Jazz Festival 55

George Wein's CareFusion Jazz Festival 55: August 9 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

This past Sunday, I ventured out to Fort Adams State Park with my camera to take in George Wein's CareFusion Jazz Festival 55. This was the last day of the three day event and this is what I saw.

Joe Lovano was the first artist to play the main stage Sunday. He was joined by Esperanza Spalding who performed her own set the day before.

Then I popped over to check out The Rodriguez Brothers who were enjoyable.

I caught some of Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band's set. We all know I'm not a drum fan but I rather liked Blade's work. And found the band enjoyable.

I went back over to the main stage to see Michel Camilo.

Rudresh Mahanthappa and festival founder George Wein chatting in the media tent before they were each whisked off to their interviews. Mahanthappa played the opening set over on the Harbor stage earlier.

I then went around to catch a couple of songs of the solo piano set by Alfredo Rodriguez.

I moved on to check out some of Steve Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra. I wasn't expecting to even remotely like them but what I saw wasn't too bad.

It was then back over to the main stage to check out Roy Haynes who was joined by special guest Ron Carter.

I stuck to the main stage to see Dave Brubeck who seemed to be in really good spirits.

It was then off to another stage to see the James Carter Organ Trio. They were the highlight of the day for me.

I then went over to check out By Any Means. Drummer Rashied Ali was unable to perform as he wasn't well and couldn't make it. His brother Muhammad Ali filled in for him though.

After that was The Bad Plus with Wendy Lewis. They were a little to experimental sounding for me so I didn't stick around long enough to catch Lewis hit the stage.

Antonia Bennett did a short set before her father took the stage. She didn't inherit her father's entertainment gene. She was lacking in stage presence in my opinion. I found her rather boring to be honest.

Closing the festival was Tony Bennett. I'm not a Bennett fan and expected to completely hate his set. Well, much to my surprise, I didn't hate it. While I'm still no fan, I did find him entertaining.

Dave Brubeck joined Bennett onstage for one song, "That Old Black Magic." They both seemed to be enjoying themselves during the song.

All in all it wasn't a bad day. The sun refused to cooperate and it was a bit chilly out but I rather enjoyed myself.

www.jazzfestival55.com

The Black Crowes Set To Release New CD

The Black Crowes are scheduled to release a new CD Before The Frost... on September 1. The fan friendly band is also releasing an exclusive second record, ...Until The Freeze, via download code which will be included in Before The Frost... as a thank you to fans for two decades of continued support.

Both records were recorded over five nights in upstate NY. While they're both studio recordings they were recorded in front of a small audience of fans making them a part of the intimate studio experience.

Before The Frost... features eleven new and previously unreleased tracks including "I Ain't Hiding" which can be found HERE. ...Until The Freeze features eight originals and a cover of Stephen Stills "So Many Times."

If you're a vinyl fan, you can pick up the limited edition version of Before The Frost...Until The Freeze on September 1 too. I haven't seen the packaging for the vinyl but I'm sure it'll be fun. I still adore my Three Snakes singles box set and a few other unique packages I acquired over the years.

After being somewhat disappointed by Warpaint, I'm looking forward to this release based on "I Ain't Hiding." If the rest of the record sounds like this, I'll be a truly happy camper. I can't believe it's been nearly twenty years since I fell in love with Shake your Moneymaker. It seems so long ago since I had the Crowes on constant repeat ... so long ago that I used to travel around to see them play.

Speaking of seeing them play, they're on tour. The Black Crowes will be making a stop in NYC the day after their record release. They'll be at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park Wednesday, September 2.

Track Listing

Before The Frost…

• Good Morning Captain
• Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)
• Appaloosa
• A Train Still Makes A Lonely Sound
• I Ain't Hiding
• Kept My Soul
• What Is Home
• Houston Don’t Dream About Me
• Make Glad
• And The Band Played On
• Last Place That Love Lives

…Until The Freeze (Free Download Album Track Listing)

• Aimless Peacock
• Shady Grove
• Garden Gate
• Greenhorn
• Shine Along
• Roll Old Jeremiah
• Lady Of Avenue A
• So Many Times
• Fork In The River

www.blackcrowes.com
www.summerstage.org

Juliette Lewis Explores Terra Incognita

Juliette Lewis has a new record coming out. Terra Incognita is set to be released on September 1! The album is available for pre-order HERE. I for one can't wait to get my happy little hands on a copy. Lewis has hit the road and is on the bill with The Pretenders and Cat Power until the beginning of September then she'll hope across the pond for some European dates.

www.myspace.com/juliettelewis

Lights On In NYC & Brooklyn

San Diego band Lights On are making their NY debut in a big way. They'll be lighting up NY with four shows, two nights in Manhattan and two nights in Brooklyn. If you're hanging about the LES or across the bridge in BKLYN, check them out. You'll get to hear songs from their upcoming 5 song EP, Waiting For The Heart To Beat if you do.

On the LES, Lights On will be at Club NME at The Annex on Thursday, August 13 at 8PM and the following night at Pianos, Friday, August 14 at 8:30PM. In Brooklyn, they'll be at Union Hall on Saturday, August 15 at 8:30PM and Bruar Falls, Sunday, August 16 at 9PM.

Check out "John And Anne" from the upcoming record HERE.

www.myspace.com/lightsonband

Gigs To Check Out This Week ...

