The front line of the Vista sextet were Greg Nielsen, trombone, David Pruyn, trumpet and Perry Childs, tenor sax.  Not shown were pianist Charlie Prawdzik, drummer Johnny Moore and bassist Dominic Mancini. Click here for more photos.

Jazz Festival Swings Venice Fans

A brilliant concert by pianist Dick Hyman and Friends allstar quintet capped the second Venice Jazz Festival on Sunday, September 28.  It was the first concert date in Venice for Canadian vibist Peter Appleyard and reedman Bob Wilber, who has homes in England and Arizona.  Others were Floridans Eddie Metz Jr. on drums and Mark Neuenschwander on bass.

PHOTO ALBUM
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Biob Wilber on curved soprano sax, also played tenor sax and clarinet

Hyman's concert plan assured musical variety and showcased each player.  It opened with "Tangerine," included Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" and Jelly Roll Morton's "Shreveport Stomp" and closed with "I Love Paris."

More than 400 fans at the Community Center gave the band a standing ovation. Jazz photos by myself and two others were displayed at the concert and in the Art Center the week before.

Saturday's free event at Blalock Park drew about 500 fans to hear the Venice High School Band, the Vista sextet, Kitt and Mike Moran's group and Johnny Varro's sextet.

The high school band played two jazz tunes seldom heard from such bands, "Big Noise from Winnetka" and "Grandpa's Spells."  Vista, led by trumpeter David Pruyn, ranged from swing to mainstream tunes.

Singer Kitt Moran opened with "He Loves Me" and closed with "But Beautiful" in a seven-tune set.  She compensated for low visibility at the park gazebo by switching to face audiences in lawn chairs on each side.

Pianist Varro's sextet included five other bandleaders, vibist Jack Fanning, clarinetist Bud Leeds, guitarist Dave Trefethen, drummer Patricia Dean and bassist Richard Drexler. Its Dixieland set was capped by guest Dick Hyman playing a blues with the keyboard on organ setting.

The festival, produced by the Sarasota Jazz Club, was partly funded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and other sponsors. SJC leaders will offer new bands next year and return to the downtown Centennial Park, which drew three times as many fans for the free event last year

Reedman Tony Benarde's jazz lecture on Saturday morning at the Venice Public Library was well-attended.  He surprised some when he said Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and other classical composers were skilled improvisers and could be considered early jazz players.

November 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.