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BACKGROUND
Marc Antoine
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One dusky winter’s eve in early 1998, a handful of West Bend Sunrise Rotarians, inspired by a fireside chat, began fanning the flames on a hot idea: stage an upscale, high quality, regional jazz festival with a national reputation within West Bend’s premier park system.
Bolstered by internationally-recognized entertainers, they imagined the event would draw thousands of contemporary jazz lovers from all over the Midwest. The vision included people casually strolling the picturesque banks of the upper Milwaukee River, fine artists displaying their original works, and well-known area restaurateurs serving international fare — all while the tunes of saxophones, trumpets, and guitars rolled from one end of the northern Kettle Moraine to the other.
Their grandiose concept was realized on September 11 and 12, 1998, as Spyro Gyra, Chuck Mangione, Craig Chaquico, Peter White, and Tim Weisberg, among others, appeared under an enormous, tension-style tent on the grounds of scenic Riverside Park.
Richard Elliot
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The spirit was recaptured a year later, September 10 and 11, as David Sanborn, Boney James, Marc Antoine, Marilyn Scott, Daryl Stuermer, and Brian Culbertson graced the jazz festival’s stage, once again sending a smooth river of music through the glacier-carved landscape of Wisconsin’s countryside.
The 2000 festival brought record crowds, as nearly 4,000 people turned out to see Dave Koz, Craig Chaquico, David Benoit, Joyce Cooling, Daryl Stuermer, and Steve Cole. The mixture of bright sunshine, pleasant temperatures, flavorful rhythms, and superior showmanship made the weekend a genuine pleasure for all in attendance.
The 2001 event produced record crowds, as more than 4,400 people turned out to see Rick Braun, Peter White, Ramsey Lewis, Chieli Minucci & Special EFX, and Jesse Cook. Rain on Friday brought the crowd under the tent to enjoy the soothing smooth jazz sound while Saturday's sunshine served as the perfect backdrop for a full day of musical excitement.
For the first time in its history, the 2002 event sold out on Saturday, with more than 2,500 patrons filling the grounds September 7, after over 2,200 people attended the Friday, September 6, performances. Under sunny skies and clear, star-filled nights, Richard Elliot, Joyce Cooling, Acoustic Alchemy, Marc Antoine, Jesse Cook, and three other great acts created an ambiance that will be hard pressed to match.
History was again made in 2003, as the event was a two-day sell-out as more than 5,500 people saw the likes of Peter White, Gerald Albright, Greg Adams, Kim Water, Jeff Golub, and Willie & Lobo under sunny skies.
In 2004, and for the second consecutive year, the event was a two-day sell-out as more than 5,800 people were treated to performances by Rick Braun, Fourplay, Chris Botti, Down to the Bone, and Ottmar Liebert.
For the third consecutive year in 2005, the event was a two-day sell-out as more than 5,800 people enjoyed performances by Mindi Abair, Jesse Cook, Keiko Matsui, Pieces of a Dream, Kim Waters, and Kevin Eubanks.
While rain on Friday evening and cooler temperatures on Saturday were new to the festival in 2006, near capacity crowds were entertained by such luminaries as
Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Jeff Kashiwa, Marion Meadows, Steve Cole, the Yellowjackets, Michael Lington, Bobby Caldwell, and Steve Oliver.
Seasonal weather returned in 2007, with warm sun and clear nights welcoming a talented roster of performers, including Mindi Abair, Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson, Jeff Lorber, Marion Meadows, Euge Groove, Paul Jackson Jr., Chuck Loeb, Chieli Minucci, and Kyle Eastwood.
The West Bend Sunrise Rotary’s charitable foundation sought to establish itself in both the local community and greater Rotary organizations with its high-profile extravaganza, and it did!
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Presenting Sponsors
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