INNS OF NEWPORT A CONVENIENT OASIS IN THE EYE OF TOURISM SEASON

Admiral Farragut Inn, The Clarkson. The Cleveland House and more offer variety, value

Story and photos by Dwight Casimere

NEWPORT, R.I.-Summertime is the busiest time of year in Newport, Rhode Island with wall-to-wall festivals adding to the already crushing stream of visitors to the Mansions and the numerous historic and nature sites in and around this idyllic harbor city. Fortunately, there is a network of quaint, yet elegantly appointed bed and breakfast inns that are within walking distance to all the action, yet off the beaten path enough to afford peace and quiet and a thoroughly relaxing environment.

Inns of Newport offers an enticing selection of properties that respond to the needs of the most discriminating traveler. The inns are all historic, yet. each has its own distinctive character. Frequent visitors to Newport tend to rebook with Inns of Newport for subsequent visits, either to reserve a favored room, or to experience a different property. For example, the Wynstone is graced with wood-burning fireplaces, deluxe jacuzzis and accoutrements that harken back to the golden age of travel. Admiral Farragut Inn and The Clarkeston both have an historic feel that rekindles images of Colonial times. Adding to the variety is The Cleveland House, which has exquisetly appointed rooms and serves as the unofficial 'hub' of the Inns of Newport properties, located on Clarke Street, a quiet, residential lane just a few blocks up the hill from the main shopping district and harborside restaurants. One of the outstanding features of the Inns complex is the stupendous breakfast that is offered each day. It includes a small, but scrumptious menu of hand-prepared breakfast items such as blueberry pancakes or hand-turned omelettes and a selection of fresh-made pastries and cookies, muffins, scones and shortbreads made each day in their ovens. The fresh-squeezed orange juice is a highlight! The communal breakfast tables in both the Cleveland and Wynstone Inns  become meeting places for travelers from points hither and yon who quickly become friends who anticipate reuniting to trade gossip and travel adventures at the start of the day.

Variety, excellent location and superb value are the hallmarks of the Inns of Newport. For further information, visit InnsofNewport.com

2018 NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL AUG 3-5

PAT METHENY, CHARLES LLOYD, GEORGE CLINTON AMONG ICONS STAR AS WORLD'S OLDEST JAZZ FESTIVAL TURNS 64


by Dwight Casimere

 Newport Jazz Festival Artistic Director Christian McBride leads his Big Band

NJF Artistic Director Christian McBride waves to the crowd after George Wein makes official announcement of his appointment

Newport Jazz Festival Founder George Wein expounds on passing the baton to Christian McBride

Harlem Swing Dancers get into the groove

Just into his first year as the Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival, Christian McBride has left his indelible mark on this year's lineup.  The 64th Annual Festival features one of the living legends of modern jazz, the legendary Charles Lloyd, celebrating his 80th birthday during all three days of the festival, August 3-5 in three different settings. Friday, he will perform with his current group, Sangam. Saturday, he'll reunite with his longtime quartet with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland. Sunday, he'll team up with singer and songwriter Lucinda Williams. Friday Night's Concert at the International Tennis Hall of Fame features the meteoric Pat Metheny with Antonio Sanchez, Linda May Han Oh and Gwilym Simcock.

The rest of the weekend is a cornucopia of the most diverse and exciting talent on the current musical horizon. Long-time Newport Jazz favorites like Jon Baptiste, Joshua Redman and Michel Camilo return to the Fort Mason stages, along with a dazzling array of searing vocalists. Gregory Porter makes a triumphant return along with the scintillating Jose James, who celebrates Bill Withers at the Friday Night Concert with a tribute concert, Lean On Me.

Lovers of jazz piano will delight in the talents of Matthew Whitaker, Isaiah Thompson and Emmet Cohen in the intimate setting of the Storyville stage. 

Laurie Anderson makes her Newport Jazz Festival debut. Other first-timers include GoGo Panguin, Martquie Hill, Sonnymoon, Nicole Mitchell and the Black Art Jazz Collective. Newport Harbor won't need fireworks to round out the festival, the inimitable pilot of the Mothership, George Clinton, sets the Harbor Stage ablaze with his P-Funk All-Stars. Satellites orbiting the northeast coast will be sure to pick up the spontaneous combustion emanating from the festival stage.

