News

We’re looking forward to tomorrow!

The Meadow is damp from recent weather, so you may want to consider appropriate footwear and chairs rather than blankets.

Feel free to bring an hors d’oeuvre or snack of your choice to add to the table. We will have wine, beer, soda, etc. but if you have a favorite beverage, you are certainly welcome to bring that.

Thanks,
Brooks, Helen and Benny

So sorry, our mock-up for our last Jazz in the Meadow 2015 was accidentally sent out with this years event reminder (oops!)

Please disregard that previous musical guests line-up.
You should have received the proper musical guests line-up in your formal mailed invitations.

The correct musical guests line-up is now listed below.

Looking forward to seeing all who can make it!

The time is fast approaching for our “little clambake” known as the Bartlett-Benedum “Jazz in the Meadow”. The date, of course, is July 8, 2017 and starts at 1 p.m. sharp. We have engaged three outstanding groups of jazz musicians who will entertain till 7:30 p.m. That will give you enough time to get home before dark.

For those staying in the Laurel Highlands, we suggest reservations be made post haste. The Trenthouse B and B is only a mile from the meadow. Seven Springs Mountain Resort is 10 minutes away. Early reservations are recommended as mid summer is a busy time in the mountains. Click here for additional lodging.

We hope you can all attend as it is a day of outstanding music and attendees who are even more outstanding.

Any questions, please Contact Us:
Brooks and Helen Bartlet – 412-366-1035

Another odd numbered year – 2017 – means it is time to announce our biennial “Jazz in the Meadow”.  The Bartlett Family and Benny Benedum will again celebrate love, friendship, and jazz in the Bartlett meadow in Somerset county on July 8, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.

The tent has been reserved, the musicians arranged for, and now all we need to make it a perfect day is your appearance there with us.

The music will start promptly at 1:00 p.m. with Frank Cunimondo and his Trio.  Following Frank, will be a student jazz group under the direction of Dr. James Moore of West Virginia Weslyn College.  The afternoon/evening ends with a grand finale – The Erin Burkett – Virgil Walters Combo accompanied by Max Leake on keyboard and Mike Tomaro on saxophone.

There will be food and drinks (wine, beer, soda, and water) for all.  However, you are welcome to bring your favorite food/beverage.

For those traveling a distance, we suggest spending a night or two in the Laurel Highlands.  The Trenthouse Inn/Bed and Breakfast and  Seven Springs are close by.  Early reservations are recommended as mid summer is a busy time in the mountains.  Click HERE for additional lodging.

We expect this afternoon/early evening to be a high point of music and conviviality.  The Bartletts and Benny would be proud and honored to have you join us.

Thanks,

Brooks, Helen, and Benny

This is a belated but most heartfelt thank you and an up-date for those who attended the Bartlett/Benedum Jazz in the Meadow this past July. We hope you enjoyed the festivities as much as we had presenting them.

In an endeavor of this magnitude, it requires much help and time from many people. Let us start by thanking all the attendees who brought food, libations, and conviviality to the gathering. Thanks go to our many neighbors in Triple Creek Acres who helped with the stage, tables, and the many other minutiae required. Our love and thanks to our family – daughters Sandy and Nancy – food and drinks, preps and presentatins. Their husbands – Sean, our IT expert, who took care of the website, emails, invitations and supervised parking. Gabe, our photographer, who covered the event for posterity, and provided the material for Sean to up-date and revise our website. Also, we thank those who contributed to the Meyersdale High School Jazz Band’s performance. We were able to present a check for $550.00 to the Music Department of the school.

Benny and we may not be the most objective source but we thought this may have been the best Jazz in the Meadow so far. The music was superb and the general ambiance most enjoyable!!! Let’s do it again in 2017!

Click HERE to see photos from this years Jazz in the Meadow 2015!

Sincerely,
Brooks, Helen and family, and Benny

The time is fast approaching for the biennial Bartlett-Benedum “Jazz in the Meadow”.  We have arranged for, perhaps, the greatest jazz presentations we have had since its beginning in 2005!

Ever mindful of the weather, the large tent and several “pop up” tents have been ordered.  There will be food and drinks (wine, beer, soda, and water) for all.  However, if your palate is delicate, feel free to bring your favorite food/beverage.

For those traveling a distance, we suggest spending a night or two in the Laurel Highlands.  The Trenthouse Inn/Bed and Breakfast and Seven Springs are close by.  Early reservations are recommended as mid summer is a busy time in the mountains. Click here for additional lodging.

Reiterating from the “save the date” e-mail, the afternoon of music and friendship starts at 1 p.m. with a short welcome, followed by the Frank Cunimondo Trio with Patty Skala on vocals.  After Frank’s group, the Meyersdale High School Jazz Band – a new addition to our program – will perform.  For a grand finale, we have the inimitable Dane Vannatter and his quartet.  The quartet consists of Pittsburgh jazz luminaries – Mike Tomaro, Max Leake, Tony DePaolis, and Tom Wendt.

So, just “kick back” and let the good vibes of the music and friendship/love envelope you.  The Bartlett family and Benny Benedum would be proud and honored to have you join us.

