Arnold Jay Smith Jazz Vent

           IMPROV COMIC DELIVERY ONE DEGREE FROM JAZZDOM.  PROOF IN ROBIN WILLIAMS

The improv comic genius that was ROBIN WILLIAMS was never far from jazz in his roles.  Let’s start at the beginning.

Overlooked by virtually everyone who has written of his tragic departure was Williams’ affiliation albeit tangentially with jazz.   Bear with me and follow the thread.

                “IT RAINED BOTH WATER FROM THE HEAVENS AND MUSIC FROM THE STAGES.”

                                                                        AUGUST 1-3 2014 

As if in the tradition of some of the past Festivals the weather made a grand entrance at this year’s NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL:  It poured on Saturday, raw on Sunday.   Mud notwithstanding the music was the sunshine that warmed our hearts.

When the NJF was held in July celebrating Louis Armstrong’s birthday (sic) there was the inevitable day of rain.  But there has never been a rainout.  Once in a while a hurricane breezed by but no cancellations.