Jackson Ward celebrates on Two Street

The 2nd Street Festival is held every year to celebrate the history of the Jackson Ward neighborhood through music, dance, food, and coming together with neighbors. In its 21st year, the festival returns next weekend and once again, the Richmond Jazz Society has their own tent to pay homage to the neighborhood’s deep jazz history.

September 22, 2009; 11:30 AM • by Dean Christesen

The 2nd Street Festival is held every year to celebrate the history of the Jackson Ward neighborhood through music, dance, food, and coming together with neighbors. In its 21st year, the festival returns next weekend. Once again, the Richmond Jazz Society has their own tent to pay homage to Richmond’s deep jazz history — especially the history in that very neighborhood. Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Cab Calloway were all known to perform along 2nd Street back in the days when the area was known as “Harlem of the South.” (RTD, Oct. 5, 2007)

From 2nd Street Festival

Jason Gay’s SoulArmy, from last year’s festival

Under the Joe Kennedy Jr. Jazz Stage, local straight-ahead, smooth, and R&B-based jazz artists are featured all day long on Saturday and Sunday. Last year was a great time filled with entertaining music, delicious food, and Obama propaganda around every corner. Four different music stages allowed visitors to catch a different kind of music at any given time.

At the 2008 festival (click for RVAjazz review and photos), the musical highlight for me was Jason Gay’s SoulArmy with Alan Parker, Brian Mahne, Derrick Englert, and Kevin Gaines. I also got to check out some great gospel from the Voices of Virginia and “clave soul” music from Ban Caribe. The latter will be back this year. The entire schedule of this year’s performers is below. Groups that may be of interest to jazz fans are in bold.

Richard D’Abreu’s Jazz in the Spirit, from last year’s festival

Friday, Oct. 2

First Fridays Artwalk (201 W. Broad Street)
7 to 9 p.m.
2009 2nd Street Poster unveiling featuring work by Larry “Poncho” Brown

Saturday, Oct. 3

Waverly R. Crawley: main stage (2nd and Marshall streets)
Noon to 1:30 p.m.: To be announced
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Tunji Band
3 to 3:30 p.m.: Grace and Company Fashion Show
4 to 4:30 p.m.: RADIO ONE presentation
5 to 6:00 p.m.: Plunky and Oneness
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: E.U.
8:15 to 10:00 p.m.: SLAVE

Joe Kennedy Jr.: jazz stage (3rd and Clay streets)
12:15 to 1:05 p.m.: Billy Williams Quartet – Straight Ahead Jazz
1:25 to 2:15 p.m.: Doc Branch and The Keynotes – Jazz Standards
2:35 to 3:25 p.m.: Glennroy and Company – Contemporary Jazz Flute and Vocals
3:45 to 4:35 p.m.: Hugo Jackson and Sounds of Elegance – Sophisticated Jazz*
4:55 to 5:45 p.m.: Beast Wellington – Progressive Jazz Fusion
6:05 to 6:55 p.m.: Klaxton Brown – Jazzy Rhythm and Blues
7:15 to 8:05 p.m.: Sha-nniece James – Smooth Jazz
8:25 to 9:25 p.m.: James “Saxsmo” Gates Quartet – Bebop and Beyond

Bistro Stage (1st and Clay streets)
Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Rumba Drummers
1 to 2:15 p.m.: Smooth Sensation
2:45 to 3:30 p.m.: Ban Caribe
4 to 4:30 p.m.: 4-H MBC
5 to 6:15 p.m.: Skyline

Community Stage (2nd and Leigh streets)
12:30 to 1 p.m.: Shaolin Dragon School of Kung Fu
1:30 to 2 p.m.: T-Starz
2:15 to 2:45 p.m.: Richmond Youth Jazz Guild
3 to 4 p.m.: City Dance Theatre
4:30 to 5:15 p.m.: Sisterly Grace Ministry Fashion Show

Sunday, Oct. 4

Waverly R. Crawley: main stage (2nd and Marshall streets)
1 to 1:30 p.m.: One Voice Choir
2 to 2:30 p.m.: Spiritual Harmonizers
2:45 to 3:15 p.m.: M’Renee
3:45 to 4:30 p.m.: Larry Bland and the Volunteer Choir
5 to 6 p.m.: Richmond Boys Choir

Joe Kennedy Jr.: jazz stage (3rd and Clay streets)
1 to 1:50 p.m.: Mike Hawkins and the Jazz-Pel Choir – Gospel Jazz
2:10 to 3 p.m.: Desiree Roots – Classic Lady of Song
3:20 to 4:10 p.m.: Van Lighty and QED Jazz – Mainstream Jazz
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Debo Dabney and The Happy Band – The Total Musical Experience

Bistro Stage (1st and Clay streets)
1 to 1:30 p.m.: Tisa
2 to 2:30 p.m.: A. Alexander Singers
3 to 3:30 p.m.: FLTI Steel Pan Orchestra
4 to 5 p.m.: Grace and Company Fashion Strut

Community Stage (2nd and Leigh streets)
1:30 to 2 p.m.: Talents of Meadowbrook High School
2:30 to 3 p.m.: Shaolin Dragon School of Kung Fu
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: St. Paul’s Baptist Church Men of Step
4:30 to 5 p.m.: First African Baptist Church Orchestra

*While I would usually not endorse anything described as “sophisticated jazz” because of its implication that other jazz is not sophisticated and, for that matter, that jazz should be sophisticated, I’m hoping it’s only a marketing term created by Venture Richmond — Ed.

September 22, 2009 11:30 AM 0