The Sound of Music: All That Jazz
Jazz, a genuine American creation, was born on the streets of New Orleans a century ago, and it's back on the streets and in the parks in a big way after a bit of a hiatus after World War II.
Jazz festivals have become a national summertime celebration with July, August and September the big months for outdoor performances. It's a great way to spend a lazy summer day in a park listening to the best.
Whether playing Dixieland or Modern or a bit of pop or rhythm and blues, trumpeters and saxophonists are wailing away across the country this summer from steamy New Orleans to mild Mount Hood in Oregon.
Here's the 2004 lineup:
Norfolk, VA Jazz Festival
The two-day fun starts at sunset July 16 on the lawn at Town Point Park with saxophonist Boney James, who mixes rhythm and blues with jazz. James is a virtual jazz renaissance man. He also plays keyboard and flute. Also on the program is the veteran Chuck Mangione who has been blowing his trumpet for 40 years and has been nominated for the Grammy music award 12 times.
Satchmo Summerfest
Where else but New Orleans to honor the king of jazz, the late and legendary Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong who got his start in what is the jazz capital of the nation? It's jazz all the time in the streets, clubs and parks of the city whose motto is "Let the Good Times Roll."
But things really heat up the week of August 4 when an army of musicians, playing everything from early jazz tunes to progressive jazz converge on the city. All events are free and most of the activity takes place at the Louisiana State Museum.
Mount Hood, OR Jazz Festival
Jazz singer Abby Lincoln, along with the Heath Brothers and James Carter, will be on hand at the 23rd annual Mount Hood festival during the week of August 7 at Main City Park in Gresham, Oregon, just a half an hour from Portland. One thing about Oregon in summer—although the music is hot, the weather isn't. Expect temperatures in the sunny low 80s, unlike the clammy tropical heat of New Orleans.
If you can't make it for the festival, Portland holds a jazz series at local clubs through much of the summer.
Newport, RI Jazz Festival
This one is the granddaddy of jazz festivals, the first outdoor festival entirely taken up with jazz. And they are celebrating the 50th anniversary this summer by pulling out all the stops.
The fun starts August 11 in this otherwise staid town known for its stately mansions, yacht racing and the Naval War College.
This year's star-studded lineup includes jazz greats Branford Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, Harry Connick, Jr., George Shearing, Marian McPartland and Herbie Hancock.
Monterey, CA Jazz Festival
At the other end of the country in the upscale town of Monterey, just down the Pacific Coast from San Francisco, is the other noted festival, which is just a tad younger than Newport. They started making music in Monterey in 1958 and the music makers at the fairgrounds this year, starting September 17, are Bobby McFerrin, Buddy Guy, Clark Terry, Marian McPartland and a host of others. It's a big jamboree with more than 500 musicians performing for three nights and two days.
Online Resources
Books
Find these books online at Barnes & Noble.com.
The Music Festival Guide: For Music Lovers and
Musicians
Jon Pruett, Mike McGuirk, Chicago Review Press, Incorporated,
January 2004
Newport Jazz Festival: The Illustrated History
Burt Goldblatt, Doubleday & Company, Incorporated, August
1977
History of Jazz
Ted Gioia, Oxford University Press, October 1998
