Imagine listening to your favorite artist on a sultry afternoon, sipping iced tea, under the translucent blue sky, while glistening sailing vessels sashay their way across the harbor.

That is exactly what a fellow chum and I did at the Newport Jazz Festival at Fort Adams in Newport. We had anticipated throngs of people crammed into tight-fitting aisles, but were greatly surprised when we arrived around 11:00 am to find how efficiently everything was going. The lounge chair and ice chest seemed to be required equipment, besides a few back packs and other carry ons. People lined the entrance aisles, excitement mounting, as the groups began to strum out their mind-blowing tunes.

Tunes, crowds, and the blue water (Photo by Linda Eagleson)

The first group to join the stage was the Nicholas Payton Quintet, banging out some hip swaying jazz, as we careened our way through the crowd to find suitable seating.

I felt that I was having a flashback to the 60’s -- braless grannies, flower skirts, shorts, and tank tops seemed to be the attire of the day, with the temps were well into the 80’s. Feet were particularly noticeable to me, since most were dancing to the tunes of the band. Bare feet, sandals, and even some high heeled shoes, boogied their way to the music, as the band kept strumming on them old guitars and blasting on the horns.

Fiery rays from the sun ignited the passion, as hips moved to the rhythms of the bands. I lavished myself in the glowing sunlight, as the warm summer breeze licked my checks, like a baby’s kiss. Majestic sailboats christened the harbors, gently gliding through the waters, looking for a place to anchor. Some boats swayed passionately, as their passengers danced to the tunes of the bands. Some appeared to be motionless, as if the anchors of life had tied them down, while boaters dove into the crystal clear blue waters, cooling their sun bronzed bodies.

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Concession stands lined the perimeters of the field, with people indulging in Greek food, food with meat, food without meat, dairy products, sweet products, and the proverbial fat encrusted, powdered sugar doughboy. I contented myself with my water bottles and pretzels, knowing that anything else would be worn by me in very apparent places!

Crafters displayed tie dyed t-shirts, African ensembles, silver jewelry, and a host of other items. Needless to say, I frequented these booths quite often throughout the day, just to whet my appetite a bit!

The afternoon flowed with the different jazz ensembles entertaining us with mood-inspiring music. Herbie Hancock and Arturo Sandoval got the crowd grooving and jiving to their renditions being played out on stage. Sandovol portrayed the passionate Latino, soul searching through his brass horn and boogieing to the piano tunes.

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But the height of the day consisted of the sensual voice of Isaac Hayes. Entering the stage, the crowd seemed to melt into a gathering of hip swaying and hand spiraling moves. The finale, well, was none other than the infamous “Shaft” theme that totally stimulated the crowd into one big, butt slapping and hip-moving mass of jellied bellied people. The man still can make me swoon!

The day had to end eventually, but not without me truly appreciating the effort that was made by all to entertain us and to remind us to keep dancing to them tunes.

(Photos by Linda Eagleson) Linda Eagleson has been a writer for as long as she can remember. She has been published in local papers, anthologies, and columns, and participates in poetry slams throughout the state. Her passion for life shows in her writing.

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