Amy Krzanik reports from Goshen. It was a rainy Friday night on August 9 at the Goshen Fairgrounds as the 18th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival kicked-off with its “Friends of the Festival" Opening Night Gala. But the spirits of the Litchfield Jazz Camp students weren’t dampened at all, as they got to polish their chops on stage in the tent, free from the rain and in front of the highly impressed guests. Singers, horn players, drummers, and guitarists took to the stage and made it their own. Besides great live jazz, guests were privy to French wines courtesy of Vandoren Vineyards, microbrews by the Olde Burnside Brewing Company, and hors d’oeuvres and dessert provided by Fife ‘n Drum Caterers, along with cheering views of flower arrangements from Kent Greenhouse and Gardens. As the gala wound down, the rain stopped and strains of music were heard from the main tent, promising festival attendees that the night (and indeed, the entire weekend) had so much more in store. Proceeds from the gala support the Litchfield Jazz Camp scholarship fund for students in financial need. (Shown above L to R: Scott Thompson, Litchfield Jazz Festival's Executive/Artistic Director Vita West Muir, and Artist-in-Residence Gary Smulyan.)
Tara Maguire and Jazz Camp Director of Operations Albert Rivera; Board President Bob Lenz, Carol Lenz, and PR & Marketing Director Lindsey Turner.
Lori Fineman, Philip Horowitz, and Steven Fineman; Catherine Brubeck Yaghsizian, Dave Brubeck's daughter, and artist Chris Osborne in front of Osborne's painting of Brubeck.
Jazz Camp faculty members Nicole Zuraitis, Sean Pentland, and Julian Shore, Board Member Peter McEachern, and Dave Santoro; Ron Miterko and Board Member Jeanne Miterko.
Linda Allard and Mary Adams; Bass player Tyler Luppi, and singers Shoshanna Gabrielle, Ana Horwitz, and Ashley McKinley.
Catherine Bauer and George Griebel, who met at the festival years ago; Howard Schissler and Ira Goldspiel.
The Jazz Camp students wail for the crowd.
Festival Artist-in-Residence Danielle Mailer and husband Peter McEachern; RI's Mark Williams and Jazz Camp Music Director Don Braden.
Sherry Frankel and Bruce Frankel; Lucia Del Guerzo and one of tomorrow night's performers, Jonathan Michel.
George and Elaine McCabe and Lawrence Hartman, a festival lover from Philadelphia; New Board Members Victoria Elliot and Peter Adomeit.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
