Monterey Jazz Festival - Sept. 15-17

[Peterdubya]

Arena line up:

Kurt Elling with special guests Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - PREMIERING "RED MAN-BLACK MAN"
Yellowjackets with special guest Robben Ford
and others - CELEBRATING THEIR 25TH ANNIVERARY
Richard Bona - BONATOLOGY IS BACK
Bonnie Raitt - MJF DEBUT!
Keb' Mo' - CONTEMPORARY BLUES GIANT
McCollough Sons of Thunder - SHOUT GOSPEL FROM THE HEART OF HARLEM
McCoy Tyner Trio with special guests Bobby Hutcherson & Roy Hargrove
Dianne Reeves 2006 GRAMMY AWARD WINNER
Charles Lloyd Quartet- 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF "FOREST FLOWER"
Chris Botti THE NEW COOL
Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with artist-in-residence Kurt Elling
Winning Big Band from the Next Generation Festival
Oscar Peterson - FIRST MJF VISIT SINCE 1990
Dave Brubeck Quartet and special guests - PREMIERING MJF COMMISSIONED "CANNERY ROW SUITE"

Grounds:

NEW GROOVES
Roy Hargrove & RH Factor
Uri Caine & Bedrock
Richard Bona
Robert Glasper Trio
Eldar
Sasha Dobson featuring Richard Julian & Jesse Harris
Taylor Eigsti Quartet
Babatunde Lea
Kurt Elling Quartet
Yellowjackets
Tierney Sutton
Hiromi
Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Hieroglyphics featuring Abdoulaye Diabate
Lionel Loueke
Robben Ford Group
Duke Robillard Band featuring Hubert Sumlin
Jeff Hamilton Trio
McCollough Sons of Thunder
John Worley & Worlview
Trio Paradiso
The Fins
Robert Lowery & Virgil Thrasher
Roy Hargrove Quintet
Hank Jones Trio featuring Roberta Gambarini
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio
Ben Monder Trio
Aaron Goldberg Trio
Baby Loves Jazz
Christine Tobin
Sadza

The Country's Best High School & College Jazz Groups
Starbuck's Coffee House Gallery
Special Exhibit curated by the National Steinbeck Center "John Steinbeck & Cannery Row"

Conversations
Kurt Elling "Jazz & the Creative Muse"
A Roundtable Discussion "John Steinbeck & Cannery Row"
Dan Ouellette hosts his annual Downbeat "Blindfold Test"

[Valerie]

thanks, peter. looks pretty good. hope to see you there but before that at playboy!

xoxo

valerie

[Peterdubya]

see you at BOTH.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Valerie

thanks, peter. looks pretty good.

It does? It looks max 20% good to me.

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Pete C

It does? It looks max 20% good to me.

"pretty good" to me is definitely more than 20%, more like 40%!

[Pete C]

Don't miss McCollough Sons of Thunder; they're a blast. I'm going to see them in a gospel program at City College this weekend.

[Lois Gilbert]

Monterey Jazz Festival Grounds Entertainment Features Exciting Array of Traditional, Blues, Gospel, Vocal, Future, World, Contemporary Jazz and More for 3-Day Jazz Party,
September 15-17, 2006


New Grooves on Friday, Family Day on Sunday, Plus Weekend-Long Exhibitions, Conversations with Artists, Panel Discussions, Clinics, Food, Festivities and Nonstop Jazz Entertainment



2006 Grounds Tickets Selling at Record Pace







August 4, 2006; Monterey, California; For the 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon, Grounds Weekend Passes offer a wealth of sparkling musical gems and riches for families and fans of all ages. Grounds tickets are now available, but are selling at a record pace. Fans are strongly urged to buy tickets now to avoid disappointment and increased ticket prices on day of show. Whether you’re looking for jazz chanteuses, cutting-edge future jazz, hard-driving big bands, six-cylinder blues artists, world and contemporary fusion, funky soul-jazz or classic jazz combos—or just a great weekend cultural experience, surrounded by music and family fun--the 2006 Monterey Jazz Festival Grounds artists deliver a wide and far-reaching slice of the jazz world, and beyond.



