The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz
Festival and The Connecticut Blues Society
present
The
Jazz &
Blues Extravaganza
July 30th, 2011 at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, Meriden Connecticut
Eric Devine's video
show how much fun it was!
Art Hovey's Sugarfoot Jazz Band entertained the
guests at the reception, prior to the start of the Festival. |
Alanna Burke was back, singing our favorite songs.
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The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival, founded
by Dave Greenwood, began 25 years ago. It started out as a
company party for his Guilford based Clinipad Corporation.
Several of the former Directors returned for this one-day 25th anniversary
party, held at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Meriden, Connecticut.
There was much memorabilia from the past on display. Sharing
the day were four Blues Bands in the hotel ballroom, and Four Traditional
Jazz Bands in the tent.
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Dave Greenberg, The Jazz Man says "Running
a jazz fest is like hosting a gigantic party!"
"Go ahead - step back in time and
kick off your shoes You can dance with abandon or just
tap your feet to the brassy sounds of Traditional Jazz
music from the era of speakeasies and grand ballrooms."
"Under huge tents and in vintage
dance halls at the Sunrise Resort in East Haddam,17
jazz bands will perform during The Great Traditional
Jazz Festival August 6, 7, and 8. The event drew
up to 30,000 people."
That was 1985 - displayed in this framed
article held by Irene Cowern, Publicity & Marketing
Director and Dave Greenberg, the first Executive
Director.
Now Greenberg lives in New Orleans and
is successfully featuring new music with much
younger people.
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Ross Tucker's Hot Cat Jazz Band |
Foxtrot Orchestra, Dave Greenberg, Hot Cats |
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Holly
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Former Executive Directors, Sigrid
Wieners,
Joel Schiavone, Dave Greenberg, and Natalie Lindstrom
help current Director Ray Russ cut the 25th
Anniversary Cake at the reception. |
The Blues/Bluegrass Bands were
Basically Blues,
Bluzberry Pi,
Peter Scheips Band,
Eran Troy Danner Band
The Traditional/Dixieland bands were:
Web sites:
Midiri Brothers ,
Galvanized Jazz Band,
Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band, The Festival All-Stars
There was some grumbling from Trad fans because Blues were
added to The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival.
But new revenues were necessary, and Blues is the only music
parallel to ours. We have the same roots, and many of our bands trade back and forth.
The Blues dance floor was always filled to capacity!
Some of the Blues fans were curious, and came out to hear the Traditional Jazz
Bands. This is probably the best way to introduce our
music to a younger generation, and create additional revenue to
continue TGCTJF Jazz - and Blues - in the near
and distant future. Stay tuned.
Very important - please
help us keep
this festival by becoming
Patrons or Supporters of this fine jazz.
It can't happen without YOU!
http://www.greatctjazz.org/
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| By Marce, Updated
Sep. 9, 2011 |
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