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Before
the Duke Ellington Orchestra took the stage, the festival offered a series
of jazz workshops. Irv Jacobsen discussed music theory, Dennis
DiBlasio led a scatting workshop and Mark Jacopec took charge
of a drumming circle.
Other
musical fare included The Steve Green Jam and Lenny Roberts Jam. Pianist
Fred Hughes led his trio with featured guitarist O'Donel Levy,
while Brian Traynor played piano in front of his own trio. Frank
Bey's blues, DiBlasio's quartet and Bill Lacy's trumpet were
other highlights.
The
down home Southern gospel of Swanee Quintet and a jam dedicated to tenor
saxophonist Jim Roff led up to the festival's finale of gospel
and Dixieland music featuring Irv Jacobson, and Eleazar
and Tyrone Shafer on piano joined by over a dozen other artists.
The
1999 Idyllwild
"Jazz in the Pines"
 or
the sixth year this past August, Idyllwild "Jazz in the Pines" artists
presented some of the finest jazz music. Idyllwild Arts Foundation hosts
the festival to raise scholarship funds for Idyllwild Arts Academy and
its summer programs.
Located
in Southern California, high above Palm Springs and surrounded by national
and state forest lands, the clean cool mountain air and quiet natural
beauty provide the perfect backdrop for the weekend of music. For two
days the sounds of continuous jazz were heard in three venues, including
the outdoor amphitheater; the barn; and the French Quarter, a picturesque
outdoor bistro.
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Idyllwild Arts Academy is a private secondary
school offering the finest arts and music programs to serious students
from all over the world. These students have the opportunity to achieve
excellence in their special area of talent. The gifted student artists
and musicians who receive scholarship support from the Idyllwild Arts
Academy directly benefit from Yamaha's contribution as a festival sponsor.
Marshall
Hawkins, musical director, arranged a terrific line up. Featured performers
included jazz guitar great Lee Ritenour; Poncho Sanchez, percussionist
with Latin flavor; Doug Macdonald; Dave Pike; Billy Mitchell; Ricky Woodard;
Yve Evans; Pat Rizzo; Pete and Conte Candoli; The Harry Pickens Trio;
and many more of Southern California's jazz musicians. Also featured was
a Blues workshop presented by Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham.
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