With an incandescent blend of flawless weather, a stellar line-up full of impassioned performances, an inspired blend of vendors and an overflow crowd, the
11th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival proved to be an irresitible weekend of escape from a world seemingly gone mad.
Why does
JazzTimes magazine refer to Litchfield as "among the best of the best"? Consider the hypnotizing performance of John Scofield. longtime bass compadre Steve Swallow and the recent infusion of Bill Stewart's drumming. After reworking "How Deep is the Ocean," the trio segued into an inspired "Green Tea" from the hallmark
A Go Go album which showcased some simmering guitar intensity. The follow-up? An eclectically countrified "Down Deep" which the trio first "practiced for five minutes a few months ago" and which nonetheless wound up enrapturing the crowd under the main tent. The funky "New Orleans tune", recently rechristened "Heckuva Job" by Stewart was followed up by a wistful "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans."
Indeed it was hard to forget the Big Easy as Dr. John brought his high energy, crowd-pleasing musical antics to the tent Sunday night with his backing band, the Lower 911. "Sweet Home New Orleans," a post-Katrina embrace, electified the crowd with the vow to return "twice as strong." Chestnuts such as "Right Place, Wrong Time" were woven into a setlist that included a few tracks from the good doctor's recent homage to Johnny Mercer,
Mercernary and N'Awlins was always present in selections such as "When the Saints Go Marching In."
Matching Dr. John in intensity was the Brazillian jazz combo Trio De Paz, driven by the passion of Romero Lubambo's infectious guitar, which harkened back to his idol, Baden Powell.
Another highlight: the effusive piano of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, which opened the fest Friday night, followed up by the nontraditional choice of headline, Dionne Warwick. The under-appreciated Robert Glasper opened up the festivities Saturday with his hypnotizing piano backed by Vicente Archer on bass and Damion Reid's percussion.
Providence's Carol Sloane brought her hauntingly stylish vocals to the main tent later on Saturday and came back Sunday as guest vocalist with Peter Madsen, Paul Bollenback, Joris Teepe and Steve Johns to cover for James Moody, who became ill just before the weekend. Their improved set, though, was a high energy substitute and indeed featured Moody's "Last Train from Overbrook" as a thoughtful closing.
In a flawless weekend, musicians such as Eddie Palmieri, Lee Konitz, Dena DeRose and the rest of the stellar
lineup, including second set offerings by the Litchfield Jazz Camp provided an inspired respite from the real world in a family-friendly environment. The perfect storm indeed.