Despite the weekend’s well-documented downpours, John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble performed at Newport Jazz Fest without incident and much to the delight of those present. For those folks unable to make it (or otherwise interested in reliving the set) we present a multimedia menu of reviews, news, and sounds:

-First & foremost, check out NPR Music’s full recording of JHLE live in concert. The sound is superb and includes ample solid-brass snippets of already-classic Hollenbanter in-between songs.

-Grey Lady-lovers can enjoy reporting from NYT’s Mr. Ben Ratliff, both in the form of his on-the-spot bloggage as well as a longer, full-service/big-picture review filed after the weekend, notable both for its highlight picks and its take on the broader feel of the festival and its audience.

-For the New Englander viewpoint, Mr. Steve Greenlee offers up his perspective via the Boston Globe, desribing JHLE as having played “the weekend’s most innovative set”.

-In other words from the city on the hill, Mr. Jon Garelick provides an extensive rundown of his own in the Boston Phoenix.

-From up above the 42nd parallel, Mr. Peter Hum writes his recollections in the Ottowa Citizen, supplemented in no small part by swell photos, including this one of Theo & Kate.

Did we miss anything? Have you read or seen some key JHLE news that’s escaped our eye? Better yet, were you there yourself to bear witness & testify? Let us know!

Update: Alex W. Rodriguez, who writes about Jazz at Lubricity, brought this brief interview with WBGO’s Josh Jackson to my attention, in which John discusses, among other things, his take on Newport’s ‘facilities’. Thanks, Alex!

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These words have been brought to you by Jacques Swartz, Chronicler of John, to whom John has relegated all duties pertaining to web PR and general online upkeep. Jacques would like to reaffirm for all interested parties that he is not, in fact, Mr. John Hollenbeck, nor is he Mr. Hollenbeck’s imaginary alter-ego, but rather a fully discrete being in his own right. All queries, complaints, kind remarks and general feedback regarding this blog may be directed to Jacques at johnhollenwebpr@gmail.com

As you’re sure to already know now, John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble will play the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, USA on August 7th. If you’ve been on the fence about buying tickets, there’s still time, but we know at this point you’ve likely already prepared a whole array of supporting materials in preparation for your trip to Newport, including an estimated daily budget, annotated travel itinerary and home-made fiberglass stencil (“HOLLEN-YES”) for use in making posters and decorating public property.

If, however, you will not be attending–be it due to an unprecedented natural catastrophe on your block, or your detainment by government agents for suspected treason–we have discovered a means to enjoy the festival from afar. Turns out American media megalith National Public Radio will be both recording and live webcasting the festival from this site. John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble has even been included on a preview mix by WBGO, now available for your perusal. Obviously these Internet-fed aural experiences will fall drastically short of seeing JHLE live and in concert. But, if, owing to extenuating circumstances, you simply can’t be there, they will at least help dull the sharp pangs of longing liable to pervade your weekend at home.