new generation as he was sampled by hip hop greats (Dr Dre, Mary J Blige) and remixed aplenty by the leaders of the house scene (Masters At Work, Basement Jaxx).

For gig details and ticketing information scroll down or go to The Guide.

In the meantime, treat yourself to this mix set of Ayers songs put together last year by Acid Jazz honcho Giles Peterson in honour of the legend's 75th birthday: