Comments from our Fans

May 21, 2010 11:57:14 PM EDT
Phil and Pualani,
Thanks for articulating your thoughts and memories so eloquently. No wonder you two throw such an impressive party: it's been a lifetime in the making. Elinor and I enjoyed every minute, including the impromptu tour created by Janet. Your patrons are faithful, well-informed and attentive - a credit to your dad's legacy and to you. Hope to see you again soon.
-Richard Simon

Mon, May 3, 2010 2:14:29 PM
Philip,
Just wanted to let you know that the 2010 party was fabulous. It is consistently the best party of any that we attend or have attended and we go to 8 or 9 parties a year. We especially like the Nighthawks sets and appreciate that their time was expanded this year. We also wanted to congratulate John Cocuzzi for doing such a great job setting up the program. We just saw him again this last weekend in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor Jazz Party where he was the honored player. A highly deserved honor in our opinion. We will be attending next years party and will send along a check for our badges shortly.
Keep up the great work. The Atlanta Party can't be beat.
Best regards, Mike and Sandy Wilson

April 28, 2010 2:00:41 PM EDT
Phillip~ Hope you are well. Many thanks for the great time I had at the Jazz Party. The lineup was great, and I really enjoyed Mr. Sportiello's style. The set he did with Nicky Parrott and Bucky Pizzarelli was sublime.
Speaking of Bucky, he did an unbelievable feat of guitar work in the hallway when he tried to correct a buzz in my old archtop with a butter knife (!) from the restaurant down the hall. I trust the man, but he had me sweating!.
If you have his number, let me know- he told me he wanted to stay in touch. It was a major treat to have him on my show, and he was very patient, considering all that he had to put up with at WRFG.
Keep me abreast of musical things you've got in store.
Take care, Dave Chamberlain

Mon, April 26, 2010 5:03:24 PM
Philip and Pualani,
My sincere thanks to both of you for the great job you did in hosting the 21st Atlanta Jazz Party! I didn't miss a note all weekend, it was truly the finest Party/festival I have ever experienced - and I will certainly be back for another next year.
I would also like to thank you, Phillip, for arranging my transportation to the airport with your good friend Steve Caruso. He seems like a great guy (and a fellow golfer also) - it might be very entertaining to include him and his harmonica in some of the impromptu sessions in future years. Please, also remind him to send me an email on the possibility he could visit me in the Myrtle Beach area for some golf and the Wilmington Jazz Festival next February.
It was also a bonus to ride in the car with Dick Simon, who proves to be a very interesting fellow (and truly nice guy) and has now gotten me very interested in the Sacramento Jazz Festival.
All in all, a great weekend and i know I'll be seeing you again!
Thanks once more,
Geoff Browne

Mon, April 26, 2010 10:03:52 AM
Philip, This was my 19th Atlanta Jazz Party, and I think it was the best that I have ever seen and heard. The party took on a different ambiance, this year, that was relaxed and flowing. None of the parties in the past ever had this light feeling, and that was part and parcel because there was not a "time and motion consultant" calling all the shots. Many of the patrons felt the same way, as I did, about the performance; being loose and relaxed. Musicians dig down into their inner core and play things, ideas with more creativity, when everything is less stressed and feels right. It is too bad that your mother was not able to attend and see that you are very capabily carrying on your Dads "dream".
Musically yours,
John Foster

5/1/2009 10:28:58 A.M. EDT
Dear Lee,
Phil was sorely missed but his influence was evident . The music always seems better from year to year. Thanks for the great party
Laurie

Lee and Phil, Thanks for hosting one of the most memorable events of my lifetime, particularly from a musical perspective. I can't begin to describe the emotions that I felt as I sat in the audience and experienced 21 of the best classical jazz musicians in the world. We will certainly sign-up for the 2009 event and I will try to send in my advance reservation soon. We very much enjoyed meeting John and Peggy and would like to share a table with them again. There were so gracious to invite us to join them for dinner on Saturday night with Ed Polcer, John Cocuzzi and Duke Heitger and of course Duke is one of my favorite of all jazz musicians so it was a very special treat. Regards, Lee

As we told both you and Phil, we had a great time at our first, but not last Party, but we lied, WE HAD THE BEST TIME :) :) !!!!! We can hardly wait until next year and are planning to bring friends. I can't believe we've missed 18 years of this fun. We've been to jazz festivals in the US and Canada. When we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area we used to think the Concord Jazz Festival was our favorite, but we now have a new favorite. Thanks for all your hard work to put on this party. It is very much appreciated. We look forward to seeing you next year. Best Regards Tony

" Congratulations to both of you for, once again, presenting the very finest in Classic Jazz. This years event could not have been better. The setting, the Hotel, The Room, the Brunch, but most of all, the MUSIC--------it was a 12 on a scale of 10!!!! It had everything, with highlights and stellar moments too numerous to mention. All you need to do for the 20th is to bring back everybody from the 19th. And don't forget Nicki. Her vocal solo with Mark was flat-out gorgeous. The "Golden Age of American Music" was one of the most remarkable periods in all of American history, and you bring it back to all of us each year with your Atlanta Jazz Party. We admire you, and we thank you so much for allowing us to enjoy with you. Once again, congratulations on a spectacular event, and we look forward to being with you, once again, in 2009." All the best to you and Phil ,and kind regards. Bob and Babe

Hello Phil & Lee~ My name is Dave Chamberlain, and my wife Kim and I attended the Jazz Party this past weekend and were as usual completely taken with the talent, the sound and the scheduling of the event. As a guitarist, I watched with tremendous interest the hard working fingers of Bucky Pizzarelli and Matt Munisteri. Keep them both on the list and try to give Mr. Munisteri a set to lead next year . he's quite a singer! I brought my 11 year-old son to the Friday night concert and took my father to the Saturday night show. My Dad was totally knocked out by the living, breathing music of his jazzy childhood. My son said one word about it : .Cool.. That about sums it up. Take care, Dave

A first-timer from Atlanta writes "Now we understand why people keep coming back year after year. It is a class act!"

From Chattanooga: "Thanks so much! Never been around so much talent. Wow!"

From Denver: "THANKS! It is always so much fun at your party! It is the best."

From Cincinnati: "We're relative newcomers... our third year.. but it's become one of our favorite annual events. It gives us a lift that continues for weeks."

From Fresno, CA: "Thank you for a delightful weekend... It was the best ever."

From Jackson Hole, WY: "One must give credit where credit is due", hence this letter of thanks for the 'bestest' jazz party I have attended in this century, if not my lifetime."

From Worthington, MA: Thanks for a great time... the setting, people (guests), accommodations and music are all the best. It is also great to see your family working together so closely to make the event enjoyable for all."