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23rd The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival
July 31-August 2 2009
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The Wolverine Jazz Band
was at the 23rd Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival on Friday, and pulled in an SRO crowd in spite of the
rain |
The 23rd Great
Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival was a complete success at
Mountain Ridge. Sixteen
Traditional/Dixieland/Swing bands, one 60's Rock & Roll. Saturday’s warm sunshine prompted a
sell-out! But the real STAR of this event was the Mountain
Ridge Resort, 350A High Hill Road, Wallingford Connecticut, with
beautiful grounds, flowers, manicured lawns, a large, very inviting swimming pool, tennis courts
and fun for the whole family, and a parking lot that holds over 1500
cars. There was handicapped parking area, with ample golf
carts driven by devoted volunteers who transported anyone to their
destination. We couldn't hear all the bands, but caught
most of them.
Traditional Jazz started at 3pm on a rainy Friday with the local
Galvanized Jazz Band and guests Skip Hughes trombone, Bob Price
banjo, and vocalist Jane Campedelli welcoming the early birds. We
arrived just in time for the Wolverine Jazz Band, took a seat in the
large, comfortable room that was Venue 2, (next to a well-stocked
full bar) and
settled in for the evening.
This new venue had two large air-conditioned rooms with
full bar, a weather-proofed room by the pool, and one tent. The
rooms are relatively close, but the sound of the music doesn't
intermingle. Again, there was a parade of antique cars and free
dance lessons. MountainRidge served a
good buffet dinner of roast chicken and
beef on Saturday to hundreds of guests while the Galvanized Jazz Band
and Jane Campedelli entertained. Sunday, there was a poignant
Interdenominational Service
with Rev. Dave Ruffner of Blue Street J.B.
Midiri Brothers
took us back to Benny Goodman's small bands of the 30's.
The
real heart of Bill Logozzo's Heartbeat Jazz Band.
was the fabulous reed team of Sherman Kahn and Noel Kaletsky.
Cornet Chop Suey even had the
volunteers second-lining as the front line marched through the
crowd, shaking hands and greeting fans.
The New Orleans Flares was led by Louis Ford, son of
Clarence Ford who
led Fats Domino's band for 25 years. They've already been
invited back next
year.
TGCTJF Festival Band, a group of New England musicians
who get together and 'jam' - once a year.
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Volunteer Foxie
Van Blaricoms marches between the tables by the Pool Venue. |
Freight Train Five Traditional Jazz Band was started by George
Zimmerman in 1980 at the New London, Connecticut train station,
hence their name. The band started its 29th year this August at the
Griswold Inn, in Essex, Connecticut. We Wait all year for Jane Campedelli's return to the
Galvanized Jazz Band,
also with Skip Hughes trombone, Bob Price banjo.
Art Hovey's
Sugarfoot Jazz Band
assures the future of Our Kind of Music, with some of his young
protégés already playing professionally. Sarah Spencer's had
young drummer Molly Sayles of the Sugarfoot Jazz Band driving her band.
Blue Street Fresno's Blue Street Jazz Band
celebrated their 25th anniversary last year.
They play Trad and Dixieland, but more often
than not, they'll play unique arrangements
mostly by music educator, Dave, Ruffner,
including swing, Mardi Gras, West Coast Swing and hymns.
Swing Seven Jeff Barnhart
spends his time playing piano all over the country, and brought back
the finest jazz musicians he could find. Never a dull moment with
Jeff on piano, Noel Kaletsky reeds, Bob Leary guitar, Jim Fryer
trombone, Ed Polcer cornet, Frank Tate string bass, and the Whirling
Dervish, Dan Coots, on drums.
Blue Lights
is of the top Jug
Bands in the area, and a favorite with this crowd, Washboard Slim and the Blue
Lights perform music by the Memphis Jug Band, Cannon's Jug Stompers
and other traditional jug bands. They play Blues, Early Jazz, Jug
Band, and their own "Jugabilly."
Bill Logozzo's Triple Play had the
60's crowd gyrating. They may be grandparents now, but they've
still got it. |
| The
Green Room: the musicians all agreed that this was one of the finest
Hospitality Lounges they've ever experienced; pleasant atmosphere,
gracious staff, and a variety and abundance of good hot food,
with enough Eggplant Parmesan to satisfy Brian Casserly, and Egg
Salad Sandwiches for Craig Ball - he says he had 15 of them! |
| Ed and Sharon,
who have been going to Traditional Jazz Festivals since the
beginning,
didn't have far to travel - they actually live in Wallingford. |
Ed Ohr and Sharon Cioffi |
| Finale - by Ed Orr
It all
came to a close on Sunday
afternoon after what appeared to be an immensely successful
transition to the Mountain Ridge Resort in Wallingford. The
finale was hosted by the always effervescent Jeff Barnhart who
performed the Maple Leaf Rag following a recitation of
applicable lyrics for the piece by Igor Glenn. That's it - it was over. Fred Vigorito of the
Galvanized Jazz Band said it for all of us: Thank you, Fred
Ulbrich Jr. of Mountain Ridge, and Ray Ross, Festival Director.
You've hit a Home Run! We had a full house - Mountain
Ridge was a great venue! We hope to see you next year on July
30 and 31 and August 1.
Thoughts from an Avid Listener, from Lyrica....,
from Holly....
The 2010 Great CT Jazz
Festival will be July 30 - August 1 at the
Sheraton Four Points Hotel, located at
275 Research Parkway
in Meriden, just a few miles north of Mountain Ridge.
There will be several indoor and outdoor venues.
Full weekend passes are now available;
call 1-800-468-3836 (1-800-Hot Event) to get yours now!
To Sponsor a band next year, see
http://greatctjazz.org/Sponsor.html
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| By Marce,
Updated February 27, 22010
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