One thing that is certain, when Brazilians come to your neighborhood as well as purveyors of gypsy jazz, folks tend to break out in fever, common symptoms being song and dance, a truly infectious form of social well being.

I could not have imagined the Orcas Island Jazz Festival being so successful in its first year.  One reason comes to mind, a core of great volunteers who stepped up to the plate: Joe Symons, Chantelle Hildreth, Jackie Daigle, Brian Weise and Anita Orne, the Orcas Center staff, Phil Burbo, Kevin Dickey, Jean Dickerson and Donna Laslo at Orcas Open Arts. Donors that also made this event happen, Roy and Laura Lundgren, Jeff and Mary Quinn, Cristine Connell Family Memorial,  James Ford Bell Foundation, Win Rhodes, Richard and Diane Jordan, Frank Greer, Galen Burkhardt, Island Market, Dale and Jane Heisinger,  Jim and Betsy Nelson and a very generous anonymous donor.

We have already started planning next year’s Orcas Island Jazz Festival, thanks to all on the island who said “yes” to this year’s event.

I leave you with, “The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.” – Theolonius Monk.

Martin Lund

Orcas Island Jazz Festival