last night was a night of fewer concerts and more straight Jazz. We were starting with Mike Ledonne Trio at Max. After we picked up our timed entry wrist bands we had just over an hour to wait before returning to the line to wait for the doors to open. The timed entry groups are large enough that if we want our preferred seating we need to get back in line before the doors open. While waiting we drifted over to the Jazz Free Stage that opens each evening with sets by local high school Jazz groups. As we found our seats the Harley School Jazz Band was on stage with a particularly precocious trumpeter/singer at the front. She is Amalia Nugent, daughter of John Nugent, producer of the Festival. Next up was Gates Chili High School Jazz Band with massive forces of saxophones, trumpets, and trombones. We couldn’t count high enough, maybe 30 musicians on the stage. They were wonderful and set us up for the evening. 

Ledonne is old school straight ahead keyboard player. He left his Hammond B-3 home and worked with his bassist who he has a long working relationship with and drummer with whom it was is first time out to provide over an hour of fine Jazz. Before the performance we found ourselves at a table with Don Ver Ploeg. Don has been an accredited photographer with the Jazz Fest from its beginning and we have known him for many years even before the Festival. He tole us he had a picture of us taken early in the festival and wanted to send it. I can’t wait. 

Ledonne ran over and rather than run to The Temple for John Locke which would have less than 30 minutes left if we ran (an unlikely happening) we walked over to  Glory House for Jonathan Kreisberg Trio Featuring Eric Harland and Rick Rosato. This trio kept us entranced with yet more straight Jazz. This time with a guitar lead. they also ran over their allotted hour and we did not complain. With no immediate plan except dinner, Carol suggested we head for the apartment to avoid yet another night of street food. We were in the apartement for about 45 minutes before we headed back out to the Hyatt for Bobby Rush. Bobby is an 88 year old Black blues player with guitar, harmonica and story telling songs. After a few minutes on stage with his guitar and a brief biography starting in the Deep South in the 30’s he picked up a harmonica and and a portable microphone and came down into the audience where he told stories mixed with harmonica and singing backed by a guitar from the stage. Much of his story telling was blue as well as blues. We were enthralled and really enjoyed this performance, which also ran over. 

We stopped by the Jam Session for a while, ,but didn’t stay around long enough for any of the performers to take the stage. They seldom appear before midnight. 

I am not posting a plan for tonight as we don’t have one yet and we are headed out to the Public Market for breakfast and shopping. Maybe I’ll amend this later when I do have a plan.