Burlington, VT | 06.05.01 – 06.10.01
While not the reckless mecca of all things everything that is NOLA Jazzfest each and every year, cozy little Burlington, Vermont heats up the beginning of summer with the annual Discover Jazzfest this Wednesday through Sunday. Burlington is a mini-music culture mecca these days, and there is no shortage of music to treat yourself to, each venue being basically a stoner’s throw from one another. Enjoy!
Wednesday | 6.6
There is already a bunch of stuff going on early in the week, however it really begins tonite as Halverson’s Upstreet Cafehosts the Miracle Orchestra with Garret Sayers slaying with those Beantown bass bombs. Jazzgrass is at Valencia with Doug Perkins and Patrick Ross. A little ways down Church St. lies the Red Square, where The Vorcza Trio, featuring Ray Pazcowski of Viperhouse/Trey fame, assaults with reworked jazz standards in new school head bob sonics. Later, MacGregor will close, with an uptempo funk hop acid jazz Chili Pepper/Beastie Boys sound. That place will be going off!
Thursday | 6.7
Cruise down to the brightly lit sports bar Akes Place for the Burlington jazz legend Steve Blair Quartet, where the guitarist will be celebrating the Sixers upset of the Lakers as he wails away (let’s hope!) The Who’s John Entwhistle will be at the Higher Ground in Winooski. Opening will be local blues wunderkind Seth Yacavone. Red Square has Mata Buena, an NYC latin soul band. Wine Works will have a acoustic treat in Mandolinquents featuring Smokin Grass’sDoug Perkins and local hero Matt Rand. Valencia hosts Tala, a four-piece horn led band with bass and drums that has created a buzz about Burlington. Tammy Fletcher and the Disciples at the Blues Tent. If you happened to get tossed in jail, do it early, Dave Keller Band is playing at the Chittenden County Correctional Facility, no joke!
Friday | 6.8
Now this thang heats up… James Carter’s Chasin The Gypsy Band rolls into the hallowed hall that is the Flynn Theatre. The celebrated saxophonist rocks a Django Reinhert tribute and is prompting comparisons to the great Sonny Rollins. We have our own Booze Cruise here at Burlington’s Jazzfest, albeit with a DJ, DJ Hector El Salsero, who will drop latin beat and soul on the Spirit of Ethan Allen, on beautiful Lake Champlain. He hosts an afternoon block party atop Church St. along with Chris Washburne and the Sysotos, bringing NYC afro cuban, latin jazz steezo to the outdoor scene.Halversons has “The Thang” in for some hard edge groove and funk from Hartford, Conn. Valencia hosts Burlington power trio Shadraq, very much on the Phishy side of things, but a great band to see in a roaring bar. Grippo Funk Bandwill tear down the house with 2 MC’s and 1 DJ named A-Dog at Metronome. GFB are the all stars of this Jazzfest.
Saturday | 6.9
An 80th Birthday bash for the piano legend Dave Brubeck and his quartet at the Flynn Theatre. A master and an innovator, a treat to celebrate with the true piano man in Burlington. Today’s block party features Mori Stylez, Addison Groove Project and Vorcza Trio, amongst a plethora of other talented acts. Schleigho at Valencia, with their modern fusion cacophony, will be a raucous endeavor. Johnson State Sextet featuring Steve Blair at City Hall Park, Antibalasbrings their Fela tribe of Afrobeat to Higher Ground with special guest Eccentric Sound System. This looks to be the dance-a-thon of the weekend! Paul Bourgois Trio at Liquid Lounge, bringing a Pat Metheny, old school John Scofield vibe to the smoothee spot.
Sunday | 6.10
We bring it on home. A little New Orleans style for our northern Jazzfest comes in the form of Los Hombres Calientes, who tore down the NOLA fairgrounds with a ripping amalgam of soul,latin groove and Afrocentricity, brought to you by the incredible team of Irvin Mayfield and Bill Summers. Opening is the James Harvey Trio, with Gabe Jarret on drums, son of jazz piano legend Keith Jarret. This goes down at the Flynn Theatre, followed by a walloping tent show at Red Square by Grippo Funk Band and Friends, which promises to be an all out jam session in the vein of the super jams at the real Jazzfest. Mosy up to Halversons for a taste of Fender Rhodes magic with Dante’s Revenge, featuring Burlington underground keysman Dante Leven. If you need beats for your pleasure to round out the Jazzfest maddness, then head over to Metronome for some holiness at Sunday Night Mass, an evening of house, trance, breakbeat, and drum and bass. One night, the New Deal showed up, so you never know what’ll go down this Sunday.
Even in the small confines of Burlington, Vermont, the true players fly in, drive thru, or come out of the woodwork to strut and skank their grooves and melodies for Discover Jazzfest. This year’s looks to be the best yet, so get up, get together, and drop some funky soul!
Go See Live Music!!!
Brian Getz
JamBase Burlington Correspondent
Discover Jazzfest 2001
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