Thanks,
Brooks, Helen and Benny

This is a “save the date” for the biennial Bartlett/Benedum Jazz in the Meadow on July 11, 2015 – from 1-7 p.m. at the Bartlett Meadow in Somerset, PA.

The tent has been ordered and the musicians have been scheduled!

We start the afternoon promptly at 1 p.m. with the Frank Cunimondo Trio. Following Frank, we will be entertained by the Meyersdale High School Jazz Band. At 5 p.m. the Dane Vannatter ensemble with Mike Tomaro, Max Leake, Tony DePaulis, and Tom Wendt will wrap up this marvelous day of music and conviviality.

This “alert” (formal invitations will follow) is being sent to persons the Bartletts and Benny Benedum admire, respect, and love. With these qualities in mind, we invite you to spend a summer day with us and enjoy the music, food, libation, and friendship.

Sincerely,
Brooks & Helen Bartlett

The tents and the stage have been struck and all the guests have returned to such diverse locations as Cape May, NJ, Brookeville, MD, and the states of WV, Ohio, and New York.  There was, of course, a large contingent from Pittsburgh, Ligonier, and Somerset.  While there is a bit of quietude, there remains a hint of jazz wafting through the Laurel Mountains.

The Bartlett family and Benny Benedum want to thank all of you for attending and enjoying an afternoon of great music, food, meeting new friends, and renewing old friendships.  We also wish to thank those who helped with the setting up, the special wines and hors d’oeuvres you shared, and the love and friendship that came with you.

We thought the entire musical program was exceptional.  Frank, Pat, and Lenny were their usual lyrical selves and Patty added that exotic voicing to the Latin songs and standards.  As mentioned in the invitation – “special musical guests” did appear. The first was our co-host, Benny Benedum, with accompaniment by Frank.  Benny dazzled us with his boogie-woogie style playing.  Not bad for a fellow with a carpal tunnel problem who was unable to practice till two days before the event.

The Rockwood Area High School/Alumni Jazz Band was “spot on” with their renditions of “big band” presentations.  This provided a grand but somewhat somber swan song for their director, Rich Kingera who has retired after 36 years of teaching.  Thanks to all of you who contributed to our “fund for future jazz artists”.  We will be able to send a generous donation to the Rockwood Area High School Music Department.

For a finale, who could have asked for more?  Mike Tomaro leading the Joe Negri rhythm group of Max, Tony, and Tom.  Their program was the piece de resistance.  Our gratitude to Mike for stepping in for Joe Negri.  To add to the Mike Tomaro Quartet’s brilliant performance, the second “special musical guest” appeared –  none other than the newest addition to the Pittsburgh jazz scene – Dane Vannatter.  He captivated the savvy jazz audience with a few of his swinging and ballad style vocalizations.  Keep an eye on this gentleman – he is now a Pittsburgh sensation.

There is much work that goes into “Jazz in the Meadow” but when we see people enjoying themselves and the music and the profuse thanks those in attendance give us, it makes it more than worthwhile.

Again, thank you for attending and we look forward to our next get-together.

~ Brooks, Helen and family, and Benny

Happy July!

“Jazz in the Meadow” is approaching quickly – 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13. We are making “last minute” preparations and would appreciate more solid numbers of attendees to fully accommodate our friends. If you haven’t responded yet, it would help us immensely if you would do so as soon as possible.

It promises to be a grand gathering of friends of the Bartlett/Benedum family. Also, some of the best musicians in the country will be playing. What a combination – great friends, great music, and food and beverages to celebrate this biennial gathering!

With the monsoons that have beset western Pennsylvania the last few weeks, you may want to consider appropriate footwear and chairs rather than blankets.

Friends have been asking if there’s anything they could bring. If you would like to bring an hors d’oeuvre or snack to add to the table, that would be grand. Also, we will have wine, beer, soda, etc. but if you have a favorite beverage, you are certainly welcome to bring that.

Please make your plans and let us know.

Thanks,
Brooks, Helen and Benny

Things are getting ready for the grand day on July 13, 2013. We are expecting a record crowd. All preparations are made – but, as Robert Burns said “the best laid plans of mice and men often so astray”.

Our late afternoon featured guest performer, Joe Negri, has health issues. He, regretfully, had to cancel his appearance with us. His rhythm group remains the same with Max, Tom and Tony. At Joe’s suggestion, the group will be fronted by a dear friend and extraordinary musician and arranger, Mike Tomaro. Mike is the head of Jazz Studies at Duquesne University. He had played with the greatest names in jazz and has arranged for Grammy Award winners. Mike joins the pantheon of great arrangers from Pittsburgh such as John Wilson, Billy Strayhorn, Billy May, and Sam Nestico. While many of us were looking forward to seeing and hearing “Handy Man Negri” – believe me, there is no dropping off of musical talent or skill. Mike and the group will dazzle you with their music and virtuosity.

One other change – Lenny Rogers, renowned Pittsburgh jazz drummer, will be performing with Frank Cunimondo. Patty Skala will also provide vocals with that group.

Jazz in the Meadow seems to grow with each event and the talent remains top caliber.

We hope you can join us in the Laurel Highlands for the day of “friendship and jazz” – July 13.