Having just gotten back from the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, I am reminded of the pleasures ahead of me this weekend at Easton’s Monty Alexander Jazz Festival. Newport is, at least in my mind, Versailles. It is beautifully framed and
has presented jazz’s royalty now for 57 years. But, as with any long running success, intimacy gives way to big crowds and large venues. And, jazz is best, after all, when presented in an intimate atmosphere. Easton’s Avalon Theater is just right.
Jazz Festivals have a personality. Festivals like the one at Newport spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to attract the headliners. Wynton Marsalis and Michael Feinstein opened this year’s festival in Newport. Other festivals are decidedly regional and some even reflect the more experimental side of jazz. The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, presented by Jazz on the Chesapeake, a program of Chesapeake Chamber Music, reflects both its artistic director’s preference for the joyous side of jazz and Easton’s intimate venue.
The Jazz Festival that begins this Friday will feature straight ahead jazz with melodic influences that, in the case of Monty Alexander, will blend the sounds of his Jamaican beginnings. And the Festival will necessarily and proudly present several of today’s rapidly emerging stars. Grace Kelly, Dominick Farinacci, Aaron Diehl and Jason Palmer are stars of today and especially tomorrow.
And the celebration will not stop there. Easton’s Festival will also salute Charlie Byrd who lived and played in Annapolis and DC and around the world. Nate Najar and Chuck Redd will lead the Salute.
Early ticket sales have been brisk and encouragingly The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival is beginning to be recognized far beyond the Chesapeake. Early orders of Festival passes came from New York. While reserved seats for Monty Alexander’s concert on Saturday night are sold out there are still good tickets available for his concert and both Friday’s emerging star night and Saturday afternoon’s Salute to Charlie Byrd.
Some might regard any comparison with Newport as audacious and I guess it is. Our Festival is 56 years younger; however, the intimate setting at the Avalon in historic Easton and the world class artists that will entertain us are not bad contrasts and comparisons.
Al Sikes is Chairman of the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival Committee
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