 |
|
JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL, NEWPORT
August 11-14, 2005 |
|
 |
 |
The 22nd JVC Jazz Festival Newport started on the
11th of August at Jane Pickens Theater with the famous film "miles
electric: a different kind blue" about a legendary concert in which
Miles Davis played before 600,000 people. The atmosphere was buoyed
by fine weather, which luckily lasted until the festival finished
on August 14th. |
On the 12th at the Newport
Casino in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Artie Shaw
Orchestra presented a performance of great swing jazz. Fog then
filled the venue as Eartha Kitt took the stage. The inspired atmosphere
enhanced her alluring set. |
|
 |
The Artie Shaw Orchestra |
On the 13th and 14th, the venue moved to the Fort
Adams State Park where 30 programs were held on 3 different stages,
including the JVC Jazz Stage, the Pavilion Stage and the Guitar
Stage. A variety of elegant musicians from newcomers to veterans
seemed to surpass the previous year's commemoration concert.
People hopped from stage to stage peering at the schedule of
concert times, eager not to miss a minute of the festivities. |
 |
|
On the 13th, under clear blue skies, the day started with the
Jon Faddis Quartet on the JVC Jazz Stage. As he opened the program
Mr. Faddis announced that Michael Brecker, who was going to play
with Saxophone Summit and with Steps Ahead, was seriously ill and
he then made a plea to find a bone marrow donor for Mr. Brecker.
Despite this sad news a wonderful Saxophone Summit performance
followed and the saxophone battle seemed to be reaching out as
if to support Michael.
On the Pavilion Stage, McCoy Tyner, who was hospitalized during
his European tour this July, appeared and gave notice his recovery
was complete.
Also Wynton Marsalis, who had to cancel last year's festival,
performed and was in fine form, showing no signs of having been
away from the stage. |
Jon Faddis
Quartet |
 |
Steps Ahead |
Major Musicians who Appeared at the Festival: |
JVC Jazz Stage: |
Pavilion Stage: |
Guitar Stage: |
|
|
Gary Burton's Generations Stanley Clarke - Béla Fleck - Jean-Luc Ponty Carla Bley The Lost Chords with Steve Swallow Brad Mehldau T.S. Monk Sextet Joe Lovano with Hank Jones Trio |
The Newport All-Stars featuring Howard Alden & Warren Vache Kurt Rosenwinkel Group with Mark Turner Mark Whitfield Trio Russell Malone & Benny Green Duo Julian Lage & Taylor Eigsti Duo |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Dave Brubeck Quartet |
McCoy Tyner Trio |
Mark Whitfield Trio |
|
 |
|
On the 14th, after
the first-ever session with Dave Brubeck and Wynton Marsalis, a performance
by Steps Ahead, who had just played the JVC Jazz New York festival and
completed a European tour, followed and gave audience additional empathy
for Michael.
The finale of the concert was to celebrate Roy Haynes' 80th birthday.
Roy Haynes showed his still fresh and youthful drumming while performing
with younger musicians. The audience's admiration for the aging star
was evident as they showered him with a standing ovation and sung "Happy
Birthday". Then Chick Corea, Joshua Redman, and Christian McBride appeared
and produced a stellar performance which brought to mind the Chick
Corea & Friends set in 1996. Lastly, Gary Burton took the stage and,
to everyone's delight, surprise guest Pat Metheny joined him. The audience
was pushed to a new level of excitement at dusk and showed their thanks
by giving the performers an extended standing ovation. |
Dave Brubeck and
Wynton Marsalis |
 |
Roy Haynes and
Pat Metheny |
|
 |
