The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Student performances unite fans
GOSHEN — Litchfield Jazz Festival participants say the one thing they especially look forward to is the annual Litchfield Jazz Camp student performances.
They became so popular that festival organizers wrapped a marquee tent around them and arranged seating so guests can relax and enjoy these and more.
With two days’ worth of time slots available at the Second Stage, the festival is offering even more: Between mainstage shows, this site doubles as the Artist Talk Tent, a concept borrowed from the Detroit Jazz Festival, where festival organizers heard some fascinating backstories of jazz.
Luckily, Frank Alkyer, the publisher of a Litchfield foundingsponsor, Down Beat Magazine, is more than just great at his day job — he is a gifted interviewer.
This year Alkyer will be talking to selected festival stars, including drummer Dan Brubeck, about his mother and dad and their musical collaboration; to pianist Orrin Evans (and newest member of the renowned Bad Plus) about the late American soul-jazz organist, Trudy Pitts, to whom his set is dedicated; and to Canadian soprano sax and flute player, Jane Bunnett, and members of her all-female Cuban-born band, Maqueque, about their 2018 Grammy-nominated record and Cuba’s music scene.
The Second Stage Tent makes possible for the Festival to host two more Litchfield traditions — one old and one new. From early on, the festival has proudly hosted select artists from the area. Wellknown painter and installation artist Danielle Mailer is not only a long-time exhibitor, but the creator it and donor of the art that graces the festival’s official T-shirts. She’ll also autograph them for buyers.
The new tradition is the annual Jazz Brunch, which now kicks off the weekend with a party that is fast becoming a sort of reunion among regulars. The Jazz Brunch features excellent food by Ciesco Catering and private vintage wines from sponsor and maker of mouthpieces, reeds, and ligatures, Vandoren. All of this supports Litchfield Jazz scholarships.
The festival runs July 28-29 at the Goshen Fairgrounds. For tickets and information, visit lichfieldjazzfest.org.