Many of the Lyons Stage headlining artists are appearing in Grounds venues, including world-fusion bassist Richard Bona, sonic groundbreaker and trumpeter Roy Hargrove, contemporary jazz fusion masters the Yellowjackets, MJF’s Artist-in-Residence extraordinaire, vocalist Kurt Elling, the hard-driving 14-piece brass band McCollough Sons of Thunder, and blues guitar master Robben Ford. In addition, members of Dave Brubeck’s expanded ensemble performing the “Cannery Row Suite” will be performing on the Grounds and include Chris Brubeck’s own group, Triple Play and vocalist Roberta Gambarini, who will be featured with the legendary 88-year old pianist, Hank Jones. Swinging drummer Jeff Hamilton, who co-leads the Clayton-Hamilton Big Band, will also perform on the Grounds with his trio.



Tickets are now on sale from the Ticket Office (925-275-9255) and online at www.montereyjazzfestival.org. Grounds Tickets are priced at $30 for Friday, $40 for Saturday or Sunday and $95 for all three days. Tickets bought at the door will increase by $5 per ticket during the Festival. Grounds Tickets include daily access to all Grounds concerts, events and activities on 6 stages spread throughout the Monterey Fairgrounds, plus simulcasts of all Arena concerts in The Jazz Theater, The Bose Performance at Home Pavilion and the Festival's Champagne Bar, Klub Korbel.



Friday night's entertainment will highlight "New Grooves" across the Festival Fairgrounds. Dizzy's Den will reverberate with the soulful electronic-infused hard grooves of Roy Hargrove & RH Factor, as well as Uri Caine & Bedrock, combining a cutting-edge mix of old-style fusion on both Fender Rhodes and laptop computers.



Elsewhere on the Fairgrounds, Friday Grounds concertgoers can enjoy the electric bass and world-music flavored jazz of Richard Bona, the stunning young acoustic piano masters Robert Glasper, Eldar and Taylor Eigsti, each who have made quite an impression in the musical world in the last year, as well as the 2006 Clifford Brown-Stan Getz Fellows, presented by IAJE.



Vocalist Sasha Dobson, a Santa Cruz native, returns to the Monterey Bay area to perform her original take on Brazilian groove, pop and jazz. Percussionist Babatunde Lea completes the Friday night Grounds program with his spiritually infused African and Afro-Cuban twist on modern jazz.



Saturday's Grounds entertainment will also include an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, top-shelf instrumental artists and award-winning vocal talent. Saturday Grounds vocalists include the Kurt Elling Quartet, Tierney Sutton, contemporary jazz favorites the Yellowjackets celebrating their 25th anniversary, the piano sensation Hiromi, cutting edge multi-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Hieroglyphics featuring Abdoulaye Diabate, world-fusion guitarist Lionel Loueke, the lightning-struck blues of the Robben Ford Group, the Duke Robillard Band featuring Hubert Sumlin, and The Fins. Classic, modern and international jazz fans will be able to hear the swinging drummer Jeff Hamilton and his trio, the Afro-Cuban sounds of John Worley & Worlview, the Rodger Fox Big Band from New Zealand, the dramatic tango and samba of Trio Paradiso, the Russian Open World Octet, the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet and the University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble "1" as well as the traditional down-home blues of Robert Lowery & Virgil Thrasher, the joyful noise of the McCollough Sons of Thunder and the young ebullience of the 2006 Clifford Brown-Stan Getz Fellows in a clinic for musicians of all ages.



Sunday marks “Family Day” at the Monterey Jazz Festival, with activities and more for the whole family to enjoy, sponsored by Macy's West. Patrons will be treated to a variety of music perfect for families and fans of all ages—including Baby Loves Jazz, an entertaining, funky and fun group featuring singer Sharon Jones, slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein, and pianist Aaron Goldberg, interpreting favorite classic children’s songs. Family activities on the Grounds also include Sunday’s Percussion Playshop for kids of all ages, and a “Jazzy Jumper” for the young ones, providing terrific entertainment for families while enjoying the festivities of the Fairgrounds’ grassy picnic areas, international food, shopping, and more.



Highlighting up-and-coming youth in jazz, Family Day Grounds Artists will feature the winners from the Festival's 36th annual MJF National High School Jazz Competition - part of the Next Generation Festival - including the Folsom High School Vocal Jazz Choir “A”, the Lexington High School Jazz Ensemble, the Davis Senior High School Big Band, the Berkeley High School Sextet, the Berklee-Monterey Jazz Quartet and IAJE’s Clifford Brown-Stan Getz All-Stars.



