An unforgettable evening—and a groundbreaking creative first for Longwood—will soon take center stage in the Main Fountain Garden. We’re thrilled to welcome Philadelphia’s own DJ Jazzy Jeff as he brings his legendary turntable skills to a one-of-a-kind performance with our illuminated fountains. As Jeff guides the audience on a musical journey, the fountains will respond in real time, leaping, swirling, and dancing alongside the music to create an immersive experience unlike any presented at Longwood before. While fountain shows are traditionally designed and programmed around a predetermined playlist, this performance will unfold moment by moment, with Longwood’s fountain designers adapting water, light, and atmosphere live in response to Jeff’s evolving set. Read on to learn how we are preparing for this innovative collaboration—and how you can be part of it.
At the heart of this performance is Jeff’s renowned ability to read a crowd and shape his set around the energy of the audience. As the music evolves in the moment, Longwood’s fountain designers will do the same, adjusting fountain movements, lighting, and effects to complement the mood and direction of the performance. The result will be a dynamic, improvisational collaboration in which Jeff responds to the crowd, and the fountains respond to him—transforming the show into a live creative exchange between artist, audience, and water.
We are thrilled to welcome DJ Jazzy Jeff for a one-of-a-kind performance in our Main Fountain Garden on September 9. Photo by Steve Dykes.
Two of our expert fountain designers, Interim Director of Artistic Programming Tim Martin and Fountain Operations and Planning Supervisor Nate Hart, will be at the helm for this unique performance. “The DJ Jazzy Jeff performance will be like working with a jazz musician,” shares Martin. “He adjusts the energy and direction of his set based on audience reaction, creating a dynamic experience that evolves moment by moment. Then we’ll do the same.”
To support that style, Martin and Hart are building a framework rather than a fully scripted show. At Longwood, we use Syncronorm, a sophisticated fountain control program that unlocks virtually limitless creative possibilities through robotic fountain jets, dynamic LED lighting, and millions of color combinations.
While Syncronorm performance software allows for infinite color combinations, it’s ultimately our fountain designers that create every effect. Photo by Carol DeGuiseppi.
The pair is developing foundational fountain movements alongside a library of lighting looks, effects, and visual moods that can be deployed as needed throughout the evening. Instead of following a rigid sequence, they’ll move between these preprogrammed “vibes” as the music and audience energy shift. Lighting effects can be recalled, layered, faded, and transitioned in real time, allowing the visual experience to remain fluid and responsive.
Our upcoming DJ Jazzy Jeff experience will be a spectacular interplay between artist, audience, and water. Photo by Eileen Tercha.
The approach requires a balance between preparation and improvisation, especially when exploring which effects can be preset and which should be created live in the moment.
On show night, Martin and Hart will work side by side in the production booth, managing the fountain choreography and visual responses in real time. A separate lighting operator will focus on illuminating Jeff and the crowd, allowing Martin and Hart to concentrate on the interplay between the music, fountains, and effects. The fountains will remain active throughout the entire set, while the music is expected to ebb and flow through a wide range of tempos, moods, and nostalgic sounds. Those shifts will serve as creative cues for the designers.
Our Main Fountain Garden control booth. Photo by Amy Simon Berg.
“Certain tempos, rhythms, and musical keys naturally evoke specific emotions,” says Martin. “Those become useful cues when you’re responding spontaneously.”
We’re prepared to react to the feeling, the beat, and the overall vibe, ” adds Hart.
For Martin and Hart, the project is both an exciting opportunity and a creative challenge. It represents a new way of using the Main Fountain Garden’s technology and pushes them beyond the structured design process they typically follow. Their longtime collaboration helps make that possible. Having worked together for nearly a decade, they have developed a strong creative rapport and an ability to communicate quickly—an essential advantage in a live, improvisational environment.
It’s also a way to work alongside a true icon in the world of music and production. Jeff’s influence spans generations, from earning multiple Grammy and American Music Awards, to his groundbreaking success with DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince alongside Will Smith, to the acclaimed innovation of his production company, A Touch of Jazz.
The legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff. Photo by Ben Tschetter.
Born in West Philadelphia, Jeff developed a love of music at an early age. He was just 10 years old when he started spinning records at parties using his family’s basement as a training ground for his expert mixing. Jeff satisfies his passion for sharing good music with two annual European tours; regular tours of Canada, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East; and shows across the US throughout the year. With each set, he takes fans on a musical journey. He chronicles all his travels in the increasingly popular Vinyl Destination, a web series that documents his experiences on and off stage. In 2015, he founded the PLAYLIST Retreat, an invitation-only event that brings artists together to inspire, motivate, and fuel collaboration.
Ultimately, the goal of the performance at Longwood is to create a visual counterpart to Jeff’s improvisational style. Just as he responds to the audience, Martin and Hart will respond to him, adjusting fountain movements, lighting looks, and effects as the performance unfolds.
Water in all shapes, sizes, and heights meet music and infinite colors in our Main Fountain Garden. Photo by Becca Mathias.
The freedom to work this way is both refreshing and creatively energizing. With new robotic fountain nozzles capable of 180-degree movement and an expanding toolbox of effects this performance is an opportunity to explore a more spontaneous, concert-inspired approach—one in which the fountains become an instrument of their own.
Editor’s note: Tickets are available for this September 9 performance. Bring your own chair and soak up the atmosphere during this expertly mixed set. Want to dance along with our fountains? Head over to our dedicated standing and dancing area and join in! Buy tickets now.
