I enjoyed several performances at this year’s PEC Jazz Festival. But there were many I couldn’t get to. So I asked some local jazz aficionados about the most memorable moments.

A long-time supporter of the festival, Libby Crombie, made a general declaration: “they have once again made Picton and the County a very special place to be in August. There is nothing better than a hot summer night or morning and the sounds of jazz emanating from Saint Mary Magdalene Church, the Glenwood Cemetery, the Waring Hall, and so many more venues.”

One highlight for me was opening night with Big Smoke Brass at Huff Estates. Their youthful big busking spirit, nifty charts of originals and brass band interpretations of contemporary popular music (much of which I barely recognized) were delivered to an enthusiastic audience, many of whom were there for the fourth time in as many years. They played “YMCA,” of course, a Tears for Fears medley, “Billie Jean,” and closed with an elaborate “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Their constant motion (often choreographed) reminded me of the street energy of the Shuffle Demons.

Brad Crombie reports on guitarist Eric St-Laurent at St. Mary Magdalene: “I had never heard Eric’s music before and was quickly ‘pulled in’ to his original interpretations of great old songs as well as his own material. Eric’s sound covers a wide range of influences, but my first take was that he must have grown up in Cuba and taken guitar lessons from surf-rock legend Dick Dale! Accompanied by hugely talented bass guitar and percussion players, with tactical trombone and vocals. What a privilege to hear them.”

Alan W. of South Marysburgh found the festival a bit nostalgic. “One of my great joys as a teenager was discovering late-night radio broadcasts from Syracuse and Rochester, introducing so many legendary players that I had never heard of, but who soon drained my allowances at The House of Sounds in Kingston.

“The 2024 PEC Jazz Festival was like that. I had heard many of the performers many times before. But it was the surprise discoveries that reminded me of those late-night radio shows. Denielle Bassels’s great vocals, Eric St-Laurent’s musicianship, and Joy Lapps’s steel pan was a whole new sound in what can be an old-school music form. So, for me, along with old favourites like Molly Johnson and Robi Botos at the sold-out Regent show, the great joy of the Festival was all the new voices that came to play so close to home.”

Festival Chair John Puddy confirmed, “The atmosphere was electric at the Molly Johnson show and left everyone with a smile in their hearts.” He also thanked Artistic Directors Sarah Kim Turnbull and Brian Legere, and “the dedicated Team of volunteers and our generous sponsors and loyal attendees who made it all possible.”

Celia and Peter Sage, sponsors of the Regent show, added, “we always love the after-hours jam: you start with a solid ensemble like the Gord Sheard Trio at the Regent, a couple more folks show up with their instruments, and things really begin to pop — the energy just keeps ratcheting up!”

On the morning of that late-night jam, Gord Sheard accompanied saxophonist Perry White in a duo performance outdoors at Glenwood Cemetery where sponsor Libby Crombie’s introductory comments reflected upon the communal aspect of jazz: “this music is for everyone, including those souls at rest here.” The rain held off as they casually played great standards, listening intently, sometimes surprising each other—communing, really.

And on Sunday night, saxophonist Mike Murley closed out the festival in the company of a Canadian all-star band featuring Mark Eisenman on piano, bassist Neil Swainson and legendary drummer Terry Clarke —celebrating his 80^th birthday this week and still going strong. They played a number of pieces from their recent album, all of which were “contrafacts”—new melodies written over familiar chord changes. Some great standards featured as well. “Autumn in New York,” took me back to hearing Mr. Murley play in Toronto in the early 1990s. Brad Crombie liked “Chelsea Bridge,” and added, “it’s hard to describe how sharp and fresh this band sounds, mixing traditional with contemporary material, you really had to be there to grasp the greatness in the room!”

Libby Crombie summed it all up perfectly: “they have lifted my spirits and fed my soul with their outstanding performances. Be sure to plan to come to the festival next summer. You will be amazed at the world-famous talent this festival attracts!”