SPAC is filled with all that jazz
by Mindy Blodgett, Bennington Banner, July 7, 1981
The Kool Jazz Festival at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center took place under cloudy skies and frequent drizzle, which never dampened either the performances or the audiences’ enthusiasm.
Thousands of jazz lovers attended the two-day musical extravaganza, which was kicked off on July 4th with a program featuring both traditional and modern jazz and blues greats. SPAC relaxed its normally strict rules regarding the allowance of cans and alcoholic beverages, a move which created a true party atmosphere among the mostly young audience. Hundreds of festival-goers who planned to stay for both “Kaleidoscope I and II” erected camps near the performance area, forming a veritable city of multi-colored tents, hibachis and children.
Although there was lots of food, liquor and even a crafts tent to amuse those in attendance, the music was by far the biggest treat of all. Each act received an uproarious response from appreciative listeners, who danced, clapped and sang along to the high- calibre musical offerings.
The July 4th program offered the talents of the B. B. King Orchestra, Woody Herman and the Young Thundering Herd, Nancy Wilson, Chico Hamilton, Gato Barbieri, Kilimanjaro, Rodney Franklin, Count Basie Alumni and the Crusaders. All of the acts performed in the main stage area and then rotated later in the day for simultaneous performances at the gazebo, which was set up far enough away from the main stage not to hinder performances there. This enabled the audience to enjoy almost every act on the bill no matter what time they arrived at the noon to midnight festival.
The superior acoustics of the SPAC facilities sent the music wafting all over the grounds and outside the gates for the pleasure of those unable to purchase tickets.
B.B. King and his orchestra drew the most jubilant reception, and his was the only act called back for an encore on the main stage. To the delight of the audience, King gyrated to the music, played his guitar and lent his incomparablé voice to such favorites as “There’s Got To Be A Better World Somewhere” and “The Thrill Is Gone.” While shouts of “B.B.!” drifted up from the audience, King delivered an energetic and joyous performance.
The band Kilimanjaro received a tumultuous reception at their gazebo performance following their main appearance. While the rain poured down, hundreds of people abandoned their umbrellas to draw close to the small stage to listen with rapt attention or to dance to the fast-paced jazz. The band appeared pleasantly surprised by the clamoring audience, and they gladly performed an encore when pressed for more.
Woody Herman, who’s certainly been around longer than most of those in attendance, wowed the audience with his special blend of big band jazz and modern variations. When he finished his renditions of old and new tunes, he happily bowed for what became one of many standing ovations.
When it was all over at midnight after a dynamic performance by the Crusaders that had everyone dancing in the aisles, the emcee ignored shouts for more and urged everyone to come back the next day for “Kaleidoscope II.”
The July 5 bill featured such big names as Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra, and Weather Report.
Recent Comments