STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Golden aspen leaves did the Cajun Two-Step outside Carol’s Dollar Mountain Lodge as Tom Rigney and Flambeau played “Swamp Fever” inside.
And Yve Evans regaled audiences with tales of how Louie Armstrong was taken in by a Jewish family who gave him his first instrument upon recognizing his musical talent.
The RV lot at River Run has turned into the French Quarter and hundreds of feet are tapping and dancing at the 28th annual Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival at Sun Valley Resort.
This year’s festival-goers include dozens who are escaping the smoke from wildfires in the bay area, as well as some who were evacuated from their homes in towns like Santa Rosa, Calif. A few hail from Florida where they had to deal with Hurricane Irma.
Also represented are locals like Beverly DeChevrieux, who says she comes every year to hear Flambeau’s Cajun-flavored waltzes and reels.
She got her first dose on Friday as Tom Rigney played “Milk Cow Blues” and “School Teacher’ a lively number he wrote for his sister when she retired from teaching school in Kettle Falls, Wash. Coupled with the words “rock and roll” and “she’s out of control,” the teachers in the audience loved it.
And, so apparently do others, as it’s making the final lists of songs being considered for a Grammy nomination.
Bruces Innes, who has battled back from a pedestrian-vehicle accident a couple years ago, played a round of James Taylor numbers like “Carolina in My Mind” and "Bartender Blues," which Taylor wrote for George Jones' comeback after Jones had been dismissed by fans for too many no-show concerts.
“My name wasn’t in the Memoriam section of the program so I’m glad to be here,” Innes told a full house at the Sun Valley Opera House, as he noted he’s been performing for 57 years with the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver and others.
One of the hits at this year’s festival is Jaimie Roberts, a spunky redhead vocalist who’s appearing with the Terry Myers Quartet. She sings cute sassy songs about wanting to be rich and famous, and she sings songs like "When You Wish Upon a Star," having sung for 30 years at Disney World.
Paris Washboard’s Stephane Seva is winning friends with the unique washboard he plays. Unlike the more common American washboard that people wear around neck, Seva’s sits on the table. He raps out a rhythm using thimbles with his comrades who bring a trad jazz style all the way from Paris, France.
The Carolyn Martin Swing Band, meanwhile, is treating festival-goers to Western swing popularized by the likes of Bob Wills, as well as Martin’s own original numbers.
Today’s lineup will include a free performance by the Northwest Nazarene University Jazz Renaissance Band and vocalists that’s free to the public. It starts at 8 p.m. in the Sun Valley Opera House.
The group’s leader Casey Christopher said that the group also performs on occasion at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow and at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival in Boise. But Sun Valley’s is especially good for the youngsters because their eyes are open wide to the possibilities as they get to attend sets from a variety of musicians making a living at what they want to do.
“If people say they don’t like jazz, it’s because they don’t get it,” said Festival Director Jeff Loehr.
SOME OF TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
THE YALE WHIFFENPOOFS perform free concerts near the Sun Valley Inn Duck Pond at 3:30 p.m. today—Saturday, Oct. 21—and at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, weather permitting.
They will also perform at 12:30 p.m. today in the Sun Valley Boiler Room, which has been rechristened Satchmo’s during the Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival, and at 8 p.m. at Carol’s Dollar Mountain Lodge.
The latter two performances require a badge, which is available at the Sun Valley Lodge. The badge is good for other sets, as well.
THE BORAH HIGH SCHOOL singers and musicians will perform free concerts today at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Duck Pond weather permitting.
Also today:
A Marching Band Salute will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the Sun Valley Limelight Ballroom.
The Dance Competition Final, always entertaining for spectators, will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Sun Valley Opera House with music by the Blue Street Jazz Band.
High Street Party Band’s Dance through the Decades finish the evening off from 10:30 to 11:45 p.m.
Information: www.sunvalleyjazz.com.