By Berit Ollestad
In a career spanning more than 50 years, Charlie Musselwhite has collaborated with just about everybody who is anybody in the world of blues: Muddy Waters, B.B King, Paul Butterfield, Bonnie Raitt, Alabama and INXS, to name a few.
Which more than qualifies him as a headliner. And that’s exactly what the harmonica legend will be, at the fifth annual Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival on Aug. 15, 2015.
“We want to outdo ourselves each year. Music is an art, it stirs the soul,” said Phil Fielding of the Festival committee.
Musselwhite will have plenty of help with the stirring. Swingadelic, the house band at Swing 46 in New York, will get the program started at noon on the historic Morristown Green.
Next up: A “guitar summit” featuring jazz great Bucky Pizzarelli, who has performed with everyone from Les Paul to Paul McCartney.
Up-and-coming Canadian trumpeter Bria Skonberg will follow, fresh from a scheduled appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Roomful of Blues, a Muddy Waters tribute band led by guitarist Chris Vachon, brings a gaudy resume that includes five Grammy nominations, seven Blues Music Awards, and two selections as best blues band by the DownBeat Critics Poll.
“It’s my hope that we are creating a legacy that Morristown can be proud of for many years to come by hosting this event each year,” Mayor Tim Dougherty said at a kick-off event for sponsors at Pazzo Pazzo in Morristown.
“Let’s face it, we all have pressures. Believe me I know, I’m the mayor. But when I’m standing on the stage and I’m looking out at all the people young and old with smiles on their faces, it all makes sense to me why we put all the hard work and time and energy into putting this festival together for the town.”
It’s an effort with a nonpartisan flavor. Frank Vitolo, head of the town’s GOP organization, is excited that his Morristown law firm, Riker Danzig, will be a sponsor.
“We believe in this event and we recognize that not only is it good for business, but it’s good for tourism, since it’s located on the Green. This is one of those events that has no partisanship. We can all go and enjoy it equally,” Vitolo said.
Mayor Dougherty, who happens to be a Democrat, said he anticipates the Festival will receive nonprofit status soon.
He thanked a Festival team that includes his assistant, Kristen Wedderburn; Fielding; town Attorney Vij Pawar; Morristown Partnership Executive Director Michael Fabrizio, and Festival organizers Linda Smith and Don Jay Smith.
“The Jazz & Blues Festival crosses across all ethnic, racial and socio-economic classes,” said Linda Smith.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, there is something for everyone. These are some of the best Jazz & Blues artists of our time, and we have them live here in Morristown for our festival. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
COVERAGE OF THE 2014 MORRISTOWN JAZZ & BLUES FEST
-This festival, which is very well planned, coordinated, and executed should include at least one up and coming artist from the Morristown area. No!… I’m not saying me…I’ve done it and besides I’m an old dog….. I’m saying young and up and coming. Young artists need their chance to shine in front of large captive audiences and get valuable experience. It’s good for the town’s community to promote young local musicians too and give them needed experience. The acts listed here are all tried and true and tested and all very, very good….but give somebody new (at least one act) a short set and a chance at a major festival audience….I’m sure there are some young local guys worthy of a shot….Years ago this was done more and I can tell you I really learned and gained tremendously from it….so give the local new cats a chance!! The marquee acts have all had their breaks and good fortune…amen…It’s just good for everybody! …..tell you what…I’ll even pay for it!……….( and I repeat…I am an old dog!)…Grover Kemble