REFRAIN MUSIC

 

Now that I’ve had some time to look back on this year’s Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival (and sift through a ton of pictures) I feel the same way that I did when I was there. This has to be one of the best run and most organized music events that I’ve ever experienced. From the wide spread groups of events that get all ages involved, the closing of an entire major downtown street, food vendors that get your mouth watering for many different and delicious delights…oh, and did I mention an amazing amount of fantastic music!

Tedeschi Trucks Band, Charles Bradley, Jaimoe’s Jassz Band, The Record Company, Sharon Jones, Cris Kirby, Matt Scholfield, Matt Anderson, Maceo Parker, Charlie A’Court, Sharon Jones, Royal Southern Brotherhood and more!  If you’ve never experienced Harvest I highly suggest that you try it out.

I lived in Fredericton back in 1991 when it all started and my how it has grown, how the city has gained a sense of pride with the slogan (and twitter hashtag) this year being “my harvest” with the volunteers from the festival being exemplary, friendly, helpful, efficient, and fun…bravo!

The music, well, was nothing short of spectacular. I saw some of the tightest bands backing up some of the most amazing vocal talent I’ve ever seen. The crowds obviously had their favorites, but also were won over by many acts early. One of the many acts that stood out for me was Charles Bradley who blew me away, with his James Brown styled soul, and a connection with the crowd (many that didn’t know who he was) that was nothing short of incredible. Bradley started chasing his dream at 63 years old, has one album (which I bought on very cool vinyl at the merch table) and was simply amazing to watch. His connection with the crowd was such that he climbed down off the stage during his final song, the band continued to play, as Charles walked through the crowd hugging the fans who scrambled to hug back.

Derek Trucks and his wife Susan Tedeschi blew us away on Friday night with the Tedeschi Trucks band, Trucks is currently ranked 16th on the Billboard top 100 guitarists of all time and lives up to that ranking for sure, his wife Susan is no slouch either on the guitar and has a stellar vocal. The band with them was outstanding, and meshed well with the husband and wife team.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings simply blew the roof off the Blues Tent on Saturday night, Jones being an entertaining firecracker that stopped moving once she hit the stage only long enough to kick off her heels. When talking to her backstage I asked her where she got her energy at 56 to do what she does, and she just said it was “a blessing”, for us too!

On and on it went, I got to see an Allman (Devon) and a Neville Brother (Cyril) give us a southern rock buffet straight from New Orleans in the group Royal Southern Brotherhood. Chris Kirby and Charlie A’Court brought us a pub set surrounded by thunder and rain that kept us hopping. Maceo Parker, who’s career has spanned more than fifty years, performing with the likes of James Brown and Parliment Funkadelic, supplied us with “2% jazz & 98% funk”! The week was one of the best musical experiences I have been too and am already making plans for next year.

I highly suggest that if you like great live performances, music that spans genre’s, and just an all around good time I suggest that you head to ‘Harvest’ next year and we’ll see you there!!

http://www.harvestjazzandblues.com/

Twitter Hashtags: #myharvest #refrainmusic