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