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Tom Haggerty wrote on July 24, 2006 report
Saturday July 22,2006.
The new location: Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA.
Here is a review of the Saturday event....
The weather ruled the day. Arcadia CA is tucked up against San Gabriel Mountains and it advertises its Average Summer High Temperature as 89.2 degrees, however, Saturdays temperature was 106 degress with a heat index that made it feel like 114 degrees. Sunday's temperature was a mere 93 degrees. The daily temperatures for the week leading up to Saturday were 90 on Monday 88,87,90,95 then Saturday hit. It was uncomfortable to say the least there was little air movement until 7:00pm that night. The majority of attendees hunkered under the large canopies while the rest of the general admission crowd fringed the outside edge under small and large trees, some with "danger falling branch" warnings. The heat stress related injuries grew throughout the day as EMT's traversed the venue in sweat soaked uniforms, the sound of sirens a constant reminder of the worstening conditions.
It was difficult to enjoy any of the music due to the need for self preservation. The performers and perfomances suffered aswell.
In all fairness to the event organizers and performers it was a "perfect storm" scenario that left little in the way of listener satisfaction.
Saturday's closing performance,Incognito, attempted to energize a comatose crowd, just as the evening air began to cool it was over.
Incognito gave a performance worthy of the venue but the "Jazz" fans began to desert early in an effort to cut their losses much to the consternation of Bluey. The Jazz Fest ended with a wimper.
Having gone to several Fests in the past.. the defining feature has been the weather its been better its been the worst. I for one will be be looking for a "cooler" venue with a "hotter" line up.
