MIAMI — Like jazz itself, the weather can take unexpected turns at outdoor music festivals. Just ask the organizers of Jazz In The Gardens, a jazz event held annually at Dolphin Stadium, where heavy downpours and winds hammered the stage during much of the rehearsal and second afternoon of the two-day concert. Despite the downpours, the event, featuring Kenny G, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Roy Ayers, Erykah Badu, Common, and other jazz artists, went smoothly.
Elation’s Design Wash 1400E CMY moving heads powering right back up even after the show was forced to close down for a half hour due to drenching conditions, according to Washington Arias, president of the concert’s production company, Everlast Productions.
“We had 24 Elation Design Wash 1400s, and none of them gave me any problems,” said Arias. “It was a two-day show, and it rained a lot for rehearsal and for the second day. Out of all the lights we had, they were the only ones we didn’t have any problems with. They got wet and we shut down for 30 minutes. After it stopped raining, we used just the 120K static rig, then powered all the movers back on, and the Design Wash 1400s worked perfect. They had the punch and durability to withstand what the Miami weather was dishing out. I wish I could say that about all my gear.”
Along with their reliability, the 1400W output from their Philips MSR Gold 1200 Fastfit lamps handled the height and distance of a large outdoor concert venue, where they were hung from a substantial trim height.
“We had used them before at a Seal concert on a smaller stage and they worked out great, so we wanted to put them in a big outdoor festival setting,” explained Arias. “This was a great event to try them out at. The roof was 60 feet by 40 feet by 50 feet, so most of the lighting trusses were trimmed out at 40 feet to 45 feet to do the upstage video wall. The Design Wash 1400 certainly had enough punch and brightness to handle the job. I was really happy with the results.” CMY+C color mixing made the Design Wash 1400Es well-suited to a multi-artist festival like Jazz In The Gardens, added Arias.
The unit’s reliability under inclement conditions, bright output and versatility did not go unnoticed by the performing artists’ lighting designers, all of whom commented favorably on the Design Washes, said Arias. Among the many LDs in attendance were: Bruce “Hig” Higinbotham (Kenny G); David “Gurn” Kaniski (Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds); JC (Common); and the festival’s main LD Yamil “Chippy” Charif and ME Ruben Lain.
“They all had great things to say about the lights,” said Arias. “All the LDs spoke great about our rig. This was the first time that they got to see the Design Wash 1400s, and they all liked them.”
For more information, visit www.elationlighting.com.
