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Jazz Basks in Sunset Glow
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Charlotte Observer, Jazz Basks in Sunset Glow >>
Pride magazine will join Charlotte Center City Partners this year to produce the 13th annual Pride Sunset Jazz Festival. The festival starts July 4 with regional and national bands and nms through July 25. The family-friendly festival has been moved from Independence Park to uptown Frazier Park (behind Bank of America Stadium) in an effort to turn the festival into a citywide event instead of just a neighborhood affair.
"One of our goals is to get people to discover Frazier Park," said Moira Q!linn, chief
operating officer of Charlotte Center City Partners. The question is: How will the new location affect the dynamics of the jazz festival? Last year, teens hung out in the playground area of Independence Park in the Elizabeth neighborhood while adults listened to jazz. Frazier Park doesn't have volleyball nets or other playground equipment.
The focus, said Pride magazine's Torrey Feimster, is the music. "We want to go back to original jazz, " he said. "We don't want it to be a watered-down festival. "The internationally known African dance band Bembeya Jazz will open the festival on July 4. The holiday fireworks show put on by WBT-AM (1110) will be visible from the park and will begin after the concert is over at 9:45 p.m.
In addition to the music at the festival, restaurants will host "dinner and jazz" on certain
days throughout the Pride Sunset Series. The Charleston House Restaurant will host on
and appreciation of the art. Feimster hopes some of the performing artists will give lessons at the workshops. (The dates and locations of the workshops were not available at press time; for more information call Feimo, ster at (704--375-9553.) Concertgoers can bring blankets and chairs. There will be venders selling food and other items including sunglasses and T-shirts. Alcohol will not be sold, but guests can bring their own. Parking will be available at Cedar Yards for $5. Guests can park there and then cross the bridge to get into the festival from the entrance of the park. (Feimster discourages parking on neighborhood streets.) There will be police officers in the parking lot and security in the park. The Sunset Jazz Festival is one of the few events in Charlotte devoted exclusively to jazz.
06/25/04
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