Clearwater Jazz Holiday Celebrates 35 Years
By KIMBERLY DEFALCO
Under the umbrella of crystalline skies and a live oak canopy, Clearwater Jazz Holiday 2014 hosted the consummate backyard picnic at Coachman Park.
That is, if you invited 30,000-plus of your favorite neighbors, friends and family, listened to a diverse line-up of renowned musical acts and spread it out over four days. And hey, no cleanup required!
Celebrating 35 years of bringing some of the jazz world’s biggest names to Clearwater, festival organizers continue to raise the bar with each new edition and have been following the growing trend of diversified music festivals like the formerly genre-specific New Orleans Jazz Festival, by welcoming performers that reach beyond the original genre scope.
“A few years ago, we pushed the genre of jazz,” Jazz Holiday Operations Manager Michelle Gallagher said. “Our Music Selection Committee works tirelessly as we work to stay current. Sometimes, that involves stepping outside the box.”
And they did.
Thursday’s kick-off celebration with legendary American Jazz Trombonist George "Buster" Cooper, and the Buster Cooper Quartet, eased the estimated 10,000-plus attendees into an evening of full-throttle energy that culminated with the horn-heavy, Grammy-winning Earth, Wind and Fire.
Cooper, a veteran of the Apollo Theater who has gigged with notables including Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington, continued the festival’s tradition of starting the event with a solid jazz act.
“Changing Keys,” a tribute to the event’s 35-year tradition and to keyboards in jazz music, took revelers on a musical carpet ride starting with classical music, ragtime, the 20’s and 30’s, Miles Davis and eventually synthesizer sounds.
But it was Earth, Wind & Fire that ignited a fervor that many considered to be the most profound performance of the four days.
Aerial videographer Dan Foard, who along with his Phantom Vision 2-Plus modified drone, recorded the event's highlights for the festival, including Earth, Wind & Fire.
“I was so impressed with the number of instruments and performers in their production,” Foard said. “Phillip Bailey is still one of the most incredible vocalists of all time. Their high-energy performance was the highlight for me.”
Friday’s line-up opened with Al Downing Jazz All-Stars, Theo Valentin, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Spyro Gyra.
Saturday featured Tomkats Jazz Orchestra, Julie Black, Belinda & Kool Reflektians and Boogie on the Bay featuring Marcia Ball and Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience. Dr. John & The Nite Trippers capped off the evening with their high-energy brand of jazz, R&B, boogie-woogie, funk and zydeco.
“Sunday, we tried to step outside the box a little more with the line-up,” Gallagher said. “It had more of an Americana feel to it that we felt appealed to a younger audience.”
Opening with the REH/CIH Youth Jazz Band and directed by Frank Williams, lead jazz instructor and coordinator of jazz studies at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Sunday’s line-up featured more progressive performances by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Spirit Family Reunion, Crash and finally Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
Making a repeat performance at the Festival, Trombone Shorty lived up to his reputation of stirring up the crowd and inciting fans to get up and dance.
For many, Spirit Family Reunion made for a welcome surprise. The six-piece from New York City got their start playing street corners, farmers’ markets and subway stations. Fueled by the instrumentals of banjo player/vocalist Maggie Carson, vocalist/guitarist Nick Panken and vocalist/mutil-instrumentalist/washboard player Stephen Weinheimer, Spirit Family reunion wowed the crowd with homegrown Americana-tinged tunes.
Sunday’s headline act, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, fell slightly short of audience expectations with lead singer Alex Ebert apologizing on numerous occasions for forgetting the lyrics to the songs. Ebert compensated with his audience mingling and encouraging fans to join him in singing.
Carried by the tight playing of Zeros' guitarist/vocalist Christian Letts, percussionist/vocalist Christopher "Crash" Richard, guitarist Mark Noseworthy, Josh Collazo on drums/vocals, Seth Ford on bass/vocals and Steward Cole on trumpet, keys and vocals, the band engaged the crowd enough that it was easy to overlook Ebert’s lack of focus and attention. This was the band's first appearance without vocalist and St. Petersburg native Jade Castrinos, who was dismissed from the band in June.
With its 60-member volunteer crew, Jazz Force, Clearwater Jazz Holiday 2014 ran smoothly and without incident including Friday and Saturday’s Official After Party at The Capitol Theatre.
“Our Musical Selection Committee is already working on next year’s celebration,” Gallagher said. “As early as next week, we could have some performer confirmations. We promise you, it will be even better.”
