2008 Jazz Saratoga Jazz Fest

The Saratoga Jazz Fest turned out to be a spectacular event. Although the usual big entourage did not show up this year, Bowden, along with buddy Dan, and Bowden's dentist Hal made the trek to take in the Fest on Saturday. We arrived shortly after 10Am to set up our 2 spots: one on the lawn in front of the main amphitheater and a second spot with up top near the Gazebo stage. Great friends, great food, and, of course, great music!

See Dan's Photos

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008

Amphitheatre

* Jonathan Batiste Trio featuring 19-year old jazz pianist, composer and Julliard student Jonathan Batiste.
* Conrad Herwig's Latin Side of Miles, Coltrane & Shorter presents Latin-inspired interpretations of music by jazz greats Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter.
* Jazz vocalist Ryan Shaw combines a powerfully expressive voice with a clutch of great songs both classic and new.
* Saxophone Summit featuring Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman & Ravi Coltrane present their own interpretation of jazz legend John Coltrane's inventive, complex aesthetic and perform works from Seraphic Light.
* Trumpet sensation and best-selling jazz artist Chris Botti presents works from his latest Grammy-nominated album Italia which reached #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts.
* Grammy-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater presents Red Earth: A Malian Journey, a cross-cultural journey combining the voices, instruments, and music of Mali with the traditions of American jazz.
* Jazz-Rock Fusion Supergroup Return to Forever with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola & Lenny White reunite to perform the music that drew stadium size crowds in the 70's and created a new music genre.

Gazebo

* An innovative singer mixing popular Latin American rhythms with jazz, flamenco and the essence of her own poems, Andrea Tierra performs.
* The jazz composer, saxophonist, bandleader and educator Hayes Greenfield presents his fun, interactive, and educational jazz show Jazz-a-ma-Tazz that captivates the imagination of kids and families ages 3 to 104.
* Jonathan Batiste Trio featuring one of the most exciting young artists to hit the jazz scene in years.
* Maurice Brown Effect melds R&B and funk with hard core, high art mainstream jazz.
* Critically-acclaimed jazz violinist Jenny Scheinman performs with her trademark eclectic style.