Jazz enthusiasts can catch rising star Regina Carter, the legendary 16-piece Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and a marathon festival of college jazz bands during Williamstown's annual five-day feast of music, dance, film and programs. Now in its third year, the Williamstown Jazz Festival runs April 17 to 22, with many free events.
The Regina Carter Quintet performs in Williams College's Chapin Hall on Friday, April 20 at 8:30 p.m. In 1998, Carter made her mark on the jazz world with the breakthrough album "Rhythms of the Heart," and was selected top violinist in {ital}DownBeat Magazine's{ital} annual Music Poll. "Rhythms" was praised by {ital}Time{ital} magazine's Christopher John Farley as "music that is wonderfully listenable, probingly intelligent and, at times, breathtakingly daring." Concert admission is $20, $10 for students with college ID.
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, established in 1966 by jazz greats Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, appears Saturday, April 21 at 8:30 p.m. in Chapin Hall. Cited for its integrity, intensity and impeccable artistry, Vanguard is a creative outlet for some of the nation's top performers, composers and arrangers. Don Heckman wrote in the {ital}Los Angeles Times{ital} "the music continues, as it has for more than three decades, primarily as an expression of Jones' remarkable composition and arranging skills, brilliantly performed by an ensemble of Manhattan's most adept jazz players." Admission is $20, $10 for students with college ID.
"We're very excited about the performers we have lined up," said Andrew Jaffe, festival artistic director. "Regina Carter is an electrifying performer, and the Vanguard Orchestra is the tightest and hardest swinging big band in New York today." For tickets to either concert, call (413)458-9077 or (413) 597-2736.
Other events include an epic Intercollegiate Jazz Band Festival, a dozen hours of jazz from the northeast's finest college orchestras. Renowned jazz musicians Greg Hopkins and Freddie Bryant will adjudicate the ensembles as they perform on Friday, April 20 from noon to 4 p.m., and on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Chapin Hall. The free event includes musicians from Amherst, Smith, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Hamilton, Northeastern, Westfield State, Skidmore, College of Saint Rose, Schenectady Community College, Holyoke Community College and Williams.
On Tuesday, April 17, at 8 p.m., the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (413-458-2303) hosts "Crazy Feet," a film compilation and discussion of comedic, acrobatic, novelty and eccentric dance by jazz historian Ernest Smith, whose collection is housed at the Smithsonian Institution.
Internationally acclaimed dancers Mickie Davidson and Kevin Gaudin will teach the Lindy Hop, the signature swing dance from the 1930s through 1950s, at free classes on Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 and 19, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in Williams' Lasell Dance Studio, 22 Spring Street. For information call (413) 597-2410. Following the Thursday dance class, the jazz film {ital}For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story{ital} will screen at 8:30 at Images Cinema, Spring Street. Tracing the career of the famed Cuban jazz trumpeter Sandoval, the movie stars Andy Garcia and has never appeared on any movie screen in the US. The event is free, but call (413) 458-1039 for reservations..
On April 20, folklorist Robert Stone speaks on the sacred steel guitar musical tradition of the House of God Churches, where the driving blues of the steel guitar has reigned supreme for decades. The lecture takes place at 4 p.m.. in Williams' Brooks Rogers Recital Hall. At 6:30, Big Ben and the Family Sacred Steel Guitar Band performs at St. Johns Church, 35 Park Street.
On Saturday, April 21, at 2 p.m. Williams College Museum of Art kicks off "Hoppermania," a symposium celebration a gem in the museum's collection, "Morning in a City" by jazz-era artist Edward Hopper. Events include a short play, lectures, including one on "Hopper and the Jazz Age," gallery talks and a poetry reading, with jazz performances interspersed throughout. At 3 p.m., the Tri-Colored Trio will perform an original score based on their interpretation of Hopper's work. The trio appears again at a reception from 5 to 6:30. For information call (413) 597-2429.
Saturday, April 21, Jazz clubs in Williamstown will feature Williams alumni musicians from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Main Street CafŽ (413-458-3210) and Taconic Restaurant (413-458-9499) and, following the Vanguard concert, at Mezze Bistro and Bar (413-458-0123) and 101 North Restaurant & Lounge, 101 North Street (413-458-4000). Contact restaurants directly for details and reservations.
The Williamstown Jazz Festival concludes on Sunday with a Jazz Brunch at The Orchards (413-458-9611) 222 Adams Road, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring the Dixieland sounds of the Williams Reunion Jazz Band. Reservations are $35 per person.
For ticket and hotel information, call the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce at (800) 214-3799 or (413) 458-9077 or e-mail:commerce@williamstown.net. A full schedule of events may be found at www.williamstownjazz.com
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Is this the 2008 festival? The headline says:
Regina Carter & Vanguard Jazz Orchestra Headline Williamstown Jazz Festival
- March 19, 2001
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Four Vermont pitchers combined to strike out 11 and allow four hits Tuesday as the Mountaineers beat the North Adams SteepleCats, 11-0, in New England Collegiate Baseball League action.
Evan Meier, Bobby Stang, Tonny Woodie and Chris Diaz each had a hit for the SteepleCats, who used five pitchers in the loss.
North Adams (0-2) comes home Tuesday to host the Mystic Schooners at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