Welcome to the 64th Annual Newport Jazz Festival!

Here are some scenes from last year's festival:

 Jack DeJohnette presents Hudson with John Scofield on guitar

 John Scofield and Jazz DeJohnette present Hudson, they're latest collaboration

 Cecile McLorin Salvant on the Fort Stage

 Esperanza Spaulding mounts the Storyville Stageto host a tribute to pianist Geri Allen who passed away just weeks  prior to last years festival

Benny Golson presents his many compositions in concert

Macao Parker performs what he calls "jazz with a little grease on it"

 Trombone Shorty electrifies the Friday Night Concert stage at the International Tennis Hall of Fame

 The Roots Band at the Friday Night Concert

 A full moon over the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the  Friday Night Concert

Newport Jazz Festival Raffle winner

 Sunrise and sunset over Newport Harbor

GOODMAN THEATRE FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS NOW THRU JUNE 24

PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT SUZAN-LORI PARKS CONFRONTS THE IRONY OF BLACKS WHO SERVED THE CIVIL WAR CONFEDERACY

by Dwight Casimere

 KAMAL ANGELO BOLDEN AS HERO

 HERO WITH AIME DONNA KELLY AS HIS LOVE PENNY

 CHICAGO BLUES STAR MELODY ANGEL IS THE MUSICIAN/NARRATOR

PLAYWRIGHT SUZAN-LORI PARK

Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Park's Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1,2,and 3) clocks in at a whopping 3 hours and 15 minutes (including two 10-15 minute intermissions), but audiences will find themselves preening their ears to hear every word, with unwavering attention. The plays tells the story of Hero, a Texas slave during the time of the Civil War (played with resounding conviction by Chicago theatrical favorite Kamal Angelo Bolden (Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) , who is faced with a dilemma; join his master as his servant in the Confederate army with the (alleged) promise of freedom, or stay behind as a slave on the plantation. Not much is said in the history books about the role of slaves who served on the side of the Confederacy, but it is a fact that many were brought into the war by slave holders, some as manservants to their masters and others who fought willingly and vigorously,  with the promise of freedom once the war was over.

 Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks confronts Heros's conundrum head on with a brilliant and absorbing play that presents itself in blank verse, a similar form to that used by Shakespeare. At times, her work rises to Shakespearean proportions with its use of alliteration, hyperbole and irony, tragedy  and  a touch of wry humor, thereby touching all of the theatrical bases over the course of the play's three-plus hours. It is a masterpiece of theatrical writing and director Niegel Smith brings this epic trilogy to life on the Owen stage with an electrifying production.

The play opens with Chicago blues artist Melody Angel in her Goodman debut  as the Narrator and Musician, setting the tone for what lies ahead with full-throated vocals and strumming guitar, bringing to mind the late great Odetta. Her vocals act as a reference point and a reflection throughout. The rest of the cast is similarly superb. The rapid-fire verbal interplay between 30-year Goodman veteran Jacqueline Williams as Leader and fellow Goodman veteran Ernest Perry , Jr.  as The Oldest Old Man at the beginning of the play is priceless, and an indicator of the on-stage delights that come.

Performances are exceptional throughout. Aime Donna Kelly in her Goodman debut as Penny, Hero's devoted love, who waits for him while he is away at war, explodes with the force of Kilauea in the final scenes. Jaime Lincoln Smith is a bottomless pit of suppressed emotion as Homer (in his Goodman debut), the would-be runaway slave who loses his foot due to Hero's betrayal. Goodman Theatre regular Demetrios Troy brings a touch of irony in his role as Smith, the Union Army mixed-race soldier who offers Hero yet another path to Glory. A bright spot in 'Father' is the long anticipated appearance of Brittney Love Smith as Odyssey Dog, also in her Goodman debut. 

Suzan-Lori Parks is the only African American woman playwright to win A Pulitzer Prize. From this production of Father Comes Home From The Wars, its conceivable that there are many more such accolades in store for her in the future.