The Arizona Classic Jazz Society held it 33rd annual Festival in Chandler, Arizona, in early November much to the delight of its many members and guests. The Crowne Plaza Phoenix-Chandler Golf Resort is a welcoming venue and offers four separate areas for entertainment all within the hotel grounds. The theme this year was “The Roaring ’20s”—not the 1920s but the 2020s! The Washington Post compared the last 100 years: “100 years ago: an election, a virus, and a cry from disillusioned youth”…“The age was ruined, knocked to pieces, leaky, red-hot, threatening to blow up...for some , it feels like history repeating itself.” Thus began the forward from President Helen Daley outlining all of the expected performances for the weekend.
The theme for the special educational sets was: IMAGINE the 1920s Roaring Again!
Cheryl’s Vintage Jazz, with Cheryl Thurston (ldr/p), Marc Caparone (cnt), Katie Cavera (bj/gtr), Danny Coots (dr), Evan Dain (bs), Dan Levinson (reeds), and Howard Miyata (tb), profiled Louis Armstrong with his standards and own compositions. Louis wrote several tunes for Ma Rainey at the time. Songs from the musical “Pennies from Heaven,” which featured both Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby, were highlighted.
Cheryls’ Vintage Jazz Band at the Afterglow dinner party: Cheryl Thurston (p)
