It’s said that three times is a charm and Jazz By The Boulevard music & arts festival proves it to be true, exploding with a bounty of exciting FREE entertainment and activities in its third year. Don’t like jazz? No problem, this festival has it all: 3 performance areas, 60 artists’ booths, children’s area, chef cooking demonstrations, historical seminars, cultural exhibits, great food, dancing and wine—all set in the beautiful tree lined park of the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, a perfect setting for those into a relaxing afternoon reading a book, throwing a Frisbee or just people watching.
However if music is your thing, the 2005 entertainment line-up has something for everybody; classic straight-ahead jazz, New Orleans, Latin, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, World, Big Band, Orchestra and Gospel jazz with more than 35 different performances over the 2 and a half day event. Headline concerts by the seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Latin jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri,; legendary pianist and composer Joe Sample; the critically-acclaimed jazz violinist, Regina Carter; one of the top swing and jump blues bands in the country, Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers; and FACES the band, who perform an exhilarating and unmatched combination of gospel and jazz.
Money tight after back to school supplies? The festival is the best bargain in town for families, which offers free admission, parking, entertainment and activities that are both entertaining and educational. Ridglea Music hosts the ‘Musical Instrument Petting Zoo’ where kids get ‘hands-on’ experimentation with musical instruments including a trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trombone and guitars. There will also be a variety of interactive ‘jam sessions’, such as rhythm and tap instruction and instrument crafting with everyday household items such as coffee cans, paper towel rolls and straws. The children’s area also offers free workshops with local artist to create watercolor murals, clay masks and pottery, plus a book walk set to great jazz music provided by the Fort Worth Public Library. The children’s area is open on Saturday, Sept. 17th from Noon to 6pm and Sunday, Sept. 18th Noon to 4pm.
Forget the fast food on the way to the event, because jazz is cooking this year and it’s a flavor sensation! Chefs from Fort Worth’s finest restaurants and retail establishments will turn up the heat at the new Cooking Carnivalè hosted by the Culinary School of Fort Worth. It’s a savory new feature that mixes great music and cooking in one big pot of gumbo then ‘laissez les bons temps rouler’! (let the good times roll!) Event goers will enjoy watching local celebrity chefs display their mastery of the culinary arts while learning secrets to turn a no-frills meal into gourmet magic with artistic flair. Experts will demonstrate easy entertaining ideas to enliven your every-day cooking and baking, so you can dazzle your friends and family with preparation savvy and exquisite cookery! Patrons can also enjoy ‘wine, food and song’ by purchasing festival cuisine as rich and diverse as jazz music itself, however coolers or outside food or beverages are not allowed as proceeds from sales help support the event and fund future projects in the Camp Bowie District. ATM’s are available in several locations throughout the festival site.
If you want some exercise, browse the more than 60 artists’ booths and choose from a variety of creative and original works of art, such as painting, photography, woodcarving, glasswork, jewelry, ceramics and pottery, ranging in price from $20 to $3,000. And be sure to stop at the new Archives Lounge, which features memorabilia, photos, and video documentaries on display from the Fort Worth Jazz & Blues archives hosted by the Fort Worth Public Library’s Genealogy department. Unique solo artists will recite poetry, perform jazz harp music on the Mandinka kora from West Africa and present seminars on legendary Fort Worth jazz musicians. Additional historical music programs are offered on the JaGee Heritage stage, which cover Miles Davis and Django Reinhardt.
The festival is not just easy on your pocketbook, it’s also an easy ride using The T. Riders use Route 7, which stops at University and Lancaster or Route 2, which stops at Camp Bowie Blvd. and University. For those traveling from outside Fort Worth, DART and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) can help make the drive easy and fun. You can use DART from many locations outside Fort Worth to access the TRE to get to the Intermodel Transfer Center (ITC) located in downtown Fort Worth, where designated trolleys will take you to the festival.
Cadillac presents the 2005 Jazz By The Boulevard Music & Arts Festival, Sept. 16-18 on the outdoor lawn of the Will Rogers Memorial Complex in the Fort Worth cultural district. Festival admission and entertainment is FREE. For more information call the event hotline at (817) 763-JAZZ (5299) or visit the website at www.fortworthjazz.com. The festival is sponsored by American Airlines, Star-Telegram, Coors Light, McCormick, and WFAA. Official transportation providers are The T, TRE and DART. Jazz By The Boulevard is a production of Historic Camp Bowie, Inc., a not-for-profit public improvement district in the City of Fort Worth