Other artists for Sunday’s line-up offers hard-bop from the Roy Hargrove Quintet, the elegant piano of the Hank Jones Trio featuring vocalist Roberta Gambarini, and the original singer-songwriter stylings from vocalist Christine Tobin. Modern jazz can be heard from the trios of guitarist Ben Monder and pianist Aaron Goldberg, as well as an ultra-funky “Hammond B3 Blowout” from organists Dr. Lonnie Smith and his trio and the David K. Mathews Quartet.



Also included in the weekend are 4 freewheeling discussions on topics in jazz, and include Saturday afternoon’s Blindfold Test with the Yellowjackets, presented by DownBeat and a conversation with Kurt Elling about “Jazz & the Creative Muse”, hosted by Andrew Gilbert. Sunday’s conversations include the panel discussion

“Whatz Jazz & Whatz Not”, presented by the Jazz Journalists Association and hosted by Dan Ouellette, and features KCSM’s Alisa Clancy and renowned jazz critics Paul DeBarros, Willard Jenkins and Scott Yanow. Also on Sunday is “John Steinbeck & Cannery Row”, moderated by Susan Shillinglaw, the director of the Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University and includes Steinbeck and Monterey historians and scholars Herb Behrens, Katie Rodger, Tim Thomas, and Frank Wright. A special exhibit, curated by the National Steinbeck Center, will also be on display throughout the weekend at the Starbucks Coffeehouse Gallery.



Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early, as Grounds Weekend Passes are selling faster than anticipated.



For tickets, please call the Ticket Office (925-275-9255) and for a detailed schedule of times, artist appearances and locations, please visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

[Mike Schwartz]

The weekly "Straight No Chaser" Broadcast each Sunday on 90.5FM KSJS San Jose, CA and www.ksjs.org 6-10AM Pacific/9AM-1PM Eastern times.

The Artist Feature utilizes the final hour of the program devoted to the guest 9-10AM Pacific/12-1PM Eastern.

Music Director Tim Jackson joins me on the weekly program 09/10 for a preview, including music from past & present MJF's participating performers.

[Valerie]

i lost my wonderful room at the travelodge across from the fairgrounds and am desperately looking for someone who would like to share their room in monterey for the weekend. anyone have any info? thanks in advance.

[Peterdubya]

Roll Call.

Peter Williams and wife

There.

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Peterdubya

Roll Call.

Peter Williams and Chelsea Sammel
There.

Sunday

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Peterdubya

Roll Call.

Peter Williams and Chelsea Sammel
There.

the entire weekend. i'll be looking for peter, chelsea and mike, for sure!

xoxo

[Mike Schwartz]

Sunday only on my ground pass:

[@Starbucks Stage]Aaron Goldberg Trio/Reuben Rogers,b/Eric Harland, dr
Totally off the hook!! Powerful, inspired, work as a unit and individually....if I weren't so tired I'd bounce up to Yoshi's and see them again.

[@Garden] "Triple Play" Very entertaining band led by bassist/pianist/trombonist Chris Brubeck, and acoustic guitarist, -------? Cohen, and a vocalist/very fine harmonica player. They did all kinds of blues and stuff that sounded like western swing and some other misc. stuff including a lot of fun.

(the first 2 tunes @ garden from a first timer....a redheaded Irish gal singing that wasn't making it for me with a just OK band....found it... Christine Tobin Quartet)

[@Dizzy's Den] David K. Matthews Band [B3] unpretentious blowing by an all Bay Area based band of really talented cats:
Mel Martin/saxes & flute
Barry Finnerty/guitar
Akira Tana/drums

[@Starbucks]Ben Monder Trio/guitar, Ted Poor/drums, Chris Lightcap/b
Loved this trio in January at the Jazz Standard in NYC...nothing short of fantastic again.

[@Dizzy's] Dr. Lonnie Smith w/Peter Bernstein/g, Allison Miller, d
The Doctor of organ surgery injected us all with a heavy dose of Vitamin B3!! Incredibly fun all the way around, all played great as one would expect. Allison Miller as good as one could possibly be in this type of setting..........Bernstein always solid as a rock

I saw the Yellowjackets @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz on Thursday nite....Band played great, and *rehearsed* a tune they were going to do with Elling & Hargrove at MJF Friday.

Bumped into David towards the end of my day, and received a wonderful mazel tov hug from Valerie, who I spoke to this morning who was on the run, but said she didn't have a good weekend..............She had a GREAT weekend.

