The Litchfield Jazz Festival has made some big changes for this summer’s event. The most notable among the changes is the festival’s location.
Now in its 24th season, the Litchfield Jazz Festival, which helped build the early careers of Diana Krall, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Emmet Cohen and others, will move to the Gunnery in Washington, Conn., where the Litchfield Jazz Camp already operates.
One of the goals of the move is to develop a connection between the festival and its camp, according to a news release. With these two activities far flung geographically for more than two decades, many do not even realize they are related, never mind run by the same 38-year-old nonprofit Litchfield Performing Arts.
At the Gunnery, jazz lovers will enjoy main stage concerts in air-conditioned comfort in the Emerson Performing Art Center. The venue has 220 seats so everyone will get a seat close to the performers. All Mainstage performances will be held in the Emerson Center.
For those who loved the fair atmosphere of previous venues, the festival has arranged an Outer Fest on July 27. The event will host Litchfield Jazz Camper concerts and attractions of all kinds on the Washington Green, and Outer Fest events on the green are free. Also, the party crowd will enjoy two fundraisers in addition to the concerts, an opening night gala on July 26 and a jazz brunch on July 28.
Artists include Mike Stern, Wycliffe Gordon, Randy Brecker, Avery Sharpe and Alvin Atkinson. Also performing will be the vocal group Duchess, the Chad LB Quartet, vocalist Alexis Cole and pianist Carmen Staaf. Line-ups and times are available at litchfieldjazzfest.com.
Concertgoers can count on excellent sound in the Emerson Center thanks to longtime festival supporters from Telefunken Elektroakustik.
With the addition of OuterFest, the festival weekend will continue to offer the attractions that visitors have come to enjoy over the years – art, crafts, food, artist talks and the popular Litchfield Jazz Camp Student Stage, this year at First Church on the Green. OuterFest events are across Route 47 from the Mainstage and will be held July 26 only, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Among the food offerings will be wood-fired, freshly baked pizza. Exhibitors will include Litchfield County artists Danielle Mailer, Chris Osborne and Steve Sokolin, jeweler Carnelian Knoll and Woodbury Music with records and instruments on hand. All OuterFest exhibitors will be listed on the festival website, on social media and in the program guide to be published by the Republican-American.
This year for the first time all Litchfield Jazz campers will perform on July 26 from 11-5, as the festival marks the 23rd season of student stage shows. Campers, performing in well-rehearsed combos, will show off their talents. At First Congregational Church, Frank Alkyer, publisher of DownBeat Magazine, will host talks with selected festival performers. A break between the fest’s afternoon and evening shows will allow audiences to enjoy student sets and OuterFest activities.
Over the years, the festival has become famous for great parties as well as great music. This year the opening night gala will be July 26 at Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens, in Washington Depot (at the foot of the Route 47 hill). Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres with French reserve wines and microbrews, an art exhibit by local artist Peter Wooster, and live jazz by top Litchfield Jazz Camp students. Gala ticket holders will go on after the party to the Emerson Center for a performance by the Litchfield Jazz Orchestra with award-winning vocalist Alexis Cole in a show she calls “A Canary in Combat Boots,” in honor of her fledgling days singing American Songbook tunes with the Army Band.
Two parties, not just one, are available this year. On Sunday morning, in a Gunnery courtyard, brunch ticketholders will enjoy the Ladies Who Swing Jazz Brunch. The Don Braden Band will back the legendary jazz and blues vocalist Antoinette Montague saluting stars of the genre from across the years, like Shirley Horn, Bessie Smith, Abby Lincoln and Peggy Lee. Litchfield Jazz Signature Sangria and microbrews will accompany a meal courtesy of VanDoren Vineyards and Black Hog Brewery.
Parking and shuttle service is available for free. Guests who require handicap access are encouraged to contact the main office at 860-361-6285 before July 25 so arrangements can be made.
For tickets to any of the ticketed events and shows, visit LJF2019.eventbrite.com.
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