The first annual Vermont Musicians’ Summit took place at Higher Ground on Saturday, Jan. 14. The summit consisted of a discussion about the local music community followed by an all-star concert.  Joe Adler, Jim Lockridge of Big Heavy World and Justin Hoy of Halogen Media Works were the key organizers of the event. Adler is the talent buyer for the popular downtown venue the Radio Bean. Beyond that, he is a singer/songwriter, bandleader, musical collaborator and host of the Burgundy Thursdays series.  Adler participated in all aspects of the summit. In addition to organizing the event, he moderated “The Past, Present and Future of Vermont Music” panel and played with bands The Wee Folkestra, The Wind Woods and The Human Canvas (THC).  “[I hope I can] bring a representation of what each of   [the musicians] brings to the scene by showcasing a lot of great writers and musicians,” Adler said before the show. “[The mission of the summit] is to bring together the Vermont music community, strengthen relationships, have face to face introductions with industry and artists and to have a good time.” The panel at the summit included talent buyers, musicians and music fans from across the state gathering prior to the concert to engage in a discussion about booking shows, the local music scene and to ask general questions of experts provided by Adler.  “It was very helpful for me as an underage performer,” said C.A.D.O.U.X., a 20-year-old Burlington hip-hop artist.  The band Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul headlined the show. “[We’re] eccentric and passionate,” said Wright of her band. “We’re paying tribute to all this music as we’re playing it.”  The band’s choice to play the songs of other artists, “soul standards,” if you will, is consistently a good one. “Movement” is what Wright said she hoped to bring to the summit, and based on the audience’s dancing, she certainly brought it.  The impact of the Vermont Musicians’ Summit on the community of musicians and the community as a whole was equally significant.  Wright had only positive things to say about the community.  “The summit means that all these really interesting people are really working together to devote themselves to their highest expressions.” In a small community, people like Adler, the musicians who performed and all  of the people who came to hear them, can be acknowledged and respected in their own way.  “Getting everybody in the same room will give people a place to come celebrate Vermont music, talk about it and talk about where we’re going to take it,”  said Adler.   As Wright put it, “Vermont is kind of magical.”