The thick smell of smoke – barbecue and tobacco alike – drifts along on a cool breeze, the only thing polluting an otherwise perfect day. The sun’s setting rays just barely reach over the Jefferson bank at 6:00 pm. Nearing October, fall is starting to set in.
Travis Park is crowded on this Saturday of September 21st. The sounds of whistling people clutter the complex drums and funky bass of the West Side Horns like the free promotional P&G paleta wrappers litter the ground. People huddle together under the green shade of trees to get closer to the stage – to get closer to the heart of the festival, closer to the jazz. That’s right, this is Jazz’SAlive.
On its 30th run this year, Jazz’SAlive has been bringing the people of San Antonio smooth jazz every year since its beginning. Part of the San Antonio Parks Foundation’s Month of Jazz, this is their most popular event, enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.
“I like it because it’s creative,” Lorie Stafford, a festival-goer, said. “It’s not your run-of-the-mill stuff. There’s a lot of ad-libbing with the musicians, and I like that.”
In addition to fostering creativity, it broadens people’s views on music and culture.
“I think it’s always good when you go outside of your preferred music and listen to other types of music,” Stafford said. “You never know what you like ‘till you try it.”
It also brings families together, with its attractions for adults and children alike.
“I’ve been to other places, like Austin, and [the art community] is just much more focused on older people,” Alejandra “Alex” Luna, a volunteer at a children’s art booth, said.
Luna sees the event as important to the fine arts communities and general public of San Antonio.
“It’s bringing people together, you know, from many different cultures,” Luna said. “Everyone just comes and has a good time and they enjoy themselves. There’s a lot of family stuff, too, so it definitely brings families together.”
As the end of Jazz month draws near, there are no more jazzy events marked on the calendar. But don’t fret – these functions won’t be ending anytime soon. It seems that they have already set the dates for 2014 and 2015 – a sure sign that Jazz’SAlive will be mixing subcultures for years to come.
Here is a link to the Jazz’SAlive page on the San Antonio Parks Foundation’s website, listing their future dates.
The thick smell of smoke – barbecue and tobacco alike – drifts along on a cool breeze, the only thing polluting an otherwise perfect day. The sun’s setting rays just barely reach over the Jefferson bank at 6:00 pm. Nearing October, fall is starting to set in.
Travis Park is crowded on this Saturday of September 21st. The sounds of whistling people clutter the complex drums and funky bass of the West Side Horns like the free promotional P&G paleta wrappers litter the ground. People huddle together under the green shade of trees to get closer to the stage – to get closer to the heart of the festival, closer to the jazz. That’s right, this is Jazz’SAlive.
On its 30th run this year, Jazz’SAlive has been bringing the people of San Antonio smooth jazz every year since its beginning. Part of the San Antonio Parks Foundation’s Month of Jazz, this is their most popular event, enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.
“I like it because it’s creative,” Lorie Stafford, a festival-goer, said. “It’s not your run-of-the-mill stuff. There’s a lot of ad-libbing with the musicians, and I like that.”
In addition to fostering creativity, it broadens people’s views on music and culture.
“I think it’s always good when you go outside of your preferred music and listen to other types of music,” Stafford said. “You never know what you like ‘till you try it.”
It also brings families together, with its attractions for adults and children alike.
“I’ve been to other places, like Austin, and [the art community] is just much more focused on older people,” Alejandra “Alex” Luna, a volunteer at a children’s art booth, said.
Luna sees the event as important to the fine arts communities and general public of San Antonio.
“It’s bringing people together, you know, from many different cultures,” Luna said. “Everyone just comes and has a good time and they enjoy themselves. There’s a lot of family stuff, too, so it definitely brings families together.”
As the end of Jazz month draws near, there are no more jazzy events marked on the calendar. But don’t fret – these functions won’t be ending anytime soon. It seems that they have already set the dates for 2014 and 2015 – a sure sign that Jazz’SAlive will be mixing subcultures for years to come.
Here is a link to the Jazz’SAlive page on the San Antonio Parks Foundation’s website, listing their future dates.
pictures credited to Juan A. Garcia
written by Lauren Quinn