Greensboro, NC band Israel Darling are at Pianos on Tuesday, August 11 at 8PM and at Spike Hill in Brooklyn on Wednesday, August 12 at 11PM. They also just released their debut album Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands on August 4. Check out "Samson The Mason" from the album HERE.

www.myspace.com/israeldarling

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NY rockers Audio Fiction are going to be at Crash Mansion on Saturday, August 15 at 11PM. It'll cost ya $12. I saw them play back in March and they put on a good set!

www.audiofictionband.com
www.myspace.com/audiofictionband

* * *

Check out Connecticut rockers Talking To Walls Saturday, August 15 at 8PM. They'll be at Desmond's Tavern doing an acoustic set.

www.talkingtowalls.com
www.facebook.com/talkingtowalls
twitter.com/talkingtowalls

Talking To Walls Are Coming Back To NYC, 8/15

NYC area folks, do ya have plans for next Saturday night? No? Well, head on over to Desmond's Tavern and check out Talking To Walls, well just Brian & Nat from the band. They're doing a must see acoustic set. Drop by, enjoy the music and say hi.

Oh, and nice guys that they are, they've put together a 5 song acoustic EP and they're giving it away for free! Yes, I said free folks! We all like free stuff, right? Well, what are you waiting for? Download it, tell your friends and enjoy. You can grab it from their website HERE.

www.talkingtowalls.com
www.facebook.com/talkingtowalls
twitter.com/talkingtowalls
www.desmondstavern.com

Through The Window

George Wein's Folk Festival 50: August 1 & 2 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

These photos were taken from one of the fort windows behind the stage at George Wein's Folk Festival 50.
www.folkfestival50.com

Dala At Folk Festival 50

Dala @ George Wein's Folk Festival 50: August 2 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

Dala, Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine, held two distinctions this past weekend at George Wein's Folk Festival 50. The first, they were the only Canadian act on the bill. Two, while their set was on the small Waterside stage, they were the only act from another stage to be invited to do a song on the main stage. They played "Levi Blues" right before Arlo Guthrie took the stage and judging by the thunderous applause, the main stage audience enjoyed their performance.

The ladies displayed impeccable harmonies and unlike some of the artists performing over the weekend they engaged the audience with their banter. So many artists, not just at this festival but at shows in general just get up and play their songs and maybe say a word or two between songs. Dala gave a very down to Earth performance that made you feel as if they were playing in your living room and made you feel like they were talking directly to you. They also had an endless supply of infectious smiles. I'm sure anyone who saw them perform or met them ended up smiling too ... smiles are contagious, you know?

After their set, they manned the autograph table where I said a quick hello and took this photo.Some photos of their set ...

www.dalagirls.com
www.myspace.com/dalagirls
www.folkfestival50.com

Folk Festival 50 - Day 2

George Wein's Folk Festival 50: August 2 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

Rain had been forecasted for the weekend. The previous day was the perfect day to spend outside enjoying music. Sunday, while not as sunny and perfect still looked to be a good day to hang out at George Wein's Folk Festival 50.

I got to the park and the first act I caught was Canadian duo Dala. They were sunshine in human form brightening up the late morning with constant smiles.

After that, I went around to the second stage and caught a bit of Dave Rawlings who the day before had played with Gillian Welch. This time, their roles were reversed ... she was playing with him.

I then dashed over to catch some of Josh Ritter's set. He did an ok set but I thought he was a little too loud and rockin' for that time of day. Yikes! I'm getting old. Too loud and rockin'?! The audience didn't agree with me judging by the loud applause he received throughout his set.

After that I stuck around to catch the Campbell Brothers who put on a rousing set of "Sunday music." Personally, I thought they should have kicked the morning off on that stage instead of Ritter. What better way to kick off a Sunday morning than with some good old-fashioned uplifting music?

It was then time to head over to another stage and catch Guy Clark.

I then popped over to check out a bit of Joe Pug's set. I found him to be rather boring to be honest.

I then went around to check out Neko Case. I'd been hearing great things about her so I was looking forward to seeing what she was about live. I wasn't feeling her. Obviously, I'm missing something that others see/hear. The crowd loved her though.

I hopped over to another stage to catch the Del McCoury Band. The Midwestern country girl in me came out of hibernation. I found myself clapping, smiling and tapping my foot. Heck, I was moments away from breaking out into a bit of a jig! This set gets my vote for highlight of the day with Dala coming in a close second.

That's Ice Cream Man (Matt) ... he's traveling the country (eventually the world) going to festivals spreading the love ... ice cream love that is. He gives away free ice cream and a nifty Ice Cream Man sticker to those who venture over to his truck.

It was then time to take in Arlo Guthrie's set. He seemed a bit off Sunday. His normal witty storytelling was there and the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves but it just felt like something was missing.

Joan Baez took the stage next. She played the inaugural year of the festival 50 years ago.

I then headed over to check out some of Elvis Perkins In Dearland's set. They weren't bad. I'll have to check them out a bit more.

After that, I headed back over to the main stage where Judy Collins did a set.

Festival founders Pete Seeger & George Wein watching Collins' set.

Collins was joined onstage by Baez for a duet of the latter's song "Diamonds and Rust" which happens to be my favorite Baez song.

Collins with Seeger & Wein after her set.

Somewhere along the line, the nice day had started getting cloudy and it began to look more and more likely that rain would make an appearance at Folk Fest 50.

Pete and Tao Seeger & Friends took to the stage for the big finale. Not long after they started playing, drops of rain started making themselves known. Like the previous night, many of the artists who had performed during the day joined the Seeger's onstage to bring Folk Fest 50 to a joyous but wet end.

Pete Seeger
Tao Rodriguez Seeger

Elvis Perkins

I think this photo of a smiling, dancing Joan Baez sums up the overall spirit and feeling of Folk Fest 50 without words.

I had a great two days filled with lots of great music. Here's to another 50 years!

www.folkfestival50.com