A Jazz scene in Hartford

Yes, it is true. Hartford does have a thriving jazz scene. I thought Hartford and Jazz was on its last legs, but all of a sudden, the Hartford International Jazz Festival comes along and kicks it up. We had a GREAT weekend. Jazz every night, club hoppin' after the shows, eating in the Hartford restaurants, meeting great jazz fans and musicians. The best time I have had in Hartford in about 20 years. The main concerts were awesome. Lou Donaldson w/Dr. Lonnie Smith on Saturday put on a helluva show. On Sunday evening, we heard Cyrus Chestnut with Eric Alexander doing a Coltrane tribute. It may have been THE best jazz performance I have ever seen. These incredible musicians playing Coltrane classics in a small NYC type club, was the perfect atmosphere. They blew the doors off the house with hard-driving renditions of Cousin Mary and Mr. PC, and brought the crowd to tears with beautiful ballads like Naima. A memorable weekend.