Jazz Jottings December 2016

The title of a Thomas Wolfe novel published in 1940 told us that “You can’t go home again” but for 25 of the past 27 years, I’ve found myself at the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival, initially as a co-founder and functionary, and in recent years as a journalist reporting on two and a half days of music, dancing and good times over an early November weekend. Festival director Helen Daley once again put together a diverse and entertaining lineup of old favorites, local bands and new faces. Fans gave the Festival high grades in emails and post-event comment sheets. Musicians love to work this Festival because of the cordial and efficient way in which they are treated with a fully-stocked hospitality room that provided meals brought in from nearby restaurants or by festival volunteers. One of Helen’s secrets is that she puts her entire family to work – four sisters and a brother, while husband Bill serves as an overall troubleshooter. The matriarch of the family, 90-year-young Bea Hadsell was on hand to lend moral support.   Wearing shirts proclaiming "Girls Weekend," the Hadsell family turned out in force to assist in running the hospitality room for musicians and patrons at the 27th annual Arizona Classic Jazz Festival. Shown left to right, bearing a strong family resemblance, are: twin sisters Mari