There”s nothing like computer problems to interrupt the flow of a blog. Ongoing issues with my laptop since early March have seriously crimped my postings, my storm chasing, and the book I”ve been writing, not to mention my home business as a freelance writer.\r\n\r\nI finally knuckled under last week and did something I should have done long ago, and purchased a home PC. Now I”m back in the saddle, and there”s so much to write about, I”m not sure where to begin. A lot of water has passed over the spillway, and I”m probably just as well off letting most of what it has carried with it drift downstream. But I do want to tip my hat to the 2008 Hastings Jazz Festival.\r\n\r\nThe Festival, still in its infancy at five years old, is the vision of now-retired Hastings High School band director, trumpet player, and band leader Joe LaJoye. Held in early spring, it brings together high school jazz bands from around the area, as well as seasoned local musicians, for a weekend of music played at venues scattered throughout the downtown area. Since Hastings has an attractive, modestly sized urban center with its businesses and restaurants all within easy walking distance, all performances are no more than a block or two from each other. The setup works beautifully, and Joe and the Thornapple Arts Council deserve laurels for having both the foresight and the commitment to bring live jazz to a small town setting.\r\n\r\nI performed twice on Friday, April 18, in two very different musical settings. At the County Seat Restaurant, I played two hours of jazz standards with drummer and band leader Tom Alderson, bassist Don Cheeseman, and pianist Forrest Evans. It was one of those picture-perfect settings: outside on a gorgeous evening, in a pleasant patio environment, with a good-sized and appreciative audience.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe gig was spiced up by a couple guest musicians. My friend Audrey Valentine, a high school saxophonist who is quite serious about jazz, stopped by to listen. Naturally, I invited her to join me for a couple numbers, and she stepped right in and did a fine job on “Don”t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Mack the Knife.” Then Joe LaJoye popped in, and of course I couldn”t let him leave without joining me on his trumpet for a few rounds of “Watermelon Man.” What a blast!\r\n\r\nOnce that gig was over, it was a quick rush down the street for Don and me to the Waldorf, where we were scheduled to play with guitarist Ed Englerth from nine until midnight. Ed is a superb songwriter and lyricist, and the gig consisted mainly of his own material. It”s hard to describe Ed”s style, simply because it”s so eclectic. Ed”s instrumental material tends to be highly improvisational, with a lot of room to stretch. \r\n\r\nThe quartet was hot that night! It had been a while since we had performed together, and the space allowed me to take a fresh approach to the music. Drummer Tony LaJoye sat in for our regular drummer, Alan Dunst, and his contribution also brought a different angle to the music. Great job, Tony!\r\n\r\nJazz developed in urban settings and has been sustained in big cities such as New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Kansas City, but it belongs to all of America. I find it particularly gratifying to see a smaller town with a rural flavor take the music to heart, seek to perpetuate it, and turn out in large numbers to enjoy a weekend of jazz in its many forms.
