Jazz festival celebrates musical legacy
Posted by Darryl D. Smith on June 27, 2008
June 22, 2008
The Tennessean
With an act every hour — a total of 11 — musicians kept the party going Saturday at the Jefferson Street Jazz and Blues Festival.
Vendors packed the event, displaying their merchandise for customers to see.
“We sell by advertising,” said Larry Boyd, pointing to his table of fragrant funnel cakes, chicken strips and sausages. “This saves people from going to the stores to get something to eat.”
The event, sponsored by Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership, attracts artists to the festival to perform for thousands of dedicated jazz fans.
One of them is Sharon Hurt, the partnership’s executive director.
“I don’t think that we can ever pay back or celebrate too much in honor of the legacy we’ve been left,” she said. “This is a celebration for the North Nashville community.”
As Hurt danced to the music, other fans joined in, laughing and enjoying the melodies from the stage.
The eighth annual festival, which charges no admission, takes months to plan, but Hurt said she couldn’t imagine not being a part of it.
“The bottom line is not about money,” she said. “It’s showing love and unity in the community. There’s so much musical history in the community.”
From the 1940s through the early 1960s, the Jefferson Street area emerged as one of America’s celebrated districts for rhythm and blues and jazz. The area underwent an economic boom with numerous theaters, nightclubs, eateries and family owned businesses opening, all in walking distance of one another.
“This helps preserve our music heritage,” said festival-goer Megan Morton.”This is a huge part of what Nashville has been about.
As the music continued to flow, vendor Shawn Vaughn said he was excited to be a part of the festivities.
“This helps the city come together as one, and that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
