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Washington Monument

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This past weekend Nancy was in North Carolina for a baby shower, so I had Saturday to myself.  It is not often that I get a day by myself so I took the opportunity to walk around Arlington and DC.  The weather started off below freezing but the high was going to be near fifty and for the middle of winter around here, that is not bad.  I saw Nancy off around 8 and by 9 I was out the door and headed north.

My first stop was to Arlington National Cemetery, weird I know.  A good friend of mine died a few years back and I have always wanted to go back to his grave and smoke a cigar.  I sat there for 45 minutes or so, smoking my cigar and just enjoying the early morning.  I left one on his grave for him, I hoped he liked it.

From there I was in a walking mood and took the Mount Vernon Trail north to Roosevelt Island.  The trail was filled with runners and bikers also out enjoying the weather.  The island is a little slice of nature just outside the city.  It is an 88 acre island in the Potomac between DC and Virginia that years ago was last purchased by the Theodore Roosevelt Association and given to the American people.  On the island is a memorial to the 26th president with several hiking trails that cross the island.  I took the longest trail around the island and was pretty impressed with the amount of wildlife I saw for such a small island.  I managed to photograph cardinals, robins, a woodpecker and strangely, saw a couple of deer roaming around.  I ended at the memorial which is rather large.  In the center is a giant statue of Roosevelt depicting him giving a speech with several sayings of his on either side about manhood, democracy, etc…

smoked a cigar with a friend

By now I had worked up an appetite so I walked back across to Virginia and had lunch in Rossyln.  I wanted to head to the Mall and enjoy a cigar but decided to cheat and take Metro.  For a beautiful day, the Mall was packed with people taking full advantage of the nice weather.  Most of the lawn was occupied with Frisbee football games, regular football and even a couple of rugby games at the far end.  On each side runs and bikers zipped by the tourists and pedestrians who where out in droves.  I just sat on one of the benches and did some people watching while enjoying my second cigar.

To end my day, I headed to the National Gallery of Art that just reopened their French masters section for a little reading.  I was disappointed I had to check my bag at the door but I grabbed my book and found a nice comfy couch to relax in and catch up on some reading.  I was trying to close to place down but I needed to get to my dad’s house for dinner.  For an entire week me and Nancy were not eating meat, out of choice, but tonight I was going to break that fast and enjoy a nice steak.  To wash all this down we headed over to Rustico after dinner to sample some beers.  We lucked out and got a booth in the back as some people where leaving as we were arriving.  We took the opportunity to sample some different Belgium and Germany beers from their extensive list.

Pileated Woodpecker

After a long exciting day I was happy to get home around 11:30 that night.  According to my GPS logger I walked about 6 miles in total and I was feeling it.  I didn’t get much sleep the night before, then up early to see Nancy off and all the walking wiped me out.  On my adventures that day I did get a few ideas of things to do with Nancy.  I can’t wait for spring and the cherry blossoms, if they bloom, I would like to have a picnic on the Mall again.  This winter has been crazy and is causing the plants to get confused.  There were the tulips starting to bloom on the Mount Vernon trail and some cherry blossoms at the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden starting to bloom as well.

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This years Duke Ellington Jazz Festival free concert on The Mall was going to be a little different from last years.  Instead of having a “kids” day on Saturday it was going to be filled with more contemporary music.  Also there was going to be a theme for the music instead of just straight jazz it had a New Orleans theme to it.  Many of the bands were from New Orleans or played that style of music.  This proved to be a winning combination of talented artists and some great music.

nice crowd

I skipped the Saturday show and hit the Sunday show just like last year.  This time I was able to get Bobby and Tracy, along with the kids, to show up and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music and sun.  Weather wise the day turned out to be perfect.  The sun was shinning and it was a little warm, but there was very little humidity and the constant breeze made things very comfortable for a mid-June outdoor festival in DC.  Believe me this town can get unbearable when you have 90% humidity and to go along with it temperatures in the 90′s.  Certainly makes you not want to be outside all day in the sun enjoying a concert, I don’t care who is playing I wouldn’t show up for that.  Our only weather concern was rain and that turned out to be a non-issue.

I left my house about 11am and took good old reliable Metro to the Smithsonian exit and walked the couple of blocks to the Sylvan Theater in the shadow the Washington Monument, so the setting is spectacular.  When I finally arrived at the theater the lawn was filling up quickly, already there were more people than last years concert.  Bobby and Tracy were going to meet me later so I picked a spot near the soundboard that I didn’t think would fill up to fast and provide enough room for the entire family to spread out with a blanket.

Donald Harrison & The 3D Experience

Not two minutes after I arrived Buckwheat Zydeco starts assembling on the stage tuning their gear and getting read for a show.  Buckwheat is the only group I recognized for the Sunday performers so I was definitely looking forward to this show.  He rocked the house and got everyone dancing with his set of zydeco music that the audience just ate up.  For one song he got a young kid from the audience and told him to “hold this note and no matter what happens don’t pull your finger off the key.”  This was great audience participation and added to the song.  Donald Harrisonn & the 3D Experience were up next, late as usual for this festival.  Unfortunately I don’t have much to say about these guys.  They played great New Orleans style jazz and swing.

