Arts and Entertainment

Week after week, we read about our talented mountain musicians performing with the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra, acting in Evergreen Players productions, or singing with the Evergreen Chorale. If you’ve ever wondered where some of these local artists honed their musical chops, look no further than the instrumental music programs in the Evergreen public schools.

The genre of music we call jazz has been described as “the infinite art of improvisation.” The true beauty of jazz is that this spirit of improvisation extends beyond the page — beyond musical stylings — to the musicians themselves. The jazz community as far back as the 1920s has been known for the camaraderie among its musicians and their ability to combine diverse talents into new musical combinations at the drop of a hat.

Every year, passers-by can watch as the athletic fields at Buchanan Park are transformed into the artists’ extravaganza known as Summerfest. First the white-roofed tents are raised, then the walkways between the tent pods are carefully established, and finally the artists arrive.  Buchanan Park and all of Evergreen are filled with a buzz as a whole new group of artists display their fine arts and handmade crafts for all to see and purchase.

By Sterling Nelson
For the Courier
Patrons of the Evergreen Jazz Festival will have the opportunity to experience “the San Francisco style” of traditional jazz when the Yerba Buena Stompers set foot on stage at the Elks Ballroom at 4:15 p.m. July 29 with their “Dixieland Jazz” theme set.
The Stompers will play three other theme sets, including “King Oliver” and “Jelly Roll Morton” (my hero), as well as four other “un-themed” sets on that Friday and during the next two days.