We attended the NJF http://www.newportjazzfest.org/ at Fort Adams http://www.preserveglassstudio.com/uploads/8/4/8/2/8482813/177401.jpg?251 here in Rhode Island on Sunday ...
Fortunately the weather was pretty good - cloudy, about 70 - 75F, with some very light rain on and off during the day, unlike the steady rain of Saturday ...
When we got there we found out that one of the bands I was really looking forward to hearing would not be playing because Dr. John had landed in a NY hospital with a virus infection ...
Sunday's program started with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, and at one point when Chris Brubeck was talking about appearing there for the first time without their father he got noticeably emotional ... the piano player - Chuck Lamb - was excellent, as were the rest of the quartet ...
Then came the Mingus Big Band - tribute to Charles Mingus ... very good, and not as 'far out there' as I had imagined ...
Went to a different stage (3 stage locations in all) to hear Lee Konitz with 'Special Guest' Grace Kelly -here she is at the 2011 festival - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nimGB414ABM ... unfortunately Lee didn't treat her so 'special' as he played over hers and every other solo , including the drummers ... ...
David Sanborn & Joey DeFrancesco were really good, although I expected more than we got out of Sanborn - lots of 'honking and squeaking' during his solos ... and Joey HAS TO lay off the pasta !!! ... I'm a big guy, but I would be small next to Joey ... The vibes player, Warren Wolf was GREAT ...
The Ron Carter Trio with Russell Malone & Donald Vega was solid CLASS!!!, from how they dressed - dark suits, two tone shirts, gold toned ties - to the music they played, it was just a BEAUTIFUL presentation ... there was a young guy - 35 to 40 yrs old - next to me and even he commented about how classy the Carter Trio was ...
Bobby McFerrin closed the day on the main stage, performing some nice stuff from his latest CD, with his daughter doing back-up vocals ...
BUT, for me the HIGHLIGHT of the day was the group that closed the show on one of the other stages The Django Festival All-Stars http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eEPlVddEpis were the hit of the day ... Lively, upbeat, great solos, they got standing ovations several times, and a number of people - including me - told one of the festival producers that they should close the show on the main stage next year ...

All in all a GREAT day of JAZZ in many styles ...

PS... unfortunately for me, Snarky Puppy was on Saturday's schedule ...

GREAT time, it sounds like. Man, we HAVE to get together soon.

Good taste and knowledge on your part. Rory plays in a Gypsy jazz group.


Russ

... thanks Cap'n ...

I will watch it on DVD or TV, Netflix, you tube etc,......
I cant stand crowds ....

We all have our issues ...

To many people, including myself and Lydia, the crowd is PART of the EXPERIENCE ... feeling the vibe, discussing the music and musicians with total strangers, people simultaneously giving standing ovations after a solo or at the end of a tune ... WE LOVE IT !!! ... I will watch it when it is shown on PBS, but it won't be NEARLY the same ...
I'm just glad I spent the major portion of my life in New York City, so crowds don't bother me at all ...
But, to each his own ...

I also have to say, that while alcohol and pot use has been evident in the past, I saw none of that this year - not saying it wasn't there, just saying it wasn't noticeable ...

Heck, in years past WE even sneaked in some vodka and gin to have with our lemonade ...

That's all well and good Tony glad you enjoyed it.....
I've just seen top many shootings, fights and riots at some of these big festival type shows, etc,....
heck I was halfway to Woodstock in '69 and had to turn around ...just sayin'...

Sounds like you had a great time, Tony....festivals are a lot of fun, IF you get the right weather.

That Gypsy Jazz group, The Django Festival All-Stars are incredible...I've been a hard core Django Reinhardt fan for quite some time. A most amazing player, and such incredibly uplifting and positive music.

Ian

Ill only go to smaller venues.....Casinos......
concert hall....Broadway. ....comedy club etc,.....I buy the best tix I can afford and enjoy the show....outdoor anything..not for me.

I know what Tony experiences. Jazz folks share a lot in unspoken ways.

Being on the same channel, listening to people who are playing "off of" each other....there's nothing like it.


Russ

Fantastic clips Tony. Thanks for sharing.
After Gary's Jam we went to a Street Concert in downtown Annapolis....Big crowd....Band might have been good.....couldn't tell.....lousy sound system.
I'd rather had been with you in Newport.

Eddie

Eddie ... would have loved to have you there ...

BTW ... here is a Snarky Puppy vid ... the KB solo is INSANE !!!

I'm so happy for those kids!Look at the joy on their faces! Look at what they did....TOGETHER!

And that's what jazz is all about!


Thanks, Tony


Russ

Although I personally feel pretty much the same as DNJ about HUGE crowds (ala stadium-type concerts) and would much prefer to see music, especially jazz (listening music vs. visual stimulation - aka 'rock') in a smaller venue, I still don't see the point of raining on someone else's parade. Tony was just sharing a joyful experience with the rest of us. If all you can do is comment negatively about it, isn't it better to just "sit down and shut up". JMO.

chas

Just voicing my opinon Chas,...and will continue to do so.
what confuses me is why your so angry again!!....?

I don't know Donny, maybe it's your grammar.

chas

C'mon, fellas ... stop the BS and be nice ... I take little offense unless something is addressed to ME personally ... opinions are just like a$$holes ... everybody's got one ... and to other people, most of them STINK !!! ...

chas ... it was interesting that groups such as Lee Konitz and Ron Carter and the Django Festival All Stars were on stages that had tents covering the seating areas, making it more intimate, ... but the outdoor experience is GREAT ...
You tell me you will come up for the NJF one year and I've got a place you can stay!!!

Thanks Tony. During the years when we had our own plane(s), we flew up every year to the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Saratoga Jazz festival. You're right, these venues tend to be much smaller and more intimate than your average Rock festival and therefore (for me) more enjoyable. You're also correct about Joey D. and David Sanborn; although both are bitchin' jazz players when they choose to be, they tend to go into 'crowd pleasing' mode when in these type venues. And yeah, I truly am concerned about Joey's health. He's one of the guys trying to keep the (Jazz Organ Trio) tradition alive (along with Tony Monaco, Lonnie Smith, and a few others) and I hate seeing him destroying his health. Overeating can only end badly and with all due respect, traditional 'Italian food' shares the same deadly health risks as traditional 'soul food'. Sure, we die happy, but we still die.

Glad you enjoyed the festival but sad you missed Snarky Puppy. Those guys are just 'insane'.

chas

PS: Hope you noticed that I didn't give you a shot in the Accordion post .

Yeah, but we ALL die ... at least we die happy ...



The guy who played sax for 26 years in our band in NY has been a jazz fanatic since he was about 10 years old ... I had him watch that clip and he went nuts ... he was at the festival on Sunday with us and he was pissed we missed them on Saturday ...



That's because you recognize talent no matter what form it takes ...