It started out with a bang - and was a great success from the beginning. Jazz fans crowded Penticton, travelling between five venues and revelling in a weekend of great music and great fun. And that was just the beginning!

Every year since, the Pentastic Hot Jazz festival has grown. "And we try to make it better every year", says Michael Campbell, President of the Society, and never--tiring enthusiast. " We just hope we can fit everybody into town, that weekend." (The weekend he's referring to runs from September
8--10). His voice swells with kid-like excitement as he talks about this, his own favourite project. Excitement that is catching.

"Well, Penticton was ready for this, I guess", he adds. "We had a great first year, and we've kept on having a fine time ever since. People know the venues, and they take advantage of the free bus service we offer. Not only between venues, but to their home base, when they are ready for that.
And I'm told our line-up of bands is one of the finest --if not THE finest--in the west."

Some of the band line-up will be familiar to you who have been faithful attendees year after year.You'll remember Sister Swing, Chicago Six, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Tom Hook and the Black Dogs, Bob Draga and Lance Buller. New this year will be Black Swan from Portland, Climax from Toronto, Mighty Aphrodite, a Vancouver-based youthful female group, and Cornet Chop Suey ( I think that name is my favourite!)

Then there will be Penticton's own Cactus Jazz Band, and the local Youth All-Star Band. Many of you have thrilled to the Sax of youthful Taylor Cook. He's been part of several local youth bands, and he's a lad of outstanding talent. He obviously has a great musical future ahead of him, since he's
already a polished professional.

The Opening Ceremoney will be at the French Quarter venue, (that's the Trade and Convention Centre, for the uninitiated), from 6:00-7:15, September 8th. And this year the children from Columbia School will be part of the opening festivities. But don't forget that by 4:30 all venues will be alive
with music--The Wellness Centre (better known as Satchmo's for the occasion) the Sicamous, (Speakeasy that weekend!) the Elks Club, or rather , the Cotton Club, and of course, two venues at the Convention Centre. (French Quarter and Bourbon Street). Satchmo's and the French Quarter are both accessible to wheelchairs.

One thing has been changed this year. The Pen-Hi Auditorium will be the venue for Sunday morning's gospel service . That's not quite as pastoral a setting as the Gyro Bandshell, but it has great advantages. It's weather-proof, with comfortable seats and fantastic acoustics. Black Swan will be the featured band for the Sunday Service. You'll hear classic gospel jazz, from this Portland, Oregon, Band. Marilyn Keller will be the featured soloist, and everyone can look forward to a treat. She has a magnificent voice.

And the whole weekend is family-oriented. Bring your kids or grandkids. Eighteen or under tickets cost only ten dollars a day. Talk about good clean fun! And for those grandparents who find jazz a little too powerful, bring along the case for those hearing aids, and tuck them away. As I said, this is a family weekend! Everybody should be relaxed and enjoying every moment.

Those lucky people who have been coming faithfully, year after year, to this, their favourite weekend treat, there's the added fun of meeting again the friends made at previous Pentastic weekends. Some may come from quite a distance, so this is an added incentive not to miss a musical offering. As always, I keep hearing praise lavished on Penticton's very special volunteers. They make every event truly memorable . Visitors tell us Penticton's volunteers don't seem to know the meaning of the word "burnout." "Even after the official end of the Summer Season, they are still on their feet and running", marvelled one tourist admirer.

The Closing Ceremonies are at 3:00--4:30 Sunday afternoon. But after that everybody has to winddown. It's far too early to end the fun. There's bound to be an after-party somewhere. Just do a little enquiring. After all, we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of The Pentastic Jazz Festival!

2006-09  Dodi Morrison

See you at the French Quarter!