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Date: 8/5/2016
SPRINGFIELD – A host of musical stars will once again make downtown Springfield the place to be on Aug. 6.
The Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival returns for its third year and co-organizer Kristen Neville explained to Reminder Publications the daylong event is growing.
“We expanded the programming and are bringing in another level of performer with Taj Mahal,” she said. “It’s definitely growing in so many ways. People are more and more familiar with it. It’s gaining more supporters and sponsors each year.”
Mahal, a Springfield native, hasn’t performed in his hometown since 2013 and will be closing the show at 8:30 p.m.
She added the festival is presenting “a pretty stellar line-up.” The performers on the main stage include Terri Lyne Carrington Group, Joey DeFrancesco Trio, Eric Krasno Band, Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils, Rayvon Owen. Heshima Moja and Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criolla.
The music will start at 11 a.m. at Court Square.
Neville said one of the expansions of this year’s festival is a series of free musical workshops conducted at the Community Music School at 127 State St. The workshops are designed, she said, to “expand on education … and trying to create musical opportunities.”
The workshops were conducted Aug. 3 to Aug. 5 and featured musicians Billy Arnold, Javon Jackson, and Samirah Evans and Miro Sprague. A workshop on improvisation featuring Terri Lynne Carrington will be presented at 1 p.m. on Aug. 6.
Neville said additional musicians and spoken word artists would be featured on the community stage inside the historic Old First Church. The Charles M. Greenlee Ensemble will perform from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., they will be followed by the Nairobi Jazz Quintet at 1:15 p.m., The Greys at 2 p.m., the Berkshire Hills Music Academy Performance Troupe at 2:45 p.m., Ryan Hollander at 3:30 p.m., UGoddess at 4:25 p.m. Gina Rose at 5 p.m., Khalif Neville at 5:45 p.m. Lexi Weege at 6:30 p.m. and Alpha Quartet at 7:15 p.m.
Neville said the music wouldn’t be stopping once Mahal leaves the stage at 10 p.m. There will be an after party at Theodore’s at 201 Worthington St. featuring the Eric Krasno Band. The suggested donation is $15 for the 21-plus event.
The festival is designed, she added, as an event “for people of all ages.” There will be an art activities tent, as well as an interactive mural. She added for the first time there will be a recording workshop also.
Food will be provided by a variety of food trucks.
The purpose of the festival is to spark the continuing renewal of the Springfield and the region. As noted on its website (www.springfieldjazzfest.com), “The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival was developed by Blues to Green, Inc., in partnership with business, civic and nonprofit leaders in Springfield, with the hope that people of many different communities could unite in the urban center of Western Massachusetts to share their love for music and art. “The festival celebrates music as well as its host, the city of Springfield, whose many cultural attractions, rich historical legacy and beautiful architecture are too often overshadowed by a negative perception of the city. By presenting the festival in the heart of downtown, the organization seeks to bolster a positive image of Springfield, engage artists and a diverse community in fueling its revitalization, and emphasize its place as a cultural hub and driver of cultural excellence in the region.”