The next act was Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.  I knew something was up when as the band was announced the entire crowd got up on their feet.  What was I missing?  I had never heard of these guys before but the crowd certainly had.  And if everyone is getting on their feet this must be one hell of a performance.  When the band took the stage I immediately noticed their age, they were all pretty young, and VERY talented.  They immediately started rocking with they blended style by mixing funk/r&b with a New Orleans style flair.  With Trombone Shorty born, raised, and schooled in New Orleans the influence is strong with the band in their roots.  It was such a party atmosphere and the music kicked ass.  I recommend if he is coming to your town you check out the show.  Near the end of his seat he even did the traditional New Orleans parade walk through the crowd coming within 10′ or so of my chair.

she rocked, from Nicholas Payton Quartet

After they walked off stage the beat changed a little with Nicholas Payton Quartet.  As a trumpeter Nicholas and his crew are more of a traditional jazz band from New Orleans.  Most of it was pretty straight forward with a kick ass groove.  Several times Nicholas would walk off stage and allow his band mates to be adventurous with their solos which was great.  The bassist, not sure of her name, was really getting into it, I loved to watch her.  She had this mop of curly hair and would start picking the bass bobbing her head.  It was a joy watching her play that bass.

After they were done it was time to leave.  Just like last year the festival was running late and I couldn’t stay for the last act, Irma Thomas.  I was getting together with Nancy for the season opener of True Blood.  It was another great afternoon spent in the city in the shadow of the Washington Monument.  The weather could not have been more perfect and I was happy that Bobby and Tracy made it out to the festival with the kids.  I couldn’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon.  The theme of New Orleans was also a good idea and I look forward to what they will do next year.

Sunday, June 14, 2009
Buckwheat Zydeco 1:00 pm
Donald Harrison & The 3D Experience 2:15 pm
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue 3:30 pm
Nicholas Payton Quartet 4:55 pm
Irma Thomas & The Professionals 6:25 pm

Photo Gallery from this music festival!

As a native of Washington Duke Ellington’s legacy is all around the city.  You just have to see the murals, or school of the arts, not to mention his legacy in jazz.  It is this magical mystical journey in music that is celebrated every year in DC.  Late in summer for a week the city of DC is alive with jazz.  Bohemian Caverns, Blues Alley, Twins Jazz, and even the 9:30 Club host some of the greats in the jazz world.  It all culminated in the free jazz festival at the Sylvan Amphitheatre next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall.

Taj Mahal

This year had an impressive lineup of artists: Afro Blue, Taj Mahal, Christian McBride Quartet, Conrad Herwig Latin Side Project, McCoy Tyner Quartet, Dee Dee Bridgewater.  I took Metro into the city and arrived a little late.  The crowd was a little thin when I arrived so I was able to get a good spot right next to the sound board.  The sun was shining without a cloud in the sky, unfortunately this made it a little hot when sitting in the sun without any shade.

Afro Blue was the first on stage and was already performing their set when I arrived.  They are a vocal jazz ensemble from Howard University singing jazz standards and a few of their own tunes.  Unfortunately they didn’t float my boat and I quickly became bored with them.

Next up was Taj Mahal with some great blues.  This trio is a kick ass blues band that rocked the house.  I had heard a couple of his tracks on XM radios Beyond Jazz channel and was excited to see them.  They did not disappoint.

christian McBride Quartet

Christian McBride Quartet was up next, another band that I have heard on Beyond Jazz.  The quartet that McBride had was definitely a funky jazz fusion sound.  They played several songs from their Live at Tonic cd.  I wish I got all the names down because they were great songs.  The jams were precise and well thought out, never did it get to melodic or repetitive.  Each member would have a solo and they would play off each other very well.  Like all good jazz the beginning and end were well established with the middle filled with jams and noodling.  I look forward to see these guys again.

Conrad Herwig Latin Side Project

Already the festival had quite a varied lineup, now it was time for a little latin twist.  Conrad Herwig Latin Side Project provided the change in tempo, literally.  These guys mixed salsa, merengue and other latin styles with jazz standards from days past.  I wanted to get up and dance while listening to them play, the music was so rhythmic.  About half way through the set they invited a special guest saxophonist, I only wish I could remembered his name.

McCoy Tyner Quartet

Last up for me was McCoy Tyner Quartet.  If Christian McBride is where jazz is going, then McCoy Tyner is where jazz came from.  This was old school jazz at its best, right out of the 50′s as well as all of the band members.  There was not a young guy in the band and obviously they have been playing for a long time.  They were tight and it was refreshing to hear these guys after a long day of music.  The sun was starting to set and the temperature was finally starting to drop.

After their set it was almost 7 o’clock, the festival was running late and Dee Dee Waters was still scheduled to take the stage.  But after hiking the day before and spending all day in the sun I was tired as crap and wanted nothing more than to go home and rest.  I was hungry and missed football all day so I wanted to watch at least some of the Sunday night game.  Before long I was finally home sitting on my couch watching football.  It was a great day and an excellent weekend.

I look forward to attending next years festival on the Mall.

view from the amphitheatre