Planning to go to any Summer Jazz festivals?

[Leeway]

Anyone planning on going to any one of the many jazz festivals this summer?

The one that appeals to me the most, for it lineup, and its location, is the Healdsburg, California jazz festival, in early June, in California wine country. Unfortunately, my schedule won't permit it. I've also been thinking of making my first foray to Newport. Anyone have recent experience with the Newport festival?

It's odd about all these jazz festivals. Everone talks about the demise of jazz and dwindling album sales, but there seems to be more jazz festivals than one can easily keep track of.

[frank m]

My wife and I went to the mainstream jazz concert last September at Chattaqua (sp?) New york. Lasts about 3 days straight of jazz. A bit pricey for the likes of us, but it's only once a year and it's a heck of a lot of good music and great food. Musicians like Dick Hyman, Dan Barrett, Bob Barnard, Vince Giordano and on and on. Great fun.If we can get dogsitters, we'll be there again this year.

[Ed S]

Montréal

[Hardbopjazz]

Yes, I'll be Istanbul during there festival. Probale see John Scofield.

[Pete C]

I'll be in Montreal 4th of July weekend. I have tickets for Joao Bosco/Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Portal/Sclavis/Texier/Humair, & Jorge Ben Jor/Margareth Menezes.

[Ed S]

I have not decided when I'm going but it could well be that first weekend. There's usually a bunch a Jazzcorner folks there at some point. Anyone going this year? I might be going solo and wouldn't mind hooking up with some people.

[Pete C]

I have not decided when I'm going but it could well be that first weekend. There's usually a bunch a Jazzcorner folks there at some point. Anyone going this year? I might be going solo and wouldn't mind hooking up with some people.

Ed, I started a thread in the Festivals section of Jazz Corner. It doesn't look like too many takers this year.

[Ed S]

I'll check out your thread there and see what's happening.

[makpjazz57]

I will probably be in attendance at the Freihofer/Saratoga Jazz Festival, end of JUne.

Would love to attend the 50th Anniversary Newport Jazz Festival weekend, but I don't do outdoors very well in the summer.

Marla

[RainyDay]

I'm going to make it to San Jose for the whole weekend. I was thinking about Monterey but probably not. There are some local festivals that are sometimes quite nice. The North Beach Jazz Festival and the Fillmore Art and Jazz Festival, both in SF.

Going to see Herbie Hancock, Brian Blade, John Pattituci, and Wayne Shorter next month as part of the SF Jazz Festival.

Not traveling far from home,

RainyDay

[Rooster_Ties]

Well, there's always the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival.

Or the Kansas City International Jazz Festival.

Or even the 18th and Vine Jazz Fest.

(All of which I used to enjoy, nearly every year, ever since I moved to Kansas City in 1994.)

No, wait!! After 2001, none of those are being put on any more!!!!

How could Kansas City go from having two reasonably darn good jazz festivals per year (and once or twice, even three!!), to having NONE. ZERO. ZIP. NADA. NOTHING.

Of course, there's always the Corporate Woods Jazz Festival, out in the 'burbs, in and amongst a bunch of totally sterile glass-face office buildings (without a hint of personality to them either, I might add), in an "office park". And of course, they only book local acts, and 75% of them are "feel good" groups, that play some serious "feel good" music, doncha know.

Something seriously wrong with this town. Joe?? Paul?? Eric?? Brandon?? Any thoughts??

Edited May 21, 2004 by Rooster_Ties

[robviti]

i'll be in nyc at the end of the jvc festival in june. i want to catch the lew tabackin/randy brecker tribute to coleman hawkins at birdland. i also plan to check out shows in the city featuring harold mabern's trio, the anthony wonsey quintet, and maybe buster williams' group at the jazz standard.

later this summer i plan to take in the day-long fesitivities in newport, r.i. on saturday, august 14th. quite a lineup they have there. finally, real jazz returns to newport!

Edited May 21, 2004 by jazzshrink

[John B]

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. We'll only be attending two shows this year - Steve Coleman and Randy Weston.

[jazzmessenger]

How could Kansas City go from having two reasonably darn good jazz festivals per year (and once or twice, even three!!), to having NONE. ZERO. ZIP. NADA. NOTHING.

I am asking the same question, Rooster.

I went what turned out to be the last K.C. Jazz and Blues Fetival. I remember it was a very very hot day, and everyone was staying under the tree. I am glad that I was able to meet late Big John Patton that day, though.

