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 Monday, August 6, 2007 11:27 AM CDT |
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Lineup never falters at Narragansett Bay
NEWPORT, R.I. -- Just as the essence of jazz is one of contrasts, the annual Newport Jazz Festival held every August is made up of working- and middle-class music lovers gathered in the heart of one of America's wealthiest playgrounds. The festival has been the Mecca for lovers of that form of music since 1954. For a time, the festival and its host city became uncomfortable with each other, and it was moved to New York City in 1971. It returned to Newport 10 years later while also keeping its location in New York. The Japan Victor Co., a Japanese subsidiary of an American company, helped revive the festival and put its stamp on the event's official name. It's now called the JVC Jazz Festival in Newport. To jazz purists, there is no confusion about locations. The true festival is by Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay where jazz of every genre can be heard on three stages for two weekend days. A third day kicks off the festival with evening entertainment at The Casino, normally a lawn tennis club for Ocean Avenue mansion residents who have never worried about paying their electric bills. This year's Friday opening offers a celebration of the 50-year old historic recording, "Ella Fitzgerald & Billie Holliday at Newport." It features the present day Count Bassie Orchestra and premier jazz vocalist Diane Reeves and her band. The next day, more than 7,000 jazz lovers move to Fort Adams for two days. This year, the line-up again includes the Dave Brubeck Quartet and a number of other jazz notables. (For more information, go to www.festivalproductions.net.) The head count may not be accurate because the shoreline is filled with boaters eavesdropping on what is going on at the fort. While the festival has its roots in early 20th century music, the setting dates to the mid-19th century. Following the War of 1812, a series of coastal defenses were constructed to fend off a new European attack on America that never came. Fort Adams was decommissioned just before the festival began. The late Dwight Eisenhower loved the area so much, he made it one of his get-away homes, which you can tour when not listening to music. The best jazz performers in America also have loved the place. They've taken the stage in front of the fort and its two nearby side stages to offer continuing entertainment. They pause only long enough for listeners to try some of the tasty dishes that include everything from ribs to crab or to shop at the ubiquitous souvenir stands. At last year's festival, a decidedly political T-shirt worn by one of our traveling companions, Cliff Arnold of Tonica, was not bought in Newport much to the disappointment of many festival goers, who wanted to purchase one like it. But it did give us a quick survey of the crowd's politics. The Democratic shirt brought high fives from many of those who asked about it and a bemused tolerance from a few others. Ticket prices for the weekend would not leave out any class. We spent $230 each for reserved seats for the full weekend. Unreserved lawn seating costs slightly less. The line-up of jazz greats is worth it. Legendry great Miles Davis came here soon after the festival was founded to revive a faltering career than never again bogged down. The same thing happened a year later for Duke Ellington. The roster of past performers is like a jazz hall of fame, with people like Holiday, Bill Evans, Ahman Jamal and Archie Sweep once taking their bows on Naragansut Bay. On our visit last year Brubeck was one of the biggest draws. "If I hadn't caught any of the acts, hearing Brubeck's "Take Five" would have made it all worthwhile," said Steve Gomes of Streator, another traveling companion. If you goWhat: The Newport Jazz Festival When: Aug. 10-12. Cost: Friday, $30-$85. Total for both Saturday and Sunday, $65 for unreserved lawn seating, $75 for reserved seating, for each day. Includes access to all three stage areas. For more information: Visit www.festivalproductions.net or call (401) 847-3700. To order tickets by mail: Send a check or money order for the total ticket cost plus a $4 handling charge per order to JVC Jazz Festival, P.O. Box 605, Newport, RI 02840. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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