I guess it was my older brother who hooked me on jazz.
It started during the big band era when his job as manager of the Cedar Point ballroom in Ohio gave a couple of friends and myself free admission to hear some of the great bands like Stan Kenton and Woody Herman perform. Pretty soon it was the cool sounds of musicians like Stan Getz, Charlie Parker and Dave Brubeck who blew me away.
No wonder, then, that the Summer Solstice River Jazz Fest at Mystic Seaport this past Saturday night was a concert I did not want to miss. It was super – and for more reasons than the music, awesomely performed by Don Braden and his Quartet.
Originally the concert location was Chubb’s Wharf. But when rain was predicted for the long term, Cheryl Mattson and her organizers had a brilliant idea. They moved the concert to the Museum’s shipyard.
Imagine, we were seated in the very building where the Amistad was built! How cool is that? It never did rain until the concert was over, but even if it had, the atmosphere inside was special.
Cool jazz, a cool (and dry) setting, the misty fog moving slowly up the river, a glass of wine, a cup of chowder, a cup of coffee available at the tent outside - it was great! If you missed Summer Solstice at Mystic Seaport this year, I’m sorry. Just don’t miss it next year!
Visit www.mysticseaport.org for information on other summer events.
