The spirits of jazz superstars both living and departed will fill the Eisenhower Auditorium this Tuesday, as keyboardist Herbie Hancock leads a 75th birthday tribute to trumpeter Miles Davis and saxophonist John Coltrane.

The Directions In Music tour comes to University Park as part of a 28-date cross-country tour honoring the lives and work of the two jazz legends. The musical set list will include some of Davis' and Coltrane's finest compositions as well as original pieces inspired by the two musicians.

Accompanying Hancock are modern jazz icons Roy Hargrove on trumpet and Michael Brecker on saxophone, filling in for the roles of Davis and Coltrane respectively. The tour also features the rhythm section of drummer Brian Blade and bassist John Patitucci.

Coltrane, who passed away in 1967, is best remembered for his talent and innovation as a jazz saxophonist during the late 1950s and 1960s. Coltrane's recognizable tone and style can be heard most notably on his famous rendition of "My Favorite Things" from the 1960 album of the same name.

As a sideman and bandleader, performer and composer, Coltrane continues to influence many forms of music today.

With a career spanning from the 1940s up to his death in 1991, Davis had a similar impact on jazz during his life. His famous albums range from the hard-bop acoustic masterpiece Kind of Blue to the electric fusion classic Bitches Brew. By constantly changing his sound and remaining one step ahead of the evolving jazz world, Davis used his trumpet to help create various styles that can still be felt in modern music.

For several years, Coltrane and Davis worked together in the Miles Davis Quintet, along with pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The two musicians collaborated on several albums, including Kind of Blue. Together and separately, they became two of the most well known names in jazz history.

Both Coltrane and Davis would be celebrating their 75th birthdays this year. The "Directions in Music" tour was organized in honor of this historic anniversary.

The tour aims not only to celebrate the lives of these important musicians, however, but also to widen the always-expanding jazz audience. Featuring some of the biggest names in modern jazz, it is one of the largest-scale events of its kind ever to tour the U.S. with musicians worthy of paying tribute to Davis and Coltrane.

Hancock, an influential musician himself, actually began his career working alongside Davis in the 1960s. Although best remembered for his original R&B/funk crossover hit, "Chameleon," Hancock has proven himself to be a talented keyboardist, both acoustically and electrically. He is one of the few living jazz figureheads that could handle the responsibility of paying tribute to the legends who were once his peers.

Hancock is not the only prominent jazz name featured on the tour. Brecker himself was greatly inspired by Coltrane and Davis while growing up, and he has become one of the most in-demand saxophonists today.

He has performed with many other musicians and can be heard playing virtually every style of music, from jazz (Dave Brubeck, Quincy Jones) to pop (Paul Simon, John Lennon). Brecker has won many awards, including seven Grammys, and his newest release, Nearness of You: The Ballad Book, features, along with Hancock, Pat Metheny and James Taylor.

The versatile Hargrove has also appeared as a sideman on several projects, including D'Angelo's latest release, Voodoo. Hargrove has released several recordings, from standard acoustic jazz to work with Crisol, his Latin-tinged group. His most recent album, Moment By Moment, on Verve Records, is also a compilation of ballads.

Students have already shown a great interest in the concert, but fans that have not already purchased tickets can still obtain them, according to Laura Sullivan, head of public relations for the Center for the Performing Arts.

"Ticket sales are great. We are nearing our projected sales, but tickets can still be purchased the night of the show. This is a really rare opportunity to see these three great artists together honoring such important musicians."

In addition to the concert itself, the Eisenhower Auditorium will be hosting a program entitled, "Artistic Viewpoints" one hour before the show.

"The purpose of this program is to offer a half-hour discussion with an artist or representative to give the audience a broader and deeper look at the performance they will be seeing that evening," said Amy Vashaw, director of Artistic Viewpoints and educational activities for the Center for the Performing Arts.

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets for the show are currently on sale through the Eisenhower Auditorium and cost $14 for students and $29 for general admission.