Photos: Rudy Lu
Performers, the stage team, security, staff and audience braved steady rain for Day One of the final Freihofer Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY. A two stage festival that featured 22 bands on 2 different stages.
The action started on the Discovery Stage where Violinist Sarah Caswell led her quartet through a set of ethereal music.
Music and styles quickly switched to the main stage where an all star band aptly named The New Orleans Groove Masters held court with 3 drummer/percussionists along with bass, piano and saxophone. Groove oriented tunes such as “Little Liza Jane” were featured and ending with Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”.
Cuban pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa with Timba A La Americana featured latin rhythms with an unusual twist. Master harmonica player Gregoire Maret instead of a horn section which gave the band a sweet yet still danceable sound.
Saxophonist and now college professor Tia Fuller brought her new band and sound to the stage. Originally more derivative of R&B (She toured with Beyonce), her work is now focused to be spiritual and uplifting.
The pace quickened with a switch to the unpredictable. Steve Bernstein’s Millenial Territory Orchestra playing Basie, Ellington as would be expected with a big band but adding “Black Peter” by the Grateful Dead. For those unaware, the original big bands from the 20s and 20s also featured violin. Violinist Charles Burnham made several solos especially noted in “Black Peter “.
Yuseff Dayes set on the main stage was missed in order to keep myself dry.
Trumpeter Theo Croker then chilled the hot Discovery stage with his brand of mixed acoustic/ electronic music.
Pianist Joey Alexander led his trio through both new and old. Playing a touching cover of the ballad made famous by Bonnie Raitt “ I Can’t Make You Love Me”. Bassist Kris Funn and drummer Victor Goines were complementary and distinct. Trumpeter Theo Croker sat in and was joined by surprise guest Pedrito Martinez. Joey has just about grown up on this stage, he first appeared 8 years ago as a 13 year old. Collaborations like the above are the future of jazz, respect for the old and looking forward to the new.
Samara Joy made her triumphant return entering the mainstage with thunderous applause and a full band. An old soul in a young woman, she sang her repertoire of standards and Brazilian music but even threw in a curve ball of Sun Ra’s “How Dreams Come True” with an original grafted on.
Coco Montoya brought his electric blues from California onto the discovery stage to close it for the evening.
The Afro Cuban Latin Hip Hop soul band Cimafunk truly heated up the stage where their groove and spirit carried the music rather than the songs. The crowd jumped onto the stage to join the band in a groove. Cimafunk must be incredible to see in a nightclub.
The long set change calmed down the audience to see Lake Street Dive. Rachel Price and company. Rachel Price’s clear voice lead the crowd through both new and old tunes. Pianist Akie Bermiss occasionally sang lead. So ended Day One. Day Two to come.
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