News & Features
From the Idyllwild Town Crier weekly newspaper, 09.02.10 edition.

Jazz in the Pines 2010

By J.P. Crumrine, Editor

Another superb weekend of music — mostly jazz — ended early Sunday evening with the silence of the final melodies and last dancers departing the French Quarter. This year, it seemed very fitting to close the festival at this venue because of the frequent references to the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina nearly washing New Orleans away.

But Saturday and Sunday again demonstrated the unifying grace of jazz music and the musicians who play it. Festival emcee Bubba Jackson said, “[Jazz in the Pines] is very special. You can come out and hear Graham Dechter to Marshall Hawkins and then David Benoit to Oscar Hernández, all in one place. Idyllwild is what it’s about.”

The weather, the music and the setting all produced an inspirational weekend. Besides the dancers in the French Quarter who stayed until the last moment, the audience in Holmes Amphitheatre stayed at grassy knoll until Hernández finished his Latin tones. The Barn, Stephens Recital Hall, was also filled until Henry Franklin and his quartet rested.

Not only did people stay late to enjoy the talented performers, but they came early. On Saturday, Nick Martinez of Palm Springs was at the head of the line waiting to get his favorite spot. He arrived at 7 a.m. to ensure priority. “The first ten or so all know each other from previous years,” he said. “We only see each other once a year at the Jazz Festival.”

Right behind him were Pat and Amy from Garner Valley with their friend, Caroline, from Texas. They also have favorite spots and despite getting up early on Sunday, were again second in line. This time, Aletrice and Mauri Flora were first. But on Sunday, attendees sleep later. The Floras only had to arrive at 8:30 a.m. to be first. They had a slight edge, having left their chairs and blanket overnight, in case they weren’t first.

The return of Ted Cummings may have prevented fires, ticket scalping and other problems. And if Cummings only made the weekend free of smaller problems so that the audience could enjoy food, beverages and sweet jazz, he was successful.

The new policy, which limited people from bringing food and beverages into the festival, produced a good weekend for food vendors. Chillier than normal temperatures also contributed to the desire to consume calories, preferably in heated form. Several food vendors felt that their Saturday business equaled the weekend totals from previous years.

But the promenade from Stephens to Holmes was a constant parade of visitors moving between venues and seeking out different performers for their listening enjoyment.

Before the final chord wafted into the evening sky, people were asking who was returning, would we hear them next year and making their annual date with strangers to share a growing Idyllwild tradition.

J.P. Crumrine can be reached at jp@towncrier.com.

Click here to try an Online Subscription to the
Town Crier weekly newspaper
FREE for TWO FULL MONTHS!

WEBMASTER