- Title: USA: MUSIC LOVERS GATHER FOR THE ANNUAL NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL
- Date: 10th August 2001
- Summary: RAY CHARLES PERFORMING WITH BAND
- Embargoed: 25th August 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3DXOIWM5DMTTFY57OIP9V9U1M
- Story Text: Music lovers gathered in rainy Newport, Rhode Island over the weekend for the annual JVC Newport Jazz Festival. A soaked audience was treated to the sounds of Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck- and a special performance by comedian Bill Cosby.
Cloudy skies and occasional showers weren't enough to keep jazz enthusiasts from enjoying themselves at the annual Newport Jazz Festival this weekend.
Pop star Natalie Cole got the crowd moving as the rain came down overhead. Cole's father, Nat King Cole, made several appearances at the festival in its early days.
One man who has been playing the festival since those early days- Dave Brubeck- is still wowing fans today. The 80-year-old piano legend told Reuters that he had to improvise after his hopes for good weather were dashed.
"I always wonder how the audience is. Are they comfortable, is it going to rain? At first, I felt that it was going to be a nice day and then it came so we played over the rainbow."
Drummer, Roy Haynes, is also no stranger to the festival.
Haynes has played the event in years past with jazz legends like John Coltrane. This time he brought his own band.
"I'm a senior citizen now. I've been playing since the early 40's. To still be playing and innovating, that in itself is something to really brag about," said Haynes.
Saxophonist Wayne Shorter took the stage Sunday afternoon (August 12) with his quartet. The Grammy-award winning musician told Reuters that he is still captivated by the improvisational nature of jazz.
"I want to cover the unknown. There is no way to rehearse the unknown. I don't know what to practice as far as music goes.
The only thing I can practice is what I'm not going to do,"
said Shorter.
Comedian Bill Cosby certainly surprised many festival goers with his unorthodox drumming technique. Cosby appeared at the festival with his band, The Cos of Good Music. Cosby arranged the group's tunes, conducted the musicians and added some percussive explanation points to their performance. Cosby told journalists at a news conference that it wasn't difficult to find musicians to join his band.
"The secret I found to the way I work - in order to be successful is to find musicians that know their instrument, that know how to play the music and will gladly accept some money for the afternoon," said Cosby.
Don't expect to see the comedian at a jazz club near you.
The entertainer says he usually plays just one jazz gig a year.
The biggest musical name at the festival, Ray Charles, had the audience dancing in puddles of rain at Fort Adams State Park late Sunday afternoon (August 13).
The festival also included some of jazz's up and coming stars. Ravi Coltrane, son of John Coltrane played on the festival's smaller stage. The young Coltrane said he was honoured to play the festival.
"Historically, in this country- in anywhere in the world, there isn't really another festival like this in regard to the history of who has played here and the fact that it has gone on all this time," said Coltrane. It's always the biggest names in jazz and just to be a part of that in some small way is a great thing. I only hope that I can come back and play again."
Flugelhornist and trumpeter Chuck Mangione told Reuters that selecting music is always a challenge when playing festivals like Newport.
"I have a little hard time with festivals because there is so much music that I want to play for some many people and you are on the clock. Everybody gets about an hour." Mangione apparently picked wisely. His rendition of "Amazing Grace" was one of the festival's most moving moments.
The festival began back in the 1950's to make summers more entertaining in the old coastal town. . For decades since, the festival has served as a virtual magnet for jazz musicians and fans alike. Performers over the years have included musical greats Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis , John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin and many others. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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