Friday, August 17, 2012

Newport Jazz Festival: Through My Lens, Saturday, August 4


Newport Jazz Festival, Saturday, August 4 at Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI 


During the first weekend in August, we made our way to the Newport Jazz Festival once again.  It was a hot weekend but unlike the previous weekend at the folk festival, there was no rain!  For your viewing pleasure a visual recap of the festival.  The complete photo collection can be seen HERE.

Fort Stage

Things kicked off on the main stage with John Ellis & Double-Wide.  More photos HERE.

John Ellis

Up next, Bill Frisell played John Lennon songs.  I spoke to a lot of people who were excited by and loved the set.  I personally prefer the edgier Lennon songs of which he didn't play.  More photos HERE.

Bill Frisell

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society were up next.  Their opening number reminded me of one of those songs you'd hear in an old school television crime show or in a James Bond movie.  More photos HERE.

Darcy James Argue

Vocalist Dianne Reeves and her band took the main stage next.  More photos HERE.

Dianne Reeves

Closing out the day was the Pat Metheny Unity Band.  More photos HERE.

Pat Metheny

Quad Stage

The Pedrito Martinez Group kicked things off in the Quad.  They had the early afternoon audience dancing. I was even tempted to do a little dancing myself but I didn't want to frighten anyone.  More photos HERE.

Pedrito Martinez

The Jack DeJohnette Group were up next.  DeJohnette who has been celebrating his 70th birthday, taking to stages and showing why he is regarded as a master.  He played two sets, I missed the performance he did with his All Stars who closed out the Quad stage for the day.  More photos HERE.

Jack DeJohnette

Then, the James Carter Organ Trio with Rodney Jones.  The moment I arrived at the stage, I got distracted by Carter's mint green outfit and as a result, the music never fully gained my attention, sorry.  That sounds a bit shallow, huh?  More photos HERE.

James Carter

The Bad Plus with Bill Frisell were next.  They paid tribute to drummer Paul Motian.  This was Frisell's second of three appearances of the weekend.  More photos HERE.

Reid Anderson of The Bad Plus

Harbor Stage

Kicking things off on the Harbor stage was the RIMEA Senior All-State Jazz Ensemble.  More photos HERE.

RIMEA Senior All-State Jazz Ensemble

Bassist Christian McBride brought his Inside Straight to the stage next.  More photos HERE.

Christian McBride

Up next, drummer Dafnis Prieto took the stage to lead his sextet.  More photos HERE.

Dafnis Prieto


My final trip to the Harbor stage was to catch a bit of the Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints.  More photos HERE.

Joe Lovano

The Audience

More photos HERE.
Couple dancing during the Pedrito Martinez Group set.
A young jazz fan.
Even her hair was purple.

Coming soon ... Day 3, also known as Sunday.