Graham Dechter, Saturday’s honored, with Marshall Hawkins. Photos by J.P. Crumrine
Local jazz icon Marshall Hawkins brought in a band of brothers, and a sister or two, to the first ever, post Jazz in the Pines, evening Town Jazz concerts on Saturday, Aug. 27 and Sunday, Aug. 28. The event, a co-production of the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce and the Idyllwild Business Roundtable and hosted at Jo’An’s Restaurant’s garden setting, was by all measures a great success.
Charles Owens, saxophonist, playing the soprano sax.The Saturday event drew about 250 patrons and Sunday’s about 150. Adjacent core merchants stayed open and offered discounts to any showing their Hawkins wristband. Those sitting in the garden, drinking and eating and listening to some stellar jazz, remarked how beautiful the town looked all lit up for the occasion.
Saturday night honored up-and-coming jazz guitarist Graham Dechter, Idyllwild Arts graduate and guitar chair, from the age of 19, with the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Dechter’s first CD, the 2009 release “Right on Time,” hit number 11 on the jazz charts. His second CD is about to be released. Dechter surprised and honored his friend, teacher and mentor, Hawkins, by canceling a gig to be there.
Daniel JacksonDechter sat in with the brilliant musicians Hawkins assembled — Hawkins on bass, icon and Sunday honoree Daniel Jackson on sax, Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet, Bob Boss on guitar, Mikan Zlatkovich on piano, Roy Gonzales on Latin percussion on Saturday and Najite on African percussion on Sunday, Yve Evans on vocals and surprise guest, sax man Charles Owens, another jazz lion. Tap dancing percussionist Claudia Gomez Vorce traded eights with the drummer to the delight of the audience. Part of the crowd at the In Town Jazz Concert.
An end to the winter doldrums is a click away for arts-lovers who register soon for an Idyllwild Arts Summer Adult or Native American Arts workshops. Early registration is best because many workshops fill up on the first day — and through March 15, get a 10 percent discount for paying in full when registering….
The nonprofit Mountain Disaster Preparedness (MDP) has donated two automated external defibrillator (AED) units to the Idyllwild Community Center (ICC) for placement at Idyllwild Town Hall and Butterfield Amphitheater. Before moving off the Hill, volunteer MDP board member and Co-Chair Medical Director Dr. Dick Goldberg contacted ICC in May 2022 about emergency preparedness needs ICC…
Inland Empire teachers and graduate students interested in attending the Native American arts and cultures workshops this summer at the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program may be eligible for full scholarships. The workshops are from June 18 to July 6. Both week-long and weekend workshops are available and cover a variety of art forms. The scholarships…
Enoch Grubb studied dance in Simi Valley before attending Idyllwild Arts Academy (IAA) and is the first dance major the Town Crier has spoken with for the IAA senior spotlight series. Grubb originally became interested in dance when he learned about hip-hop and street dance. At the age of 9, Grubb started dancing and learning…
Saturday night honored up-and-coming jazz guitarist Graham Dechter, Idyllwild Arts graduate and guitar chair, from the age of 19, with the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Dechter’s first CD, the 2009 release “Right on Time,” hit number 11 on the jazz charts. His second CD is about to be released. Dechter surprised and honored his friend, teacher and mentor, Hawkins, by canceling a gig to be there. 
