September 12, 2008 - Jazz Fest

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

Autumn Jazz Fest:

A quick trip to Wikipedia to scan the category of Jazz tells us two things1) there is no such thing as a "quick trip" to Jazz and 2) there are more than twelve headlining categories of Jazz along with more than thirty subsets and offshoots to be heard.

What this "quick trip" does not tell you is that over its eighteen years, the Autumn Jazz Festival of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware has played home to nearly all of them.

From headliners to up and comers to gifted locals, our Jazz Festival has brought in everything from straight jazz to soul jazz to smooth jazz and swing jazz. And this is more than by chance.

As Vice President of the Delaware Celebration of Jazz, Inc. Leon Galitzin explains, "Our festival continues to grow when others have failed because we listen to the music interests of our audience and try to find the talent that will let them leave a show spent with us with a smile on their face, remembering where they were when..."

Amazing line-up: Neville Bros. and Joe Piscopo! Just like the big fests!

And this year's shows promise to deliver again. Remember the first time you heard the amazing gift that is Aaron Neville's voice? Did you know it's been thirty years since The Neville Brothers began their journey? Bring back any memories?

The Neville Brothers will swing by Rehoboth Beach and then jet off to celebrate turning thirty by beginning a new tour in Japan. (Wonder if they know just how far from an airport we really are?!)

It's truly staggering when you stop and think of the giant arenas they are off to headline and realize that in our Convention Center "nose-bleed seating" is just Row 29. Not Door 3, upper level, mile high, down the hall, to the left. Just Row 29.

In the world of Jazz Festivals, The Montreal Jazz Festival ranks among the best. With an estimated attendance in the millions, they get just about anyone they want. This year was no differentthey got none other than Joe Piscopo doing Frank Sinatra. And guess what: we've got him here in Rehoboth, too.

And if his show sounds clichd, or like one of Joe's Saturday Night Live skits, it's not. Joe Piscopo plays four instruments himself and creates a show honoring Sinatra out of respect and reverence of one entertainer for another.

What's new that's hot?

Want to say "you saw them when?" Get to Joe's show early. His opening act is Simone and she is none other than the daughter of the legendary Nina Simone. If you can snag a ticket, you will see history being created.

Under the Boardwalk

So yes, the big names are coming. Charlie Thomas will celebrate fifty years with The Drifters. Fifty years! September of 1959. If you love Rehoboth Beach, you'll love the opportunity to hear "Under the Boardwalk" sung just where it should be!

Jason Miles will be bringing his friends to celebrate Grover Washington, Jr. and the brand new Rehoboth Beach Theatre of the Arts will also join the fun, presenting Cintron, a group which blends Caribbean Rhythms with dance friendly Latin Jazz, crossover Latin Pop, bilingual salsa, and old-school R&B into a vibrant live performance you won't soon forget.

Giving back counts

But like so many things "Rehoboth," this isn't a simple story about a few names playing at our local venues. The Autumn Jazz Festival began as a way for local restaurants and businesses to extend our summer season and thus help them get by financially through the year.

But fourteen years ago, having established the festival, organizers formalized The Autumn Jazz Festival into a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Proceeds now go to benefit Beebe's Progress for Prostate, Beebe's Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, and the Sussex Family YMCA. So yes folks, all this music benefits the community as well.

But the best part is that for all the growth of the festival or Rehoboth Beach itself for that matter, isn't it grand to realize that we are the lucky ones, sitting in Rows 1 to 29, giving back and getting back?

Sure, we have the option of driving two and a half hours, paying the tolls, paying to park and then paying for a show that is absolutely profit-driven. We often do so. But the Autumn Jazz Festival gives us all an opportunity to be philanthropists by simply heading into town for all that jazz.

We've got music, how about the food?

What would a festival beespecially one that started in back rooms of our restaurantswithout indulging in some fabulous food? Both opening night and closing night will have cabaret style seating (tables and chairs) with two different menus. Opening night offers a Taste of Rehoboth Challenge. Ten restaurants will compete to see who has the best offering (using only chicken breast, shrimp or crabmeat). Last year's $1000 winner, Casa Dileo, will create an Italian Buffet for the closing night "Grand Jam" cabaret. Three restaurants will also compete for the best dessertwhich was won last year by Caf Sol.

A new partner

With success comes choice. Dennis Santangini, Leon Galitzin, and Cass Naylor chose to look upon their success as an opportunity to reinvest in the festival's origins. They invited Rehoboth Beach Main Street to work with them this year, returning to the streets of downtown. It will feature lights on Rehoboth Avenue, musicians in nooks and crannies throughout town, a big free bandstand concert, and buttons proclaiming "Autumn Jazz Festival."

As nineteen years quickly turns to preparation for twenty, this is on the cusp of being a full-fledged, all over town festival. With the generosity of sponsors Beebe Medical Center and Lewes Auto Mall leading the way, and new supporters such as Catchers, Mariachi's, Stoney Lonen, Frogg Pond, Dogfish Head, Nage, and Mosiac joining friends Java Byte Caf and Red Square, the festival hopes you will wine, dine, share their art, and support them.

So whether you go hear Aaron or Joe, the Drifters or Pamala Stanley at the Moonor the dozens of other entertainers in so many places throughout downtown, just think of it as community service. Who knew it could be that easy and that much fun!

For Autumn Jazz tickets call 1-800-29music or visit rehobothjazz.com.

Images: Painting - JAZZ, by Mary Pritchard. Photo: Taste of Rehoboth. Musicians: Gerald Albright and Chris Botti.

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No. 13 September 12, 2008