The Tucson Jazz Society's Primavera All-Stars concert is the nation's longest continuous celebration of women in the arts.

Now in its 26th year, Primavera honors pioneering musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Mary Lou Williams by featuring local, regional and national torchbearers performing jazz, R&B, gospel and Latin music.

Saturday's concert celebrating women also will help assist women. A portion of the event's proceeds will benefit New Beginnings For Women & Children, a local organization that helps homeless women and their children become economically self-sufficient.

This year's performers include nationally renowned jazz pianist and vocalist Marilyn Harris, who has composed and produced music for film, television and theater as well as recorded jazz of her own; powerhouse jazz vocalist Earla Porch, who lists the late trumpeter Chet Baker as a fan; and Phoenix-based singer Sherry Roberson, who Down Beat Magazine named Jazz Diva of Arizona in 1999.

Local musicians include jazz and blues singer and flutist Debbie Luna, swing singer Julie Anne, jazz and gospel vocalist Amanda Gelatt, jazz guitarist Donna Lepley, drummer Janet Remsing and R&B bassist and singer Liz Fletcher.

"Hurricane Carla" Brownlee, who has toured internationally for more than 20 years, and Primavera producer and pianist and singer-songwriter Lisa Otey also will perform. Both musicians appear on "Lullabies for New Beginnings," an album local singer-songwriter Nancy McCallion produced featuring women singing lullabies. The album is available at www.nbwctucson.org and all proceeds also will benefit New Beginnings.

For an exciting grand finale, the entire Primavera All-Stars lineup will gather on stage for a special "super-scat/super-jam" performance.