[jazzmessenger]

Oh, Missouri lost another jazz festival a couple years ago. Capital City Jazz Festival in Jefferson City.

[jazzmessenger]

Now I live in Indianapolis, I will probably go to Indy Jazz Festival again. (I say "probably" because this year's lineup isn't that great.) Then, I will go to either Detroit or Chicago over the Labor Day Weekend. I would like to go back to Iowa City Jazz Festival again, but I don't know if I can make it this year.

[Pete C]

Now I live in Indianapolis, I will probably go to Indy Jazz Festival again. (I say "probably" because this year's lineup isn't that great.) Then, I will go to either Detroit or Chicago over the Labor Day Weekend. I would like to go back to Iowa City Jazz Festival again, but I don't know if I can make it this year.

I read somewhere that Detroit was going to be making it a music festival with jazz as only one component--I don't think the jazz festival has done well in recent years. Anyway, Chicago always had a more interesting lineup. I might aim for Chicago, which I've been trying to do every other year. Last time I got to see one of Mal Waldron's last performances (the duo with Oliver Lake).

[Jim Alfredson]

That's a shame about the Detroit festival. I've been trying to get into that for years. They hire the same local cats year after year.

[jazzmessenger]

I read somewhere that Detroit was going to be making it a music festival with jazz as only one component--I don't think the jazz festival has done well in recent years. Anyway, Chicago always had a more interesting lineup. I might aim for Chicago, which I've been trying to do every other year. Last time I got to see one of Mal Waldron's last performances (the duo with Oliver Lake).

I hope NOT... I enjoyed Detroit Jazz Festival more than Chicago one because they have three "not-too-big" stages and give me more choices. The concert stage at Chicago is way too big for me. I also liked lineup at Detroit better last year. In retrospect, I wish I had gone to Chicago last year just to see Elvin Jones.

I also saw that show with Waldron and Lake in Chicago two years ago. It's sad that I have to wonder how long he or she lives everytime I think about which conert to see.

[Pete C]

I found the following. It looks like this will be the last year of a jazz festival in Detroit:

It was announced Dec. 18 that the 2004 Detroit festival, the 25th year for that event, will be its last at Hart Plaza on the city's downtown waterfront. The 2005 event will expand to include blues, rock, R&B and gospel music. It also will relocate to other sites around Detroit.

"The expansion in Detroit was a move that was born out of necessity," Malfitano said. "That festival has struggled in funding, like a lot of major festivals in the country."

Malfitano said the Detroit festival has lost about $1 million since 2000.

http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/post...63634149361.xml

[jazzmessenger]

That's a shame...

[Spontooneous]

I've complained long and loudly in print about the lack of jazz festivals in Kansas City. Nothing's happened. Except maybe my readers got bored.

The lack of action on the festival front by certain local "jazz advocacy" groups is just amazing.

We've apparently got the jazz festival we deserve in KC, which is to say, none.

This year, the Corporate Woods Jazz Festival has morphed into something much more commercial, and quite jazzless. Check http://www.jazzinthewoods.com. (The one acoustic jazz artist on the whole weekend's bill is apologizing to his friends and fans for having signed the contract to appear there before he knew about the format change.)

Edited May 25, 2004 by Spontooneous

[Jeanfi]

I'll in Vienne Jazz Festival (France) :

Shakti - John Mc Laughlin B)

Charles Llyod Qurtet B)

Herbie Hancok + Wayne Shorter

Abbey Lincoln

and

Festival d'Antibes Juan les Pins (France) :

Jimmy Smith B)

Keith Jarret + De Johnette + Peacok (already seen last years )

Sonny Rollins

A wonderful jazz summer i hope...

Jean-Philippe

Best regards B)

Edited May 25, 2004 by Jeanfi

[neveronfriday]

Copenhagen Jazz Festival this summer (confirmed: Harlem Blues and Jazz Band / Ahmad Jamal / E.S.T. / RIGMOR GUSTAFSSON QUARTET / A Tribute To Montmartre (w. NHØP a.o.) at JAZZHUS MONTMARTRE! / The Bad Plus + JOSEFINE CRONHOLM / Milton Nascimento).

Supposed to be playing three gigs myself.

Just don't know if I can make it yet.

Cheers!

[sidewinder]

The Bath Festival jazz weekend starts this Friday - with E.S.T headlining. Lots of Euro groups on during the weekend - including Gianluigi Trovesi, who is always worth checking out, in a double bill with Louis Sclavis. Courtney Pine headlines on the Monday.