I look forward to hearing more about it

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

Bumped into David towards the end of my day, and received a wonderful mazel tov hug from Valerie, who I spoke to this morning who was on the run, but said she didn't have a good weekend..............She had a GREAT weekend.

I look forward to hearing more about it

unfortunately i'm too busy at work today to post about my weekend but hopefully will be able to get to it tomorrow. and i enjoyed the hug too, big bro', but wish i had seen more of you. i didn't see david g. at all! saw peter and his wife briefly just once on the run. but to say i had a great time at monterey is a gross understatement. aside from the incredible music, i had some very exciting contact with some "high-profile" folks there (beside mike and peter!!). i'll be back here asap.

[Peterdubya]

I had a great weekend and heard a bunch of good stuff.....
Uri Caine was a highpoint.
no time.

[Valerie]

Monterey, 2006

This is definitely going to be a challenge to get a thumbnail sketch of this jam-packed weekend down to a reasonable length. Well, here goes:

Friday night:

Richard Bona: I first became familiar with this man’s talent when he was with the Zawinul Syndicate. He was fabulous in those days but has certainly blossomed since he went solo. There are few performers who I can listen to that sing in a language(s) that I don’t understand but it doesn’t seem to really matter with this charmer. I was taking some pictures of him and Babatunde Lea from the sidelines while they were signing at Tower Records and Richard made my week by pointing at me, smiling and saying, "I remember you!" It also amazed me and convinced me thaqt he must have a photographic mind!

I also heard some of Babatunde Lea’s set which wasn’t exactly my "cup of tea" but very good regardless. He seems like such a sweet man as I’ve met him several times and he’s always gracious and warm. It may help that we have a mutual friend. This time I met his wife for the first time and she seems like a very special woman - activist, humanitarian, painter.

Kurt Elling with the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra. I always love and appreciate this band but this night was even more special with Elling and the special commissioned debut piece of "Red Man - Black Man." Aside from telling a fascinating story accompanied by incredible original words and music, and with the talent of Elling combined with some amount of theatricality, it was a powerful and very moving piece. Hope they get to do it many more times at different venues.

Saturday afternoon;

Saw just a little of Keb Mo’ who is always good but I usually can’t sit through an entire set of his.

Bonnie Raitt is a consummate performer. I think this might have been my first time seeing her perform live. I used to see her sometimes in the old days at Ike & Tina’s recording studio. The crowd loved her and for good reason.

Conversation with Kurt Elling and Laurence Hobgood, "Jazz & Creative Collaboration" hosted by Andrews Gilbert. This was a fascinating "interview" although I wished that Mr. Gilbert had talked a little less as time was too short as it was for these creative giants to share their thoughts. They’re certainly a true collaborative team as they tell it, and have been for quite a few years. Really interesting to hear them share their personal/work experiences with each other.

Saturday night:

Actually didn’t hear very much of Charles Lloyd as he’s usually not my "cup of tea" either but I’ve heard him in recent years a couple of times. I later talked with him and he’s always very gracious. My ex-husband knew him so we talked about him a bit.

Dianne Reeves is always wonderful to me, some times just more so than others. She was good this night but not at her best. She had just flown in from London which might have had something to do with it. But, Dianne not at her best is far better than most singers I can think of! I got to hang with her a bit earlier in the day as we have mutual friends. She’s an amazing artist to me and I jump at every opportunity to hear her.

McCoy Tyner with Hargrove and Hutcherson. I would walk a mile to hear McCoy any day/night of the week. I’m happy to say that he looked better than he had in June and sounded really good. The entire band was wonderful although Roy looked so completely out of it except when he played. Strange cat is he. Charnett and Eric were their usual wonderful selves although they might have been even better than usual this night.

Kurt Elling with his Quartet were "off the hook". They’ve been working a lot together and you can easily tell. I am actually enjoying him much more lately than I used to as he’s really mellowed quite a bit and turned down a lot of the theatrics and dramatic affects.

Unfortunately I missed Lionel Loueke and his Trio. Liked what I heard of him when he played with Herbie at the Hollywood Bowl recently.

Sunday afternoon:

Heard some of Elling with the MJF Next Generation Orchestra and they were wonderful.

I never would have sat through even half of Chris Botti’s set except for Billy Childs and Billy Kilson. I wouldn’t miss either of them if I could help it. I’ve actually been missing Kilson a lot since his days with Dave Holland. It was a real treat to see and hear him especially when he took an extended, mind-boggling solo towards the end of the set. To tell the truth, I don’t know how the Billys can play with Botti night after night but it’s probably a good-paying gig! Ugh!

