Money for the arts
The Coeur d’Alene Jazz Festival that was popular during the 1980s has been resurrected.
Volunteer co-producers Carmine Conti and Chris Martin, and Jason Schroeder, of the Gem City Group, have spent the last year organizing Coeur d’Jazz, A Celebration of Spirits, which will be next Saturday and Aug. 20 at the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls..
Doors open at noon and music will play nonstop from 1 until 10 p.m.
At its peak the Coeur d’Alene Jazz Festival attracted crowds of nearly 10,000 people and was discontinued because there was not enough support to handle the growth.
Both Conti and Martin were involved in the original Jazz Festival, and worked with founders Jim and Cindy Loebig.
“Jazz is one of America’s greatest contributions to the world,” said Conti. “My initial goal was to take a little bit of everything spiritual throw it into this cultural pot and celebrate the blessings we’ve been given.”
Organizers formed a nonprofit group with the goal of donating Coeur d’Jazz proceeds to benefit Idaho and Washington high school music and art programs, and the University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton School of Jazz.
“It has not been a problem in the past but it is now because money for the arts is being cut from schools’ budgets. Supporting music and art festivals helps to keep the flame alive for our youth, our culture and our future,” said Conti.
The event will feature two stages. The inside “Alex Bedini” stage, which will be dedicated during the event, will host regional and local artists who performed with the late jazz guitarist.
Bedini, after a successful career of playing with many jazz greats in New York City and California, settled in Coeur d’Alene in 1976 and opened Papino’s Italian restaurant. He was well-known as a talented musician, and for many years jammed at various venues around the area. He died in 2005.
“Dedicating this stage to Alex is a recognition of his life’s work in music,” Conti said.
Alex Bedini stage performers include Robert Vaughn, Brent Edstrom, Mike Frederick and Leon Atkinson.
The “Gem City Group” stage outside will host international headliners including Tom Scott, Diane Schuur with the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, Tom Grant, DK Steward, Vlad and Voice-Trek.
Scott is a renowned composer, arranger, producer, musical director and pianist. He has 26 solo recordings to his credit and has earned three Grammy Awards and 13 Grammy nominations.
His other career achievements include composing television and film scores, and network movies. He has served as musical director for Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Olivia Newton-John, the GRP All-Star Big Band and has toured five continents as leader of his own group.
Schuur has earned respect and garnered praise from such legendary musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie and B.B. King. Known for her three-and-a-half-octave vocal range, Schuur’s career began at age 9, and continued while still a student at the Washington State School for the Blind.
Schuur made her Monterey Jazz Festival debut in 1975, and the legendary Stan Getz became one of her biggest fans and an important mentor after hearing her perform at the festival.
Both stages will run acts concurrently with universal audio and video feeds to monitors and video screens throughout the facility.
Attendees will be able to choose to sit inside or outside on the grass and enjoy food provide by The White House Grill, Fugazzzi’s, Luigi’s, La Cabana/LaCocina, Lil’ Polpetta, and Joey’s Smokin’ BBQ, as well as local wineries and breweries.
The Coeur d’Alene Art Association will feature an art gallery showcasing some of the region’s best artists. A percentage of the association’s proceeds support art scholarships at various area schools.
“This celebration should be like the music – spontaneous, honest and natural but with free form. The only guidelines to follow are those of your heart,” said Conti.
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