The Litchfield Jazz Festival returns August 6th--8th to the Springs Center and grounds of Kent School in Kent, Connecticut where it will celebrate its 15th anniversary. The festival is renowned for “booking the next best thing in jazz" and has included artists like Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall and Tito Puente. The Litchfield Jazz Festival, which has always had a recycling program, increases its “green" initiatives this summer.
With a desire to leave as small an environmental impact as possible on the region, the Jazz Festival met in early April with representatives from an East Coast-based green energy company, GreeNow, to discuss converting the festival into an eco-friendly event. GreeNow will install biodiesel generators that use 100% bio-fuel created from soy bean husks and a “green" air-conditioning system for the Springs Center Mainstage.
How does this really impact the environment? The reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the conversion to 100% bio-diesel is significant. If 500 gallons of 100% biodiesel were consumed during the course of the Festival weekend, the release of carbon dioxide into the air would be 2,442 pounds--a stunning contrast against the 11,100 pounds of carbon dioxide that would be emitted if petroleum diesel were used instead. This carbon savings is equivalent to removing 3 cars from the road for 3 months!
While researching biodiesel options, the staff discovered that companies in the region were claiming to offer “bio-fuel" when in fact their fuel contained a blend of as little as 5% bio-diesel, with the remainder petroleum. And even bigger surprise to the Festival staff was that there is no established industry standard, so this is common. As always, the Festival will distribute containers for recycling refuse generated over the weekend.
The Festival opens on Friday at 5:45PM with the “Friends of the Festival Gala" at The Morrison Gallery where guests will be treated to “A Taste of Kent"--signature hors d'oeuvres dishes from local purveyors. The Festival continues on August 6th from 7:45PM--10PM at the Springs Center, Kent School. The featured performer is legendary Dave Brubeck who is celebrating his 90th year with his Festival fans. An after-party/jam follows at Doc's Trattoria at 10PM. On August 7th grounds open at 11AM, and featured artists include Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and many more. An after party/jam session follows at the Fife 'n Drum Restaurant at 10PM. On August 8th the grounds again open at 11AM, and featured artists include Anat Cohen Trio, Jane Bunnett & The Spirits of Havana, and others. The Festival closes with the 15 time Grammy winning banjo player Béla Fleck with Indian tabla legend Zakir Hussain and bassist/composer Edgar Meyer.
Free luxury coaches will shuttle guests from nearby free parking to the Festival. Metro North packages offer discounted fares and tickets with free shuttle service from Tenmile River Station. For tickets and more information visit litchfieldjazzfest.com or call (860) 361-6285.
With a desire to leave as small an environmental impact as possible on the region, the Jazz Festival met in early April with representatives from an East Coast-based green energy company, GreeNow, to discuss converting the festival into an eco-friendly event. GreeNow will install biodiesel generators that use 100% bio-fuel created from soy bean husks and a “green" air-conditioning system for the Springs Center Mainstage.
How does this really impact the environment? The reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the conversion to 100% bio-diesel is significant. If 500 gallons of 100% biodiesel were consumed during the course of the Festival weekend, the release of carbon dioxide into the air would be 2,442 pounds--a stunning contrast against the 11,100 pounds of carbon dioxide that would be emitted if petroleum diesel were used instead. This carbon savings is equivalent to removing 3 cars from the road for 3 months!
While researching biodiesel options, the staff discovered that companies in the region were claiming to offer “bio-fuel" when in fact their fuel contained a blend of as little as 5% bio-diesel, with the remainder petroleum. And even bigger surprise to the Festival staff was that there is no established industry standard, so this is common. As always, the Festival will distribute containers for recycling refuse generated over the weekend.
The Festival opens on Friday at 5:45PM with the “Friends of the Festival Gala" at The Morrison Gallery where guests will be treated to “A Taste of Kent"--signature hors d'oeuvres dishes from local purveyors. The Festival continues on August 6th from 7:45PM--10PM at the Springs Center, Kent School. The featured performer is legendary Dave Brubeck who is celebrating his 90th year with his Festival fans. An after-party/jam follows at Doc's Trattoria at 10PM. On August 7th grounds open at 11AM, and featured artists include Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and many more. An after party/jam session follows at the Fife 'n Drum Restaurant at 10PM. On August 8th the grounds again open at 11AM, and featured artists include Anat Cohen Trio, Jane Bunnett & The Spirits of Havana, and others. The Festival closes with the 15 time Grammy winning banjo player Béla Fleck with Indian tabla legend Zakir Hussain and bassist/composer Edgar Meyer.
Free luxury coaches will shuttle guests from nearby free parking to the Festival. Metro North packages offer discounted fares and tickets with free shuttle service from Tenmile River Station. For tickets and more information visit litchfieldjazzfest.com or call (860) 361-6285.