Jazz Journalists Panel, "Whatz Jazz and Whatz Not" hosted by Dan Ouelette. This was wonderful as the discussion was fueled by a sort of "blindfold test". Panelists were very interesting and articulate, including our very own Scott Yanow and another favorite of mine, Willard Jenkins. I suggested to Dan that he try to continue this panel at IAJE but it’s probably too late to submit it for 2007. Got to hang a bit with Orrin Keepnews and his wife after this panel. Listening to Orrin is always an enlightening experience! LOL!

Saw the 2-hour documentary film on "Jazz on the West Coast: The Lighthouse" which was very enjoyable, especially since I spent as much time as I could during the ‘70s at that club. I have wonderful memories of hearing folks like Lee Morgan and Cannonball there, as well as many other legends of the day.

Sunday night:

The Dave Brubeck Quartet was quite amazing. I’ve been seeing Dave for approx. 50 years and although I’m not a huge fan of his music, I love him to death. He’s just the sweetest, dearest man with the most beautiful family. I am overjoyed that this huge undertaking of his premiere of the "Cannery Row Suite" was so successful. It was an impressive debut especially since they had so little rehearsal time. Elling and Gambarini were wonderful as was the Chris Brubeck Group and the kids from the local colleges who all participated in the modern opera, complete with a slide show of Steinbeck stuff.

I couldn’t be more disappointed in missing the Roy Hargrove Quintet but just couldn’t get there. I completely forgot that my old friends, Ronnie Mathews and Dwayne Burno were playing with Roy. What a drag! You just can’t do it all at Monterey!

The Hank Jones Trio with Roberta Gambarini were wonderful. I enjoyed them immensely. Another 88-year old was in the audience, namely Gerald Wilson! After the abbreviated set at Dizzy’s Den, they whisked Hank over to the Arena stage as a surprise guest joining Oscar. Brubeck was supposed to join them on the third piano but wasn’t up to it so Clint sat in for a couple of tinkering minutes and then a young man from the Jazz Institute took over. Oscar’s set previously was painful to me as he is so handicapped and just obviously not well. He barely used his left hand throughout his set. Having Hank Jones join him just pointed it up to me although Oscar does amazing stuff with his right hand and is so courageous that it is uplifting too to witness it. But I wished they hadn’t done it. Oscar is in no condition for any "piano duels" is my feeling!
I had an opportunity to "contribute" to the set as Hank wasn’t dressed warmly enough for the outdoor venue even for his brief appearance time so I offered him the cashmere scarf I was wearing and it looked so fabulous on him and hopefully helped to keep this special man warm!

A bonus of the weekend for me was meeting and talking with Julian Bond who was there on Sat. and Sun. Apparently he was speaking at a church close by. We have a mutual friend so I got my nerve up and approached him. Needless to say, he was very warm and cordial. Handsome too!

On top of the incredible music I experienced over the weekend, I had some very special times with friends, both new and old. And I ended up with Oscar Peterson’s All-Access Pass as a souvenir! How about that? If you ever see it on E-bay, you’ll know I’m extremely hard up for cash!! Only kidding, of course! I also managed to pack away some catfish, coconut shrimp, ribs, bean pie, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, etc., etc.!!

And, last but not least, a friend and I rode around Carmel, Monterey and Pacific Grove on Sunday in yet another day of absolutely glorious weather. The ocean color looked more like the Caribbean than the Pacific! We even saw deer grazing on someone’s front lawn! The air and the sights were magical!

I’ve left out lots but maybe I’ll come back and edit a bit. Given the caliber of the weekend music, I’m just wondering how the heck they’re going to top it for the 50th anniversary program!!

[jazzy mary]

Wow! Val. Thanks for posting all of that. Sounds like a wonderful time. I really wish I could have been there. I am going to go sometime, I swear!

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

Wow! Val. Thanks for posting all of that. Sounds like a wonderful time. I really wish I could have been there. I am going to go sometime, I swear!

well, next year for the big anniversary would be a good time!!

[Peterdubya]

Had a great weekend.

Loved Uri Caine on Friday, Elling with the Yellowjackets was really good, enjoyed him with CHJO too. Red Man Black Man was really nice.

Loved Sons of Thunder, Keb and Bonnie. Yellowjackets Blindfold test was fun.

