The Montreux Jazz Festival

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

This festival has been an institution in Switzerland for decades, so the version that co-producers Claude Nobs and Quincy Jones brought to New York City's Central Park could have easily devolved into a tired museum exhibit. That wasn't the case. Savion Glover did a tap-vs.-congas duet with drummer Leon Parker; singer Patti Austin added a line about Teletubbies to her brisk version of Makin' Whoopee. And the best performance came from vocalist Joe Williams, 79, who sang a swinging, confident rendition of one of his signature songs, Every Day I Have the Blues, and, a few minutes later, did a small dance of joy.

--C.J.F.