By Richard Houdek, Special to the Eagle – This city embraced its creators of painting, sculpture, photography, film and other visual expression Friday evening at its first ever Arts Walk, but it also acknowledged its reputation as a center of jazz performance.

Hundreds of curious viewers munched hors d’oeuvres while viewing artists’ works on nearly every available wall, table and pedestal, in boutiques, restaurants and even a barber shop. Scores then convened in Baba Louie’s Backroom where BerkshiresJazz.org offered a live double feature of music.

Elli Fordyce, enjoying her third career as a singer, was the headliner, joined by the Berkshires Jazz Trio — Andy Jaffe, keyboard, Richard Downs, bass, and Peter Coombs, drums — in a set that included reliable standards, often performed in fresh tempos and unlikely harmonies.

Fordyce, candid about being a mid-septuagenarian, displays still-fine vocal support and pitch, she scats easily and she and Jaffe’s instrumental ensemble meshed remarkably, given that they met only a couple of hours prior to the downbeat, and had virtually no rehearsal.

Earlier, Eli Neuberger’s Jazz Tuber Trio — Neuberger on tuba, Jimmy Mazzy, vocals and banjo, and Ted Casher on reeds — produced some persuasive Dixieland sounds.

Their repertory was filled similarly with standards, but their instrumentation, punctuated by Neuberger’s tuba, bombastic as well as occasionally surprisingly sensuous, created fascinating textures. Mazzy’s flexible high baritone is reminiscent of the favorite old jazz masters of song Fordyce and the two trios, all of whom contributed their services for the evening as a presumed benefit for BerkshiresJazz and the Arts Walk, returned to wind up the evening with a couple of numbers that also were unrehearsed. Casher noted that he had not played with Jaffe’s group for more than 30 years before Friday’s gathering. But such risks are what make the art of jazz exciting, both for the players, and certainly for their listeners.

Winning entry, Ky Hong Le, Miss Hall's School

2nd Place entry, Valerie Smalls, PHS

3rd Place entry, Lena Godfrey, Taconic H.S.

Honorable Mention and Judges Choice awards

• Judges Choice: Kaileigh Hyman St. Joseph’s H.S.
• Kristen Bossio, PHS
• Lauren Farry, PHS
• Winnie Lee, Miss Hall’s
• Hannah Penner, Miss Hall’s
• Emily Ren, Miss Hall’s

The Judges Choice selection is intended to call attention of especially creative work that would not be suitable to be a part of the festival marketing materials.

Project coordinator is Art Niedeck, a jazz musician and music educator, and chairman of the Education Committee of Berkshires Jazz, Inc., which is responsible for planning the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival and other events throughout the year. In addition to its mission of presenting ‘live’ jazz, the not-for-profit Berkshires Jazz is chartered to promote jazz education throughout Berkshire County. Its activities are supported by ticket sales from the festival, as well as donations from sponsors, which this year include the Pittsfield Cultural Council, the New England Foundation for the Arts, Berkshire Bank – Legacy Region, and Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Here is a report of Pittsfield Sister City Jazz Ambassadors 2011 season, including feedback from the schools.

Photos: Lee Everett/Fine Line

John Krebs, PHS, winning entry Berkshires Jazz art contest.

Art teachers engaged in the project were coordinator Colleen Quinn, Pittsfield High School; Lisa Ostellino and Barbara Patton, PHS; Marybeth Eldridge, Taconic H.S.; Dale Zola, St. Joseph’s H.S.; Ellie Kreischer and Sophie Lee from Miss Hall’s. Judges were

Molly Rose Morgan entry in Berkshires Jazz art contest

These performances were part the 2010 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, including the Jazz About Town and Jazz in the Schools programs.

Joe Baione Quintet performs at the 6th annual Pittsfield CityJAZZ Fstival.

Pittsfield Sister City Jazz Ambassadors – Kittredge Elementary School in Dalton, Mass.

The Pittsfield Sister City Jazz Ambassadors introduce music to students of all ages, as an ancillary event to the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival. In this case, they visit Kittredge Elementary School in Dalton, Massachusetts.

Bringing professional jazz musicians into the schools helps introduce youngsters to wholesome entertainment while they are still impressionable enough to internalize it. Not only do they hear the music, they learn about its history, and about the evolution of jazz.

Brazilian Jazz Trio at the Berkshire Athenaeum – Pittsfield, Mass.

Buster Rides Again, with the Brazilian Jazz Trio, featuring Warren Byrd (piano), Jay Schwartz (bass), and Tom Parker, leader (drums). Ushering-in the headline weekend of the 6th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival

We B 3 organ trio at The Lantern – downtown Pittsfield

Barbershop Jazz Quartet at Shawn’s Barber Shop – downtown Pittsfield

Actually a quintet, the Barbershop Jazz Quartet includes Rob Fisch (brass), Ben Kohn (keyboard), Andy Kelly (guitar), Dan Broad (bass), John Haddad (drums).

Rob Fisch trio at Brulees – downtown Pittsfield

jazz accordionist John Culpo outside Ahava Amore – downtown Pittsfield

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w05bAeVgVzc[/youtube]

• First place: Joleigh Ferro (St. Joseph’s)
• Second place: Jae Hyun Seo (St. Joseph’s)
• Third place: Tae Kyung Jeon (Miss Hall’s).

There were five honorable mentions. From Pittsfield High School: Paola Pinero, Kyle Muzzy, and Connor Murphy; and, from St. Joseph’s High School: Martha Horton and Breanne Reilly. The teachers of these talented students are Colleen Quinn, Pittsfield High School; Marybeth Eldridge, Taconic High School; Dale Zola, St Joseph’s High School; and Ellen Joffe-Halpern, Miss Hall’s.

Judges for the contest were Grier Horner, Ann Pasko, Craig Langlois, and Mark Tomasi. The student art contest was coordinated by Art Niedeck, chair of the Education Committee of Berkshires Jazz, and Colleen Quinn. Joleigh Ferro’s winning entry, which will be posted soon, will become the visual symbol of this year’s Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, and will be seen on the festival’s poster, web site, advertising, and program cover.