PROVINCETOWN

A R T S

2006/07

The Birth of a Jazz Festival: The 2nd Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival

The oldest arts colony in the United States, Provincetown boasted a time during the 50’s and 60’s when you could hear big name musicians Miles Davis, Tony Williams, Billie Holiday, and numerous jazz greats. Jazz, the original, quintessential American art form has always been here. As portrayed in the film Field of Dreams, where “If you build it, they will come,” the happy marriage between the incredible music and the loveliest location on Cape Cod is a dream come true for Bart Weisman, Executive Producer of the 2nd Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival, to take place August 11-13, 2006.

This year’s Friday night Festival headliner, Lea DeLaria will be on stage at Town Hall, along with special guests. Saturday’s headliner is resident diva Suede, and features the wonderful Zoe Lewis, among others. Vocalist DeLaria, in the studio working on her third recording, David, a compilation of jazz covers of David Bowie tunes, raves about the 2nd Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival. “So much fun,” she says, “the audience is so appreciative; they just can’t wait for the music!” This sentiment is apparent throughout music venues on the Cape – the warmly effusive audiences are a dream for any performer, and Provincetown perhaps boasts the best, most captive audiences ever.

Associated with Provincetown for more than twenty years, DeLaria continues, “I sing at lots of festivals – Montreaux, Newport, New York, London, but Provincetown feels like my home festival. I’m so looking forward to it…” DeLaria brings stellar New York horn players for her set, which features songs off Lea’s Warner Brothers-released Play It Cool; and will add some Cole Porter and other favorites to the mix.

The “Coming Home” vibe is echoed again by the ever-charming Jazz Festival Saturday night performer and Provincetown resident Zoe Lewis, an English lass who grew up on Ella and Billie and played the London pubs for her supper, and has been a treasured staple of Provincetown music for years. “I’m very excited to play our Festival,” Lewis enthuses. “Last year’s success proves how much people want live music in Provincetown. The Cape has a healthy jazz scene and this is a great way to bring everyone together,” she adds. Lewis, who tours across the U.S. and Canada, was recently signed to Judy Collins’ label Wildflower Records, plays standards in the swing and Latin vein, and serving up her jazzy originals, with the odd jazz ukulele tune thrown in for color.

Another Festival headliner is thrilled to be asked back -- resident diva, Suede. “Last year was such great fun – connecting with new players, seeing what develops in familiar tunes with new people. The Cape is fortunate to have Executive Producer Bart Weisman promoting great music, being a hub for jazz artists Cape wide (and beyond), producing this festival that is long overdue, considering the number of jazz enthusiasts and players on the Cape.” Suede is generous with her praise too of soundman and Brewster resident Tom Tracy, who “works wonders with the acoustically tough Provincetown Town Hall, so that every delicate nuance of the great jazz being played is not missed. He’s a real gift to the Festival as well.”

Suede will be performing a mix of originals, including her newest No Goin’ Back, a New Orleans blues tune about not waiting for our lives to be “perfect” to live them full out, which features the singer on her trademark sexy trumpet. Suede adds, “The Festival promises to be great fun, great music and great community for sure. We’ll have the windows open,breezes blowing cool and hot jazz flowing from the stage. As with anything in Provincetown, come as you are.”

The hot new Sunday Jazz Jam Brunch at The Cape Inn is a “Do Not Miss” for everyone, according to Suede. The tremendous wealth of professional local musicians will gather together in various formation to perform – horn players, pianists, vocalists, strings, you-name-it. Led by Bruce Abbott, saxophonist extraordinaire, teacher and all-around mensch, the Jam’s creative format features a different rhythm section playing every hour, while various Cape Cod instrumentalists and vocalists have an opportunity to showcase their talents. There is always plenty of parking at The Cape Inn for the 4-hour Jam, and all involved expect the Jam will grow into another, larger venue for next year, 2007.

As the entire planning process was left to Weisman, he did it all. Booking the musicians, fundraising, putting stamps on the flyers. Last year’s First Annual Festival 2005 format was simply one concert at Town Hall. To save money, Weisman used a “house trio”, employing the same musicians backing different artists for the three acts. In addition to being the Executive Producer of the Jazz Festival, Bart Weisman is also hot on the drums! He works frequently with his quartet.

The three acts opening last year’s 2005 festival included Cape jazz singer Carol Wyeth, Suede, and Lea DeLaria. The musicians rehearsed during the day of the festival for 4-5 hours, and took the stage at Town Hall that very night.

This year, Producer Weisman wanted a three-day format -- a Friday night Town Hall concert, Saturday night Town Hall concert, and a special noontime Jazz Jam Brunch at The Cape Inn. “This year’s goal is to establish the three-day festival in an economically feasible way.” says Weisman. For Sunday’s Jazz Jam, “We want to incorporate the wealth of professional jazz musicians working on Cape Cod,” adds Weisman. Modeled after successful Jazz Jams in Washington, D.C., it seemed a naturally innovative way to enjoy Cape-wide professional talent, and give established and emerging musicians the stage for an afternoon.

For future Provincetown jazz festivals, Weisman wants to retain the three-day festival format, and encourage headlining musicians to, and attract other A-list acts to the event. The 2nd Annual Festival will take place the same weekend as The Newport Jazz Festival. “Eventually, we want to have our Provincetown Festival piggyback with artists at Newport” says Weisman. Another major perk of Provincetown’s festival is the educational component -- many musicians teach master classes during the festival.

“Twenty years from now, we can look back on this and say ‘we created the Provincetown Jazz Festival’. We all participated in something that is a big ongoing musical event for the town, as the Festival matures,” says Weisman.

Ten years from now Weisman hopes to have established a solid foundation with name recognition for the Jazz Festival, and for it to be known as one of the major summer jazz festivals on the east coast. It will be an exciting event for people on the Cape to look forward to, whether you attend one night or all three events. During the festival day in Provincetown, you can go shopping, whale-watching, fishing; you can lie out on the beach, go to one of many art galleries and museums, or just hang out at a restaurant. Then in the evening, you can hear some of the best jazz in New England at the 2nd Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival.

CHERYL KAIN writes for numerous regional and national magazines; she is a music editor for a local newspaper and jazz singer living in Chatham. Contact her through www.cherylkain.com