Litchfield Jazz Festival Newsletter - Winter 2024

Arts and Entertainment

January 18, 2024

The 29th Litchfield Jazz Festival is set!

Well, your hardworking artistic director and her team are ready to announce the exciting lineup they've prepared for you for Litchfield Jazz Festival 2024! Be sure to mark your calendars for July 26-28 for glorious music at the Tisch Auditorium and the Bourne Courtyard, Frederick Gunn School in Washington CT.

Since you are a member of the Litchfield Jazz Family we want you to be first to know the FULL Litchfield Jazz Fest Lineup weeks before its official public release.

Tickets will be available soon!!!

Here's A Fest Sneak Peek

July 26: Friday Night Opens In Style!

The Fest begins Friday, July 26 with our traditional Opening Night Gala with top student combos and tasty fare. The night's Headliner superb saxophonist Alexa Tarantino brings her quartet - Steven Feifke (her new husband!) on piano, Philip Norris (of Emmet Cohen Trio) on bass, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums. In the spirit of Festival Openers, this one is a tip-of-the hat to the iconic Litchfield Jazz Camp. Both Alexa and Mark are former Campers. Alexa was just 14 when she joined us, and from the get-go, a top combo member alongside 20 somethings! Now she is a principal player with the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and tours the world. But, on this night, she's all ours!

July 27: Saturday Is Full Of Jazz Stars

On Saturday, July 27 is an afternoon-to-early evening affair featuring three top-flight groups. We open at 3 PM with pianist Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko Orphan Choir. Amina is joined by Alex Pope Norris, trumpet, Wayne Escoffrey, sax, Bart Platteau, flutes, Rudy Royston, drums, Yasushi Nakamura, bass and TWO DOZEN young singers from Liberia!

Next up at 4:45 PM we present Allison, Cardenas and Nash. With 25 years of creative collaboration behind them, Ben, Steve and Ted weave music full of subtlety and surprise modeled on Jimmy Giuffre's drummer-less units of the 50's and 60's.The trio has released three albums, with a fourth, Tell the Birds I Said Hello - The Music of Herbie Nichols, set for a February 9 release. Their program for Litchfield is a nod to Nichols, Jim Hall, Carla Bley, Leonard Bernstein and others.

The day closes with one of the best-known jazz pianists in the world.

Bill Charlap appears with bassist David Wong and drummer Kenny Washington. Charlap, "a master interpreter of American popular song" (Time Magazine), has performed with leading artists from Phil Woods and Tony Bennett to Gerry Mulligan and Wynton Marsalis. He has led his trio since 1997.

July 28: Sunday Jazz Brunch

On Sunday, July 28, our 29th Festival wraps with al fresco dining and music in the beautiful Bourne Courtyard. The sell-out Jazz Brunch begins at noon with an absolutely delicious meal--we have come to expect nothing less from Litchfield's Official Chef, Charlene Dutka of Ciesco Catering!

Albert Rivera & Nicole Zuraitis (Nicole is a 2024 Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album) will be joined by world-renowned guitarist Paul Bollenback, bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer (and Nicole's hubby!) Dan Pugach. Dan and Nicole were also 2019 Grammy Nominees! Their program, A Century Of Jazz, is guaranteed to have something everyone loves.

Litchfield Jazz Camp

On March 2, 2024, Litchfield Camp hosts its very first talent competition, The Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search. Students ages 13-17 may apply online at https://litchfieldjazzcamp.com/ljc-talent-search/. Up to 30 finalists will be selected on the basis of a short video submitted by Feb.1. A $30 application fee will be waived for families with incomes under 50K.

Finals will be held Saturday, March 2, 2 - 6 PM, at the Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Rd (Rt 202). Finalists, accompanied by a professional jazz trio, will perform for a distinguished panel of judges including musician-educators Albert Rivera (SUNY Purchase), Don Braden (Harvard) and Kris Allen (Williams), and Vita Muir, Litchfield's Founder and ED. Families and friends are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served while we await the judges' decisions.

The first-prize winner will receive a full scholarship to Litchfield Jazz Camp for the week of July 7 - 12. This includes all classes, room, meals, books, Camp shirt and a private lesson with a faculty member (value $2000+).

Other prizes include 50% scholarships. Questions? Call 860-361-6285.

This program is separate from our usual need-based scholarships which may be applied for on the jazz camp registration page.

Talent Search Info

NEXT LITCHFIELD JAZZ EVENTS

The Richard Baratta Sextet

Valentine's Show with "Music from the Movies"

February 16, 2024

Poli Club, Waterbury, CT

Buy Tickets

Jay Leonhart Trio - Jazz Brunch

March 10, 2024

Poli Club, Waterbury, CT