Greetings from Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin — not exactly what you’d call “wine country,” but the site of a wine event over this past weekend nonetheless.
That event: “Jazz on the Vine,” hosted by the historic Osthoff Resort. It was a weekend full of good food, good wine and good music.
I’m a multi-genre music lover, and the genre featured at “Jazz on the Vine” is typically referred to as “smooth jazz.” It’s a moniker many of the artists that fall under its umbrella don’t necessarily embrace, because it evokes thoughts of snooze-inducing “elevator music.”
Well, let me tell you, NOBODY fell asleep during the performance by Wisconsin’s own Mr. Lucky Swing Syndicate. Ditto for the group that calls itself Paul Brown’s Guitar Night. Brown has produced several albums by my favorite “smooth jazz” guitarist, Peter White, and plays a pretty mean guitar himself. He was joined by Marc Antoine and Kenny Rankin — yes, the same Kenny Rankin whose music used to be heard on “coffee house” radio stations during the 1970s.
Another group with a Peter White tie — 3rd Force — also put on a good show. White has performed on several on the group’s biggest hits.
While the music played in the front of the big tent erected for the event, wine flowed in the back, as numerous purveyors offered sample pours and full glasses for the festival-goers to enjoy. After hours, I joined friends in even more, uh… wine enjoyment — yeah, that’s the phrase I was looking for. We take several bottles to this event each year, and uncork them between performances, after the day’s music is over, and even during Scrabble games.
If you’ve never played Scrabble while drinking wine, you’re missing out on some real entertainment.
Now it’s Monday, and back to reality… which really isn’t all the bad when your reality revolves around wine. We’ll have some “real news” for you here on VinesseTODAY.com as the week unfolds, so be sure to stop by each day.
