Dixieland Fever In
Dresden Germany
Jaroslavjezeks - photo by Patrice Raplee
By Patrice
Raplee
The Dixieland Fieber (or Fever) Jazz Festival in Dresden, Germany,
is an event of considerable magnitude. This annual May music festival
draws fans and musicians from all over Europe and the United States.
Positively Entertainment takes to the streets of Dresden for
the sights and sounds of the city and the spectacular European jazz
extravaganza.
Famous for its beautiful architecture, the free state of Saxony has
come back from the brink of total annihilation from the '45 fire bombing
of World War II. The opulent pavilions and galleries of "King August
The Strong" once again stand sentinel over the glorious Elbe River.
Dresden has a multitude of fascinating museums, including the magnificent
Zwinger Museum. This exquisite museum houses the famous Raffaelo Santi,
Sistine Madonna, as well as a room full of Peter Paul Reuben's paintings.
The open-air markets, or Alt Marts in downtown are a great way to
sample the local cuisine and shop for souvenirs. For porcelain enthusiasts,
the world-renown Dresden Porcelain factory is just 20 minutes from downtown
by car, or 30 minutes by tram. The factory gives tours and sells their
beautiful porcelain on-site. A word for the wise, bring extra luggage
for the great values you'll want to take home. The current exchange
rate on the Duetsch mark is better than two-to-one on the American dollar.
There are many smaller cities residing just outside of Dresden that
are a must-see. The medieval town of Meissen is the essence of 12th
century design in the town's Dom Platz. A bridge made of stone and paved
with cobblestone is just barely large enough for a car. This picturesque
path leads to an old 12th century church and modern eateries, such as
the delicious Dom Keller restaurant that overlooks the entire town,
river and valley with a view that is unmatchable. Other sights worth
the trip include the Pillnitz, (an Asian-styled pleasure palace and
gardens on the river) and the town of Moritzburg.
The list of things to do is endless, but after spending the day sightseeing
and shopping, it's time to get ready for the much anticipated three-day
Dixieland Fever Festival. The start of the festival commences on a Friday
evening and continues day and night through Sunday. Cobblestone streets
wind around the restored 17th century buildings and churches that line
the edges of the old downtown district. Soft golden light spills out
from restaurants and clubs over the tables filled with laughing and
excited festival goers. Plans are made and routes are chosen, as the
crowd gets ready for the music and fireworks over the Elbe.
Dusk falls on Dresden turning the skies a dusty red that signals the
musicians to pick up their banjos, trumpets, clarinets and saxophones.
The anticipation summits and a cacophony of Dixieland music descends
upon the city with a lively vigor, as every international band possible
joins in the tumult. One of the ardent quartets exudes the spirit and
enthusiasm of Sweet Georgia Brown and Ain't She Sweet,
while fans of every nationality bob their heads and snap their fingers
in rhythm.
A. Pettigrew translates for Positively Entertainment in a brief
interview with this very talented Prague Quartet. "The band's name
is Jaroslavjezeks," states Pettigrew. "They have performed
together for five years and all of them went to the jazz conservatory
in Prague.
The group plays a repertoire of Bohemian, Folk and Gypsy music. In
fact, the Dixieland music that they perform has a definite Gypsy edge."
Pettigrew laughs, "I am not exactly sure what they mean by this,
but they are very excited to play "classic American Dixieland standards."
The band all agrees that Dixieland music and American jazz are "The
greatest, the best!" Pettigrew asks the sax player for his name
and is told that she would have "great difficulty pronouncing it,
let alone spelling it." She nods and indicates that the quartet
must resume their performance. Jaroslavjezeks joke with the audience
and then ease into a slow and sultry rendition of Blueberry Hill.
As if by some invisible signal, all of the music in the city stops
and the air is filled with an expectant silence. A low resonance, compression
sound explodes into the night air and brilliantly colored fireworks
cascade down into the Elbe River.
Collective "oohs" and "ahhs" capture the attention
of the giddy, German-beer induced crowd. The backdrop of the city behind
the fireworks takes on a slightly eerie appearance, as the visitors
of the festival are reminded of Dresden's old world architecture and
not so distant past. After the grand fireworks display has ended, the
music and the multi-lingual chatter continue with a boisterous appeal.
Several of the smaller restaurants feature only solitary piano-vocalists.
The pianist's melancholy voices seem to flow out along the banks of
the river and follow the couples that leisurely stroll from club to
club. From Tapas bars to traditional German restaurants, every club
in Dresden is filled with the sound of American down-home Dixieland
music and the Europeans love it.
The narrow cobblestone streets are brimming with music lovers; the
hour is late and there is no room left to navigate or investigate the
American musicians who have ventured to Germany for this international
celebration. PE reluctantly says, "Auf wiedersehen" to a wonderful
music festival and an incredibly beautiful city.
The enchanting and luminous vitality of Dresden is a perfect Mecca
and May is a perfect month to plan a visit for the annual Dixieland
Jazz Fever Celebration. For more information on the Dixieland Festival,
contact Dresden, Germany chamber of commerce, or your preferred travel
agent.
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