LENOX
T he soft plink of tennis balls ricocheting off rackets filled the air on a recent Sunday afternoon at the high-end condominium development here called White Pines, sitting on a hilltop with stunning views of the surrounding Berkshire ridge lines. A sense of moneyed exclusivity wafts though the air now, but the soundtrack was once much different.
Comments
Great article.
Interesting piece. I didn't know about the Inn's jazz history. I saw some rock concerts there in the 70s (NRPS, The Band).
I thought I was the only person who remembered Music Inn. I stayed there during the 1950s for a week every summer, sometimes two weeks, and then took long weekends from work. We got to know the musicians and listened to them discuss music - classical, jazz and folk. The first day I was there, Duke Ellington performed in the Barn. I met Odetta there once. I sat with John Lewis and his Modern Jazz Quartet at dinner sometimes. But I seemed to be the only Bostonian who stayed there; most of the other guests were from New York. Most Bostonians stayed at another place that is now Apple Tree Inn.
Its jazz roots morphed into a world music scene. Folk, folk/rock, emerging rock and roll and my favorite, reggae. The June 18, 1978 Bob Marley and the Wailers show was epic. Our team always arrived early (general admission) and consisted of blanket runners, who ran to the front and put down blankets to stake our space and 'haulers' who carried the multiple coolers with beer, wine, roasted chickens, salad and all the other things that make a picnic good. I saw a dozen or more concerts there ranging from Bonnie Raitt to the Bruce Springsteen's Thunder Road tour, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and David Bromberg. Noteable shows I missed were The Bands shows. We truly need venues of this nature, where over regulation is overruled by common sense, responsible people and the golden rule...Perhaps it was just a dream I had.....