By Melanie Becker-Donovan, Roswell Daily Record — According to Jon Amastae, Roswell Jazz Festival president, there were approximately 900 in attendance at all the Roswell Jazz Festival concerts this year, with 630 tickets sold at paid events. The remaining numbers are estimated at the free events of the weekend. “There were likely several hundred children and parents who heard them there,” he said including the Artesia Street Fair on the evening of Oct. 24 — the fair performance was an expansion of the jazz musician’s concerts.
Yve Evans, an American jazz singer, songwriter and actor, kicked off the 19th annual Roswell Jazz Festival at Stellar Coffee Co. on Oct. 21. The sweet sounds of her keyboard and singing filled the atmosphere of the little shop. It was a packed house for sure, and there wasn’t an empty chair in sight. Evans was born in El Paso, Texas, and her parents were married in Las Cruces.
Oct. 22 events began with The School of Jazz, a program offered by the various jazz artists for local students at the Pueblo Auditorium. All the area middle schools were in attendance. Roswell High School and Goddard High School were also there for the event. There were smiling faces all around with some toe-tapping, and a couple individuals even got up to dance along to one song.
“Why does it look like a plunger?” One middle school student asked. “Because it is a plunger. Sanitized, of course,” said jazz musician Dan Barrett about his instrument, the trombone, while holding the business end of a rubber plunger, which he then placed at the bell of his trombone. “It never hit the water, once.” The use of the plunger with the trombone was to create a different sound.
Musicians Dan Barrett, Bill Dendle, Davy Jones, Ricky Malichi, Danny Rubio and Allan Vaché explained to the students what their particular instruments were and what they did before they discussed the different songs they played during the “class.”
Next up was the performance of the song “The Hot Club,” featuring Vinny Raniolo, Adrien Chevalier and Richard Simon. “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” showcased Richard Simon, Harry Allen, John Allred, Danny Coots, Duke Heitger, Chuck Redd, Scott Robinson and Jason Wanner.
The next event took place at Reischman Memorial Park. The band Piper’s Trio featured Brian Piper, Phil Flanigan and Eddie Metz Jr. Their show started out pretty quiet, but people seemed to be enjoying themselves, and even a few passersby had stopped to listen here and there as they walked past the park to wherever their destination had taken them that morning.
Near noon, Yve and Co. entered the stage, with Evans accompanied by Malichi and Charlie Silva. Evans, with her beautiful singing voice and occasional joke cracking during the concert, had attendees laughing and smiling throughout the show.
On Friday morning at Reischman Park, everyone was back for another little concert in the park. Evan Arntzen, a Canadian jazz musician, was on the clarinet as well as the saxophone and vocals; French violinist Adrien Chevalier; this year’s guest of honor, Rossano Sportiello, on the piano and in the back were Metz Jr. on the drums and Richard Simon on bass. Allred was also on stage with the group, playing the trombone.
The last group at Reischman Park was Yve and Co., with Evans on piano and vocals, Malichi on drums and Silva on bass. Evans’ voice carried the show, and her jokes received well-deserved laughter from the audience.
The courthouse park on Saturday was bustling with activity from the free concert for the festival.
Jazz is very much alive in the little town of Roswell, and the talent this year was as varied as it was accomplished, offering a clear look at how deeply the genre continues to thrive across the decades. Each musician this year brought a distinct voice that contributed to an energetic showcase.
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