It’s only February 21, but I know what the Beloved and I will be doing for the long weekend of September 18 to 21 this year, and where: we’ll be happily soaking up the hot jazz at the Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua, New York. As he has done for many years, Joe Boughton (the connoisseur of deserving but less-played music) has brought together a stunning collection of individualists who happen to be the best in their line, vocally and instrumentally, for a four-day bash.
“Stunning?” you say, with some incredulity?
How about Jon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart, Duke Heitger, Joe Wilder on trumpets; Dan Barrett and Bob Havens, trombones; Dan Block, Vince Giordano, Scott Robinson, Bobby Gordon, Bob Reitmeier, Chuck Wilson, Scott Hamilton, Bob Wilber, reeds; James Dapogny, Keith Ingham, John Sheridan, Rossano Sportiello, piano; Howard Alden, Marty Grosz, guiitar; Vince Giordano, Nicki Parrott, Frank Tate, bass; Arnie Kinsella, Pete Siers, John Von Ohlen, drums; Marty Grosz, Becky Kilgore, vocals.
Hot enough for you?
I’ll have more to say about Chautauqua in future postings, but for the moment, visit the Allegheny Jazz Society website — www.alleghenyjazz.com – to read my extended reviews of the 2004 and 2007 parties (and Keith Samuel’s wonderfully impressionistic take on another year). Music tickets are $300 a person, and they go fast! Don’t be left out.
For details about the Athenaeum, a delicious old-time hotel with a wide wooden porch overlooking Lake Chautauqua, call 800-821-1881. You can have the time of your life — hot jazz, CDs and sheet music for sale, the engaging company of others who know who you mean when you say “Billie” or “PeeWee,” along with a cornucopia of food and drink. Apryl Austin-Sievert is the Reservations Deity, and she has answers to every question.
3 responses so far ↓
The Beloved // February 21, 2008 at 9:33 PM
I can vouch for the fact that jazz lives when you’re around.
Laurie // February 22, 2008 at 3:02 AM
Michael,
You know I don’t like jazz, but I DO like the way you write. Kudos to you and to Beloved for getting you to share your skill with those outside academia.
Barbara // February 23, 2008 at 3:34 AM
And who would have thought this all started with a 4 year old’s obsession with Louie Armstrong?! I can still hear “I’ll be down to get you in a taxi, honey…”!