Sat night, Jeff Hamilton Trio were swingin' like mad, Kurt and his group were on fire, Lionel Loueke and his trio were good too. Heard 3 minutes of Diane Reeves, liked it, but it was a short hearing or me. Heard most of McCoy with Bobby and Roy et al.

Sunday heard Roy's quintet, some of the Brubeck piece, a little of Oscar, a litle of Dr Lonnie.... a little of a lot of stuff. Monterey always leaves me shaking my head wondering how I missed something, but wow, a lot of music and a great time.

Valerie saved my life with eye drops.
I somehow missed David Gitin, Mike S, and more...

[hornplayer]

Valerie, one of these days I am going to come out and "do" this festival with you!

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by hornplayer

Valerie, one of these days I am going to come out and "do" this festival with you!

next year should be the year, my dear.

thought about you as i was sort of "hanging" with a certain manager of the "stars"!!

you must check out the boston festival that is happening later this month. the lineup is pretty darn good!

[Peterdubya]

I forgot about Bona, heard some of the mainstage set and the Nightclub set.... I don't know why, he didn't 'get' me.... Heard some of Taylor Eigsti too, itt sounded really good.

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Peterdubya

I forgot about Bona, heard some of the mainstage set and the Nightclub set.... I don't know why, he didn't 'get' me.

he seems to appeal much more to the ladies, i think!

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by David Gitin

Thanks, Valerie!

well, my dear david, i didn't say exclusively to the ladies!! you just happen to have the same excellent taste as i have concerning mr. bona. (if the truth be known, i was guilty of making a somewhat x-rated comment to one of my girlfriends after seeing him again that evening. something like "i have a boner for bona"!!!

i'm certain i'm not the first or last to come up with that remark!! LOL!

p.s. i'm really sorry i didn't get to see you this year!

[Valerie]

Here's a funny P.S. to my report that I managed to forget when posting:

During Roberta Gambarini's set Sunday evening, I was using the bathroom backstage at Dizzy's Den. It is actually a men's room but is made "uni-sex" during the festival as it's the only one back there. So I was actually through using the facility and washing my hands in there when Willie Jones III walked in. Well, you can just imagine his face when he saw me!! Wished I had had my camera at the ready! He had thought he had mistakenly walked into the ladies room and was obviously quite taken aback, to say the least. Anyway, we had a good chuckle over it. I told him that he now should always remember me as the woman he met in the men's room!

[Ron Thorne]

[quote=Valerie]
. . . i was guilty of making a somewhat x-rated comment to one of my girlfriends after seeing him again that evening. something like "i have a boner for bona"!!!

quote]

My Dear Valerie-

May I quote you on that?

Oh, I guess I already have, huh?


ps:I sent you an e-mail a few minutes ago.

Hope to see you soon.

[Mike Schwartz]

I read this elsewhere [can't remember where] and was reminded by a friend who I saw this morning who brought me a really nice ball cap and the prograqm from the fest not realizing I caught part of it. He and his wife took in the entire weekend.

Anyway, at the "Is it or isn't it jazz?" panel my friend tells me they played music for a while and faded, rather than playing entire pieces, followed by the participants in discussion. Eventually the moderator plays from, who else, *G* and all the entire panel asks for an immediate fade. The host resists and lets the offering play on; then asks the audience if he should shut it off followed by every hand being raised to cease!!

At some point someone comes on mic and says " Kenny G is to jazz what Dr. Seuss is to medicine."

WHAT A GREAT LINE!!

[Mike Schwartz]

49th Monterey Jazz Festival Presented By Verizon

Breaks Attendance Records



43,000 Fans Attend Festival, September 15-17



Ticket Sales Up By 18% From 2005;

6% Increase From All-Time Record Set In 2002

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

49th Monterey Jazz Festival Presented By Verizon

Breaks Attendance Records



43,000 Fans Attend Festival, September 15-17



Ticket Sales Up By 18% From 2005;

6% Increase From All-Time Record Set In 2002

can you just imagine what it's going to be like next year?!?

[clinthopson]

Valerie,

Lovely report. I apologize for not catching it before. I'm happy you reminded me last night.

Obviously we are all in agreement (at least you, Ron and me) about Botti's attempt to become the KennyG of the trumpet.

Was that beautiful scarf you were wearing last night the same one you loaned Hank?

Come on down for dinner, lady. I'll pin you down after our sea adventure.