Trumpet and saxophone notes are starting to fill the evening air around here. Most are waiting for musicians to take the outdoor stages along Church Street this weekend, but hints to the vibe to come are already popping up around town. As I walked up Main Street yesterday evening, I took in the sight (and sound) of a jazz band playing in front of the window at Muddy Waters. Jazz in my favorite coffeeshop - I paused to bob my head to the beats.

JazzFest weekend is one of the two best times to be in Burlington.* Restaurant patrons lean back in chairs at outdoor tables to listen to the smooth sounds lingering in the air. Pedestrians travel by with syncopated rhythms to their steps. The air feels lighter, sunsets are more picturesque. Everyone becomes an air jazz drummer.

tim f-something (fitzpatrick?), colin, danelle and i wound up wandering church street. since jazzfest has been downtown all weekend, tons of people were milling about. at least three or four stages were set up on church street, so the drums made it impossible to not walk in time to the beat. at numerous points, i felt that if i closed my eyes, i could see myself in a smokey club. it was great. the atmosphere was so relaxed--more so than even a typical church street day--that i had a huge grin on my face the entire time.
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we then walked down to the waterfront to watch the sunset. the mountains over the lake were indigo, while the sky blended from glowing orange over the horizon, into pinks and magentas, then into navy blue. meanwhile, the lake seemed to glow sky blue. so cool. at first we sat on the large rocks that were still warm from baking in the sun all day, but once one became unoccupied, moved to one of the large swings. we sat there, the wood creaking, while someone played a pan flute in the darkness. i had a momentary flashback to the weekend josh came up to visit me freshman year, when we walked down to the waterfront and i gazed at the sky while a pan flute played because in both instances, i thought about how this was what being a college-aged person is like--gazing at water and sky with that sweet, relatively uncommon sound. completely relaxing and peaceful. colin was smoking his cloves, so i was able to hear the happy crackling of the clove and smell it...which i have always loved.
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we left the waterfront around 10:30 and headed back to church street, where things were still in full swing. people had hung elipsoidals in the trees, so little kids were dancing in the light on the street, trying to figure out where it came from. in front of one tent, an older couple was dancing to the music, oblivious to everyone else. - 2001
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File this under "Isn't it ironic (using Alanis' definition)": My four-day weekend begins a week from today. I will surely be in Massachusetts for part of this free time. There are no shows that I know of that I have a strong desire to attend.

But Jason is opening for Alanis at the Wang that Friday. The one time I wouldn't have to defy sleep and schedules to see him perform - the one time I'm in town already - and I'm choosing not to go to the show.

*"Beauty of Vermont winter" be damned. If you want to see Burlington at its best, the two times to be in town are during JazzFest in June, the Art Hop in September.