VALLEY VIEWS

'Jazz in the Valley' promotes music -- and community

Margaret S. Inge, Poughkeepsie Journal

His blue eyes flash in the afternoon light as he jumps in and out of his seat, from one side to the other.

He is the very picture of excitement; his name is Charlie and he is 10 years old. His family is arranged down the row:Mom and dad, two older brothers and his flaxen-maned 16-year-old sister. It is August 2015 and they have traveled from the Berkshires to be in Poughkeepsie for “Jazz in the Valley”.

They have come so that Charlie can see, hear and possibly meet his hero, jazz legend and the most recorded double bassist in the world, Ron Carter. Charlie and his family are among the millions of Americans who travel each year to jazz festivals around the country.

New Orleans and Newport are cities whose names have almost become synonymous with the jazz festivals they host. A lesser known phenomenon, “Jazz in the Valley” has been attracting world-renowned musicians and jazz lovers from around the world to the Hudson River Valley every summer for 17 years. In 2012, the festival moved to its current location in Waryas Park to accommodate the growing crowds.

“Jazz in the Valley” is produced by TRANSART, a community-based cultural arts and education not-for-profit organization, under the leadership of president, Greer Smith.

Jazz festivals, since the first one in Newport in 1954, have consistently delivered a multitude of benefits to their host communities. Over 10 days, New Orleans Jazz Fest 2016 attracted 425,000 jazz lovers, despite bad weather and the resulting cancellation of one full day of the festival. A 2014 Economic Impact Study commissioned by the state of Rhode Island estimated that, in addition to admission fees, the 8,126 jazz festival attendees contributed $1,939,681 directly to the Newport area economy. Almost half of that, approximately $127 per person, was spent in the community for food and retail shopping.

“Jazz in the Valley” is a one-day event with a reputation for performances on par with New Orleans and Newport that draw world-renowned artists. People from their worldwide fan networks take Metro-North Railroad or drive to Poughkeepsie for the event in numbers that have consistently grown since the first show in 2000. It is anticipated that more than 1,500 people will be in attendance in 2016.

The potential benefits to this area are promising for both the arts and business communities. In August, when the mid-Hudson Valley promises to be its most vibrant and beautiful, the festival runs through the day and ends at 6 p.m. This gives visitors time to dine in local restaurants, visit other tourism venues and explore local retail services before returning home. This potential is but one of the reasons that the City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County Tourism, WJZZ-FM, Arts Mid Hudson and Common Council Chairman Chris Petsas are partnering with TRANSART to produce this year’s event.

Putting this dynamic program and production together takes many hands and resources. The Jazz in the Valley advisory board, spearheaded by Charlie North, retired CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, is active in making things happen and also includes Ernie Bruno, president of the Italian Center, and Jeff Kosmacher, director of media relations and public affairs at Vassar College. The corps of volunteers who return year after year to facilitate the day are among the production’s most valuable resources.

Jazz in the Valley 2016 is Sunday, August 21 on the Poughkeepsie waterfront in Waryas Park. The main stage program headlines Javon Jackson, a world-renowned saxophonist who serves as artistic director to the festival. Other elders of the art include jazz trumpeter and composer Randy Brecker, drummer extraordinaire Jimmy Cobb and notable pianist Randy Weston. This year’s featured upcoming artist is Charenee Wade, the award-winning vocalist who performed her original work at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The pavilion tent is open to the public and introduces visitors to an array of local jazz musicians. Food and juried craft vendors present their wares in the “market” area. Tickets for the main stage can be purchased locally or online.

Charlie’s dream came true; he not only went backstage and met Ron Carter, he has the selfie they took together for bragging rights. The entire family enjoyed their day dancing in the aisles to the music and enjoying the beautiful views of the Hudson. After a dinner in a Main Street restaurant in Poughkeepsie, mom and dad promised the kids they could come back in 2016.

Margaret S. Inge is a writer and training professional who volunteers for Transart.  

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"Jazz in the Valley” is produced by TRANSART, a community-based cultural arts and education not-for-profit organization. This program is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Program support is also provided by public funds from New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Anyone interested in volunteering their services or are in need of information should email info@transartinc.org. Vendor inquiries welcomed. The website is www.jazzinthevalleyny.org/