A week before the Oscars, we’re finally hearing names of some of the music performers.
That’s a step up from last year, when music – and any entertainment, really – was jettisoned. Music was exiled to the preview portion; comedy was also missing, in a no-host, no-fun night.
This year’s ceremony – 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 27 on ABC – will have three hosts (comedians Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes and actress Regina Hall) and music from:
— An all-star band, with Adam Blackstone, pianist Robert Glasper and two percussion stars, Sheila E and Travis Barker. Blackstone, the music director for Nicki Minaj and Justin Timberlake, will be the show’s overall music director. Glasper is a pianist who won a R&B Grammy for an album that also crossed over into the hip hop and jazz charts.
— The Samples, a long-time rock band with reggae influences.
— The return of the tradition of a live orchestra. It will be joined by the all-star band and DJ D-Nice.