Litchfield Jazz Festival 2024— July 26 – 28, our 29th outing— is now in the record books. The weekend weather was glorious and the music dazzling. We opened on Friday night with our Gala whose highlight was the music by our very best jazz camp players. The party was a treat for the ears, eyes and taste buds thanks to our talented young performers, to White Flower Farm for gorgeous flower arrangements, to Litchfield Distillery for top-shelf cocktails and Ciesco’s Chef Charlene for tasty treats. And, thanks to all the friends and camper families who attended and helped us raise support for scholarship campers!
Our festival performers— each and every band— received a standing ovation! Ours is a discerning audience and clearly, they loved what they heard. Friday night alto saxophonist Alexa Tarantino graced the stage with her Quartet. A Litchfield Camper in her teens, the ever-generous Alexa thanked LJC for playing an important part in her musical journey. Saturday opened with a knock-your-socks-off performance of Suite for Africa composed and performed by pianist Amina Figarova and her all-star Sextet and the impressive 24-voice Matsiko Orphan Choir. These 12- to 18-year-old Liberian children raised the roof with their talent and enthusiasm. They were thrilled to perform and delighted for the opportunity the Fest provided to raise funds earmarked for educating other disadvantaged children back home.
We collectively caught our breath and mellowed out with the next offering by Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas and Ted Nash. The trio on bass, guitar and saxophone played a tribute to the music of Herbie Nichols, an obscure but gifted pianist/composer who died in 1963. Hats off to Allison for rediscovering his work and the trio for releasing “Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols.”
Saturday closed with the music of the incomparable Bill Charlap. A Two-time Grammy Award winner, Bill’s piano trio is nothing short of iconic. Joined by long-time drummer Kenny Washington and bassist David Wong, the performance was a classic.
We closed the festival with our now-traditional Sunday Jazz Brunch. It starred Grammy Winning vocalist Nicole Zuraitis and saxophonist Albert Rivera – two wonderful musicians who met at Litchfield Jazz Camp when they were both 15 years old.
In addition to standards of the Century like…., Nicole delighted us with her own “standard,” a tribute to her hubby who supported his ‘drum habit’ early on as a part-time barista. Aptly themed for an occasion such as this, she titled the tune, “I Love You a Latte.” As always, the brunch sold out quickly. Because it makes us sad to turn anyone away, next year we’ll ask Best Friend ticketholders who cannot be with us on Sunday to let us know so there will be fewer disappointed music lovers!
That’s a wrap. And now on to planning Litchfield Jazz Festival’s 30th, set for July 25, 26, and 27th, 2025. We’ll keep you posted and look forward to seeing you there!
