Big turnout expected for Dixieland Jazz festival

The High Mountains Dixieland Jazz Festival gets more popular each year. Festival organizers believe the sixth annual weekend of toe-tapping tunes -- set for September 13, 14 and 15 -- may be the biggest yet.

"Pre-sales are running about 25 percent above last year," said festival chairman Ray Buselli. "(The festival) is growing in reputation."

The event has become international this year; a 50-person tour group from England is coming to enjoy the beauty of Sisters and the wide variety of swing and "trad" jazz bands.

According to Buselli, jazz fans will stream up from California for the weekend and people from all over Oregon and Washington will converge on Sisters. Buselli said the festival usually draws people from the midwest and east coast as well.

This year's festival features several new highlights.

There will be a Thursday might "warm-up session" on September 12 at the new Main Street venue a block north of Cascade Street between North Spruce and North Larch streets. The tent opens open at 6 p.m. with two bands playing from 7 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Betty Berger's Big Band from Bend will play from 7 to 8:15 p.m. After a 15-minute break, Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band from Orlando, Florida, will play from 8:30 to 9:45 p.m.

Cost of the performance is $5 per person for those who purchase a three-day festival badge and $10 per person for the general public.

"This `warm-up session' is being offered based on evaluation comments from those who have attended past festivals," Buselli said. "Many other festivals have these early sessions and we were encouraged to offer one too."

A "Tribute to the Great Jazz Singers" will spotlight three of the best vocalists on the jazz circuit at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sisters Middle/High School. Wendy Harston, Yve Evans and Jay Fleming will be backed by the instruments of Chicago Six and Queen City Jazz Band.

Three gospel sessions are set for Sunday morning, September 15 at 9 a.m. Igor's Jazz Cowboys will perform at the middle/high school, Queen City Jazz Band will perform at the Village Green and Mt. Shadows RV Park will host Stumptown Jazz.

Four venues throughout Sisters will host 11 bands in the three-day event.

According to festival organizers, badges will be sold at the Sisters Rodeo Association office the week of the festival and at each venue location once the festival begins.