Saturday, October 15, 2011

Back to the Future...

The Litchfield Jazz Festival announced that it is moving from the Kent School back to its previous location, the Goshen Fairgrounds, for next year's event.  In addition, because the Newport Jazz Festival last year moved to the first weekend in August, making jazz lovers choose between the two, the 2012 LJF will be held the 2nd weekend in August.  Good move.  While the grounds of the Kent School are spectacular, LJF was not able to take advantage of them, opting rather, because of drainage and other issues, to hold the event in the hockey facility, a setting that, in my mind, completely changed the presentation from an outdoor 'festival' to that of an indoor 'concert'.

And not for the better.  According to a Wtby Republican-American article, attendance had declined by about 50% in the three years at Kent.  From personal experience at the 2009 festival, we (The Reet and I with Trish and George) were less than impressed with the opening night Gala at a nearby art gallery and subsequent music presentation at the hockey rink (albeit the performers, Jane Monheit et al, were first rate).
We begin the Fall season with a "Look Back" at this year's Festival.  Please enjoy our 2011 Festival photos

We thank the hundreds of you who were kind enough to respond to our post Festival survey, and we've heard you loud and clear. You want us to provide you again with a true "festival" experience - music in an outdoor setting where you can all join together to enjoy it. Your choice of venue was overwhelmingly our old home at Goshen Fairgrounds and we will be returning the Festival there in 2012. We were all aware of the unfortunate conflict created when Newport moved to our weekend and noted that, too, in your responses. Now you won't have to choose. Litchfield Jazz Festival is moving to the second weekend in August, August 10 - 12.
Kent School, our gracious host for the last three years, will remain the home of Litchfield Jazz Camp which will now grow from a month-long to a five-week-long program. Camp registration will be open online soon.
We will continue with our free concert series, Kent Has THAT Jazz, during the months of July of August, and thank Kent businesses for being involved.
I wish you a safe, healthy and jazzy holiday season and look forward to lifting your spirits through music in 2012.   

Musically Yours,
LJF 09 Line-up
Vita West Muir
Artistic/Executive Director & Founder
Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc.

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