Riverside Jazz Festival

Pfiffner Park, Stevens Point, WI
Sunday 3rd September 2017

So I find myself unexpectedly in central Wisconsin. I haven't been here at this time of year since 1987. In recent times, the UWSP jazz department and WWSP 90FM (I think) have been curating an annual, free jazz festival at the bandshell beside the Wisconsin River. I saw a poster and, not being in much of a mood to go out (considering recent events in my family), just wrote it off as the worst in populist/smooth/loungey/winebar jazz. I was probably being overly judgemental, as I didn't actually recognise any of the names! The Saturday was a complete washout — torrential rain all afternoon into the evening. But Sunday evening was pleasant so my mum and I cycled over to have a look. We arrived to see a large audience enjoying the Latin combo Salsa Manzana. We caught the end of their set — "Oye Como Va", etc... so populist, yes, but in a really good way I thought. Next up was jazz guitarist Russell Malone. The MC reeled off a list of names of people he'd played with, including Bobby Hutcherson, which got me interested. It was suprisingly technical jazz for this audience, I thought. Loved the piano player. But after a bit of people-watching (an absurd series of scenarios involving people coming over near where we were seated by the river's edge, taking selfies with the sunset), we headed home. I'm glad this is happening though, and glad to have caught at least a bit of it even though I wasn't really in the mood for live music and crowds.