While I repeatedly opine the possibility of leaving the city of New York — of which I am now a 50-year native — due to its ever rapidly increasing gentrification and homogenization, certain events make themselves available to me, reminding me how awesome this city truly still can be. Such was the case on the occasion of the NY Hot Jazz Festival, hosted by SummerStage, a revered purveyor of the arts, on the Rumsey Playground stage situated in the heart of the best park in the world, Central Park.
The triple bill kicked off with a fun, fiery set of worldy, modern and classic jazz by Bria Skonberg and the Hot Jazz All-Stars, featuring trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg, with Anat Cohen on clarint, Grammy winner Vince Giordano on Bass, Joe Saylor on drums, Blind Boy Paxton on bajos/vocals, Dalton Ridenhour on Piano, and special guest Wycliffe Gordon on trumpet and vocals.
The second set boasted the vibrant, "throwback" powerful jazz ensemble of The Hot Sardines, started and headed by bandleader Evan "Bibs" Palazzo and lead singer and front woman Miz Elizabeth, pumping out rollicking jazz of the '20s, '30s, and '40s, with modern, accessible arrangements, and much genuine passion and pizazz.
Closing out the beautifully-weathered afternoon was Butler, Bernstein & the Hot 9, featuring New Orleans singer and pianist Henry Butler, trumpeter and bandleader Steven Bernstein, and a band that churns out New Orleans-influenced jazz via classical, caribbean, pop, blues, and R&B channels.
One of my favorite things about jazz has always been that not only are the singers highly regarded and revered as another instrument in the band, but the musician's and fans regard the musical instruments as a member of the band as well.
And living in the arts capital of the world also means that you have the world's most avid, faithful, genuine fans, as was exemplified by the very large number of fans and followers who showed up in the attire of the decades represented throughout the sets of each jazz band that played.
And in a time where this city seems to be a flux (and recently the country and world as well) it was a splendid afternoon to go back in time to revel in some of the best, most influential, and most timeless music this world has ever created. Folks enjoyed it some much that for a few hours — as many clapped, swayed, and danced their hearts out — time stood heavenly still.
