This weekend you’ll find me at the Monterey Jazz Festival — we don’t go every year as some might think. In fact, it’s been so long since I’ve been that I can’t tell you exactly when it was — actually I think it’s only been 4 or 5 years, if that, but it seems like forever.
We are particularly looking forward to seeing, and hearing, a few friends in particular. First up for us will be the Russell Mallone/Benny Green duo. Both are monsterous talents in thir own rights, and they always seem to have great fun playing duo. If you haven’t heard their duo, check out Jazz at the Bistro . If you want to learn a little more about Russell, go here to Verve’s artist site. I thought he’d have his own web site, but the message at russellmalone .com says “WELCOME to russellmalone.com! There are no plans to build the site at this time, but thank you for visiting.” — I guess he’s too busy playing music and I can’t fault him for that! Benny Green, sometimes known as Peterson’s Protégé (Oscar, of course), doesn’t have his own site either, but there’s a bio here.
The headliner Friday night is Sonny Rollins and having missed his Los Angeles appearance, I am really looking forward to this. Sonny has a wonderful new website and his new CD, Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert is earning accolades everywhere.
Saturday afternoon I’ll be stopping by the Tower Records booth at 3 pm for Mr. Rifftides book signing (you know, the Paul Desmond bio, Take Five, that we all talk about all the time). Then Saturday night is the incomparable Tony Bennett (who, like my husband, is also beeing honored as an NEA Jazz Master).
On Sunday afternoon, you will find me at the Garden Stage for Clairdee’s 4 pm set, followed by a CD signing at Tower Records’ booth. Music Moves got a great review of in the October issue of Jazz Times If you don’t know who she is yet, go here.
Of course there will be much more to be seen and heard, and I’ll do my best to report in and tell you all from there.