Discover Jazz Fest Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars Photo by Maggie Gundersen
The weather was beautiful and the music was superb. And as you can tell from the photo, we had a bird’s eye view of Sierra Leones Refugee All Stars, and their music was incredible.
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars are a group of musicians who escaped the horrific violence of Sierra Leone’s civil war, landed in a West African refugee camp and formed a band to keep their spirits up and their hopes alive. From these humble beginnings the band has now grown to be an international musical sensation.
People were dancing in the street. It was fabulous, and they are a group of have wanted to hear and see for many years.
I was lucky that my friend, Kennon Young of Vermont Gem Lab at 22 Church Street invited us to his office for a birds eye view of the concert and the type of jazz music I love. While sipping wine and listening to great music, I also got to peruse the latest jewelry he is designing and fabricating. I am definitely longing for some of his own creations.
The Discover Jazz Fest 2010 began last night and runs until June 13. Every day is chock full of fabulous events. Unfortunately with my work schedule, I can’t see them all!
My afternoon started out in an amazing manner. I had a meeting in an office above Leunig’s Restaurant at 5 pm, so we were lucky enough to get serenaded by a terrific band while we were doing media work with Kevin Hurley at Polaris Media Works.
For me it was also especially great to see the cow statute back at Leunig’s. I wish I had taken a photo last night to post here. It is my favorite cow statute in this incredible series of community art that may be seen throughout Burlington.
The Leunig statute had been cow tipped in a wanton, drunken action by vandals who outraged the Burlington community and entire art community as well. WPTZ Cow Art Becomes Target For Church St. Vandals. You’ll just have to stroll through Burlington yourself and have your own stroll with the heifers, but a little different than Brattleboro’s live event and parade today.
The Discover Jazz Fest, is not just an evening event. Today’s Burlington Farmers’ Market was a plethora of tastes, smells, sights, and sound as jazz from the festival was also a feature. This is Burlington Summer at its best. Make sure you enjoy this event next Saturday and every other Saturday through October.
Burlington is filled with so much talent. Tonight I am ignoring jazz to attend Switch On – Grand Opening Theater Festival – Day 4 at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts is Burlington.
Vermont’s newest black box theater: Located in the heart of Burlington’s Old North End. Off Center provides an affordable, accessible performance and rehearsal space for productions by local community theater artists, as well as a venue for educational opportunities for area students. The concept of a dedicated, professional, yet affordable theater space is a unique one in the city of Burlington, Vermont.
Tonight State Rep Jason Lorber, also known as one of Burlington’s finest comedians is MC for the evening, hosting Firefly Productions – Fringe Festival Excerpt, dug Nap – A Monologue Excerpt,
Actors Anonymous – Monologues, and Lee Anderson – Rebound. Who’s Afraid of Edward Albee
8PM – June 16-19, 23, 25 & 26 is next on stage at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts.
All I can say is don’t sit home tonight get out and begin summer in Burlington.
