Finale - led by Jeff Barnhart
at The 22nd Annual Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz
Festival
July 25-27, 2008
Page 1 of 5
| The Midiri
Brothers cleared the stage for the last event of the festival.
Of the four venues, this was the only tent left.
Some people and musicians left for home, after a fantastic weekend of
great Traditional/Dixieland Jazz; plus the rains had started.
Pouring rain. But with the unpredictable Jeff Barnhart leading
the Finale, most people ran to Tent #1, just to see what
would happen. Folks already in the tent moved in and made
room for the other diehards. (Diehard: person who can never get
enough of this music.) |
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Jeff started with five talented members of Art Hovey's
Sugarfoot Jazz Band playing Watermelon Man, with help from Blue
Street's Jason Jurcak, tuba and Jeff on piano.
CJ Tomasevich tumpet, Emma Sayles trombone, Sky Hagner on alto sax, Julie Blum on soprano sax, Molly Salyes drums. These young Trad Jazz aficionados are up-and-coming professional musicians. Marvelous. Molly conquered the crowd with a fabulous drum solo, and the band earned a standing ovation! All five participated in the rest of the Finale, trading fours with the big guys. |
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Torrential downpour. Mic's died - we've been there before,
and the sound crew fixed them quickly. Festival Director
Ray Ross took the mic, thanked everyone for coming to TGCTJF, and
invited folks to also attend the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival next
year in Essex
Connecticut, to help Our Kind Of Music continue.
He presented a Plaque to Bob Johnson for hosting
this festival for many years, whereupon Johnson pledged $1000
for Igor's Jazz Cowboys for next year's festival, to be held at the
MountainRidge
in Wallingford, Connecticut July 31-August 2. Advance tickets are
already on sale. |
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Jeff said he would "start with the lowest common
denominator and work up" and called up the trombones. Danny Coots
backed them on drums, Ted Desplantes piano, Art Hovey tuba, and Pat Mercuri
guitar. |
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Next he invited what he called "The Grandstanders",
the reeds - clarinets & saxes, for a solid, Bill Bailey, with great
ensemble and even greater solos. Jeff
traded twos with the reeds, and was driven to holler "Keep the
girl! Wow!!"
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continued....
TGCTJF 2009 will be held July 31-August 2 at the
MountainRidge,
Tickets: 1- 800 HOTEVENT
Web Site: www.greatctjazz.org
Questions:
rross92239@sbcglobal.net
Give it a boost, place a Remembrance in the
festival Program!
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| By Marce, Updated
November 16, 2008 |
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