Best jazz festival?
May 5th, 2008, 01:43 PM
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Best jazz festival?
Jazz fans -- am trying to compile a list of where and when the big US jazz festivals are for some jazz fan-friends in France. Which ones have you been to? Which is your favorite?
May 5th, 2008, 01:58 PM
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May 5th, 2008, 02:11 PM
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I don't know if it is the best but our festival is certainly not shabby!
http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2008/index.php
http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2008/index.php
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May 6th, 2008, 03:30 PM
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I have only been to New Orleans, Montreal and Chicago for Jazz Festivals. I'll be upfront. I live in New Orleans so I am terribly biased. New Orleans Jazz Fest is not just about jazz, in fact, the vast majority of the music is not jazz (though there are two stages dedicated to jazz). It's a music and cultural festival of New Orleans and south Louisiana. I have taken people from France to it and they loved it. N.O. Jazz Fest is an incredible showcase of talented local and nationally known musicians, fantastic food, and lots of fun. Your friends will not be disappointed. I promise!
May 8th, 2008, 08:31 AM
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Great list, although I might need a little help developing descriptions that would highlight the differences among these.
For example, would I be right in thinking there's more West Coast jazz at Monterey, more Dixie in New Orleans? Am surprised Newport is still going.
And is there really nothing in the NYC area (other than the on-going scene in Manhattan)?
For example, would I be right in thinking there's more West Coast jazz at Monterey, more Dixie in New Orleans? Am surprised Newport is still going.
And is there really nothing in the NYC area (other than the on-going scene in Manhattan)?
May 10th, 2008, 05:17 AM
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Again I can only speak for the N.O. Jazz Festival. Understand that there are something like 11 stages that have music all day all at the same time. One stage is dedicated solely to more traditional jazz, though not exclusively. One stage is dedicated to modern jazz and though there are a number of national acts (Chick Corea played recently) it is also a venue for local jazz musicians or locally grown jazz musicians (think Terrence Blanchard, Irvin Mayfield, Wynton or Ellis Marsallis, Donald Harrison, Nicholas Payton, etc.). On the other hand, there are the other stages that feature R&B, gospel, zydeco, cajun, folk, Mardi Gras Indian music, reggae or world African based music, and then marching brass bands periodically playing through the crowds.
It's a festival for young, old, funky, straight, gay, basically you name it. It's not about sitting in a chair and listening to music in a sterile concert setting. It's about the celebration of the convergence of cultures that came to live in this area of the world and together created a unique culture of its own. The major components of this culture are its music, of which jazz is a huge part, and cuisine, both of which are highlighted at the festival. The music is great, the food is delicious, the people watching is fun, and everyone loves it.
It's a festival for young, old, funky, straight, gay, basically you name it. It's not about sitting in a chair and listening to music in a sterile concert setting. It's about the celebration of the convergence of cultures that came to live in this area of the world and together created a unique culture of its own. The major components of this culture are its music, of which jazz is a huge part, and cuisine, both of which are highlighted at the festival. The music is great, the food is delicious, the people watching is fun, and everyone loves it.
May 10th, 2008, 05:53 AM
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The programming at Monterey is diverse, ambitious and runs the gamut. The organizers attract acts from all over the country and the world. Easy to do considering how prestigious this event has become. My favorite parts of the weekend are the Saturday blues concerts and the smaller, intimate shows in small venues on Saturday night. I will never forget a Jessica Williams show there 10 years ago. She played the piano like a harp. Truly amazing.
http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2008/index.php
http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2008/index.php
May 10th, 2008, 05:59 AM
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soccr,
We have the Park City Jazz Festival the third weekend in August. It's 3 days of all styles of jazz with big names and lesser knowns. Some traditional, some new wave, some artists from other countries with their own styles.
It's put on by our PC Jazz Festival Foundation and the artists do workshops for the local kids who play in high school and jr high. The kids have their own group and play early in the lineup every year. They are very good!
And you can't beat the setting, outdoors at Deer Valley. You can bring your own cooler and "beverges of choice". Gourmet picnics are available, but really 99.9% bring their own.
I go every year!
We have the Park City Jazz Festival the third weekend in August. It's 3 days of all styles of jazz with big names and lesser knowns. Some traditional, some new wave, some artists from other countries with their own styles.
It's put on by our PC Jazz Festival Foundation and the artists do workshops for the local kids who play in high school and jr high. The kids have their own group and play early in the lineup every year. They are very good!
And you can't beat the setting, outdoors at Deer Valley. You can bring your own cooler and "beverges of choice". Gourmet picnics are available, but really 99.9% bring their own.
I go every year!
May 10th, 2008, 06:55 AM
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While it does not live up to the NO Jazz fest or Monterrey, Sedona's Jazz on the Rocks in late Sept. is great, and gets my vote for best venue and scenary, and the jazz is very good. It happens with the backdrop of the red rocks of Sedona. This year David Fathead Newman is there, Giacamo Gates, etc. It has been happening yearly since 1981, and although it has grown, there are now about 7000 people attending, so it is still on the smaller side compared to some of the really large festivals.
In 2006, Earl Klugh, and Pacquito D'Rivera (dynamite Afro-Cuban jazz), and Billy Mitchell were there.
In 2007, Mose Allison and Stanley Jordan were there. Boney James and Al Jarreau have played in recent yrs also, Fatburger, Dave Koz, T.S. Monk. Those are headlines, but there are other great artists.
One cool thing is that if you get tickets early enough, there is a concert in a large private home in Sedona two nights before the outdoor festival, and in 2006 Earl Klugh and Billy Mitchell played at that. How much more intimate can you get, and what other festival gives you that option.
http://www.sedonajazz.com/index.htm
In 2006, Earl Klugh, and Pacquito D'Rivera (dynamite Afro-Cuban jazz), and Billy Mitchell were there.
In 2007, Mose Allison and Stanley Jordan were there. Boney James and Al Jarreau have played in recent yrs also, Fatburger, Dave Koz, T.S. Monk. Those are headlines, but there are other great artists.
One cool thing is that if you get tickets early enough, there is a concert in a large private home in Sedona two nights before the outdoor festival, and in 2006 Earl Klugh and Billy Mitchell played at that. How much more intimate can you get, and what other festival gives you that option.
http://www.sedonajazz.com/index.htm
May 10th, 2008, 08:45 AM
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We will be moving back to Houston this summer and the ONLY thing that is getting my husband excited about the move is being just a "hop-skip-and-jump" away from New Orleans so he can hit the Jazz Fest next year (1st time in 10 years!).
May 10th, 2008, 09:51 AM
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Agree with the Monterey Jazz festival. The San Jose Jazz Festival was great fun in 2006, though slipped a little last year. FYI, Jazz on the Plazz in Los Gatos has Mose Allison again this summer: http://www.jazzontheplazz.com/
