JerseyArticlesJazzNew York (Jazz Festival) State <strong>of</strong> MindBy Mitchell SeidelEver since George Wein revived the NewNewport Jazz Festival in New York City in the1970s, June has generally been seen as the start<strong>of</strong> the festival season in the Empire State. WhileWein’s New York City fest continues as JVC,there are others to consider during the month.Someone planning a late spring vacation in northwestNew York would do well to consider dovetailingit with the fledgling Rochester InternationalJazz Festival, now in its seventh season. Coveringnine days and encompassing two weekends, theRochester festival bears a striking a resemblance toMontreal’s international jazz festival, which occursabout three weeks later. The resemblance is purelyintentional, as Rochester, with multiple paid andfree venues, is closely modeled on its neighbor tothe northeast.While no one will ever confuse the two cities, thefestivals share a common bond <strong>of</strong> eclecticism andquality. By using many different stages at one time,Rochester can cater to a wide audience and not disappointanyone. For example, on one given eveninglast year, one could take in the Hanna Richardson/Phil Flanigan Quartet at a free outdoor stage whileat the same time a few blocks away the RochesterMetro Jazz Orchestra was performing at the wineand cheese tent. A few blocks in the other direction,the New Orleans trombone-based group Boneramawas performing in a club.T<strong>his</strong> year’s <strong>of</strong>ferings will include Frank Sinatra Jr.and <strong>his</strong> orchestra conducted by Terry Woodsondoing “Sinatra Sings Sinatra;” a Rochester version<strong>of</strong> Jazz at the Philharmonic with trombonist SlideHampton, saxophonist Houston Person, trumpeterNicholas Payton, saxophonist Vincent Herring,drummer Kenny Washington and others;saxophonist Lou Donaldson’s quartet anddrummer Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet. Alsoplanned are “Gillespieana,” a tribute to DizzyGillespie with an orchestra conducted by Jeff Tyzikand guests, vocalist Jeanie Bryson, trumpeter ByronStripling and saxophonist Gerry Niewood.The main paid concert halls are based at the statelyEastman School <strong>of</strong> Music and look like they werehand-carved out <strong>of</strong> wood by European craftsmen.Other venues include street stages, local clubs andeven a church. A local hotel’s bar/restaurant servedas the home for a nightly jam session that hadmusicians and fans staying late after the regular gigsfor music until last call. Even Wynton Marsalis, intown with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra,stopped by to jam with the locals. It’s an intimatesetting that simply may not be possible in a fewyears, when Rochester rightfully takes its placeamong the country’s great jazz festivals.The Rochester International Jazz Festival runsJune 13–21. For more information, go towww.rochesterjazz.com.For about threedecades, thanks toGeorge Wein, the end <strong>of</strong>June in Saratoga Springshas meant major jazz.The earliest festivals werecalled Newport Jazz atSaratoga and certainlylived up to the title withsuch headliners as SarahVaughan, Ella Fitzgerald,Count Basie and BuddyRich. In later years the renamed Freih<strong>of</strong>er’s JazzFestival continues the tradition at the SaratogaPerforming Arts Center (SPAC).The music at Saratoga is presented on two stages,one in the massive amphitheater and the other in acozy gazebo across the grounds. Having establisheditself over many years, Saratoga tends to attract alot <strong>of</strong> repeat attendees. Odds are good that peopleyou meet there probably were there the year before.And odds are even better that if you decide toreturn, you’ll meet <strong>some</strong> old friends.The atmosphere is <strong>some</strong>thing between a frat partyand a family reunion. The young people and theirbackpacks give a college feel, while the oldsters,with their picnic spreads and lawn chairs, make it afamily event. In fact, people who have attended theevent later celebrated weddings there as well.The Saturday and Sunday festival crams jazz, bluesand R&B into two 10-hour days. If nothing you likeis on right now,wait a set and<strong>some</strong>thing surelywill be. If shoppingis your thing,there is a craftstent that featureseverything fromhats to salsas.For time notspent at thefestival, the town<strong>of</strong> SaratogaSprings <strong>of</strong>fers a widevariety <strong>of</strong> restaurantsand local music clubs.Local attractionsinclude the harnesstrack, a world-classautomobile museum,a golf course just apitch away from themusic and the SpaCity’s well-knownmineral baths.The tentative lineup for t<strong>his</strong> year’s festival includesthe Brubeck Brothers, singers Dee Dee Bridgewaterand Dianne Reeves, trumpeter Terrence Blanchard,the children’s jazz program Hayes Greenfield &Jazz-a-ma-Tazz and the long-awaited reunion tour<strong>of</strong> Return to Forever featuring pianist Chick Corea,bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al DiMeola anddrummer Lenny White.The Freih<strong>of</strong>er’s Jazz Festival is June 28-29.For more information go to www.spac.org.Mitchell Seidel is Jersey Jazz’s contributingphoto editor, and an assistant photo editorand photgraphy writer for The Star-Ledger.photos, top to bottom: <strong>James</strong> Moody performs atKilbourn Hall at the Eastman School <strong>of</strong> Music;Maceo Parker performs at one <strong>of</strong> the outdoor stages;Wynton Marsalis performs at a jam session at theState Street Bar & Grill <strong>of</strong> the Crowne Plaza Hotel.All at or duringthe sixth RochesterInternationalJazz Festival inJune 2007.Photos byMitchell Seidel.JJ28__________________________________ May 2008
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