Magic has permeated my summer and this past weekend was no exception.
The Syracuse JazzFest was excellent and my company was 'amazical'.
A less than notable opener, the Oz Noy Trio was described as the Israeli Jimi Hendrix; not sure if that was less than complimentary to Jimi or Israel, likely both.
The East Coast West Coast Dream Band thoroughly thrilled and impressed the crowd, vocalist Alex Ligertwood getting everyone on their feet and belting some awesome vocals, including a superb 'Layla'. Sergio Mendes rocked the house for sure.
The second day included an exhilarating visit to Wegmans (my first time!) and then we headed back to the legendary Onondaga Community College campus. The Steelheads mellowed us out, and on the steamy late June afternoon, it was quite fitting to be serenaded by Caribbean sounding steel drums. The Moutin Reunion Quartet jived some straight ahead jazz with extraordinary chemisty, being that the drum and bass players are brothers. The real highlight of the whole weekend for me was Bill Evans Soulgrass, once again fusing my two current musical passions, Bluegrass and Jazz. With a sound much like the Flecktones, these guys really rocked the whole show; a welcome addition and departure from the Flecktones sound being the fiddle player, Christian Howes, who personally sold me, from his backpack, one of his CDs later on in the day. Also obtained was this CD, The Other Side Of Something, signed in person by Bill Evans and his banjo player in the CD tent! I'm listening to that as I write now...and you should be too! Mike Stern and his band rocked some heavy Jazz flawlessly, the drummer Dave Weckl wowing us all, and Randy Brecker, of course, selling the whole thing. Randy's two performances, with Mike Stern and also the day earlier with the Dream Band, reinforced my appreciation for trumpet (especially muted trumpet!).
Above you can see the rainbow that appeared after a short humidity relieving rain shower. I have never seen one arch all the way across the sky and the colors seen in the picture are only half of what the crowd gaped at in the moment. just wow.
The Syracuse JazzFest was excellent and my company was 'amazical'.
A less than notable opener, the Oz Noy Trio was described as the Israeli Jimi Hendrix; not sure if that was less than complimentary to Jimi or Israel, likely both.
The East Coast West Coast Dream Band thoroughly thrilled and impressed the crowd, vocalist Alex Ligertwood getting everyone on their feet and belting some awesome vocals, including a superb 'Layla'. Sergio Mendes rocked the house for sure.
The second day included an exhilarating visit to Wegmans (my first time!) and then we headed back to the legendary Onondaga Community College campus. The Steelheads mellowed us out, and on the steamy late June afternoon, it was quite fitting to be serenaded by Caribbean sounding steel drums. The Moutin Reunion Quartet jived some straight ahead jazz with extraordinary chemisty, being that the drum and bass players are brothers. The real highlight of the whole weekend for me was Bill Evans Soulgrass, once again fusing my two current musical passions, Bluegrass and Jazz. With a sound much like the Flecktones, these guys really rocked the whole show; a welcome addition and departure from the Flecktones sound being the fiddle player, Christian Howes, who personally sold me, from his backpack, one of his CDs later on in the day. Also obtained was this CD, The Other Side Of Something, signed in person by Bill Evans and his banjo player in the CD tent! I'm listening to that as I write now...and you should be too! Mike Stern and his band rocked some heavy Jazz flawlessly, the drummer Dave Weckl wowing us all, and Randy Brecker, of course, selling the whole thing. Randy's two performances, with Mike Stern and also the day earlier with the Dream Band, reinforced my appreciation for trumpet (especially muted trumpet!).
Above you can see the rainbow that appeared after a short humidity relieving rain shower. I have never seen one arch all the way across the sky and the colors seen in the picture are only half of what the crowd gaped at in the moment. just wow.
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