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Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival 2017

Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival
Saratoga Springs, NY
June 24-25, 2017
Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary this year and it was done in fine fashion. Acts from the very first festival in 1978 (A George Wein creation) appeared, as well as young up-and-coming artists. The latter has become a staple of the festival. Producer Danny Melnick (who worked for Wein for many years) goes out of his way to present relatively unheralded talent. Usually at a stagethe gazebo stagetoward the rear of the festival grounds, away from the main amphitheater stage. This year, the old gazebo was replaced with a new one. The sight lines and sound are better for attendees, and the stage itself is better for bands.
The festival in upstate New York is an outdoor event held at the gorgeous Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Folks sit on the lawn picnicking, use their amphitheater seatsin an open-air setting under a roofor catch acts at the gazebo. In fact, they do all three. For 40 years. It was fitting that the opening act was the

Dave Stryker
guitarb.1957
Stryker is a wonderful player in the mainstream jazz style. Sweet tone, chops enough to burn down the house when appropriate. He brought with him one of today's top tenor saxophonists,

Eric Alexander
saxophone, tenorb.1968

Jared Gold
organ, Hammond B3
Stanley Turrentine
saxophone, tenor1934 - 2000
When it comes to pure, hard jazz, no one approached the band Hudson, comprised of greats

Jack DeJohnette
drumsb.1942

John Scofield
guitarb.1951

John Medeski
organ, Hammond B3b.1965

Larry Grenadier
bass, acousticb.1966

Tony Williams
drums1945 - 1997

Miles Davis
trumpet1926 - 1991
Fusion violinist

Jean-Luc Ponty
violinb.1942
A group featuring Danilo Perez,

Joe Lovano
drumsb.1952

Jason Palmer
trumpetb.1979

Josh Roseman
trombone
Ben Street
bass
Adam Cruz
drumsb.1970

Dizzy Gillespie
trumpet1917 - 1993

Thelonious Monk
piano1917 - 1982

Mongo Santamaria
percussion1917 - 2003

Cecile McLorin Salvant
vocalsb.1989

Jane Bunnett
saxophone, sopranob.1955
Blind Boy Paxton, for sure, expressed heart and soul to the people. A solo act, he played old-style Mississippi Delta acoustic blues. On harmonica, piano, guitar, fiddle and banjo. Not together. Not dubbed. Straight at you. Lyrics were humorous at times, and down home. This cat can bring you back to Lightnin' Hopkins and those greats of yesteryear.

Dee Dee Bridgewater
vocalsb.1950
Fans are already clamoring for jazz fest 41.
Photo credit: Richard Conde
View the 2017 Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival in pictures.
Tags
Live Reviews
R.J. DeLuke
United States
New York
Albany
David Stryker
Eric Alexander
Jared Gold
Stanley Turrentine
Jack DeJohnette
John Scofield
John Medeski
Larry Grenadier
Tony Williams
Miles Davis
Jean-Luc Ponty
Danilo Perez
joe lovano
Jason Palmer
Josh Roseman
Ben Street
Adam Cruz
Cameron Diaz
Dizzy Gillespie
Thelonious Monk
Mongo Santamaria
Cecile McLorin Salvant
Jane Bunnett
Dee Dee Bridgewater
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