The Selby Avenue Jazz Fest: sunshine, good music, good food and good people made for a perfect day for the 11th annual event. Jazz artists included Dick and Jane’s Big Brass Band, Walker West Music Academy’s Legends of Jazz, Brio Brass, and Penumbra regulars performing in the Jazz Heritage Showcase, and headliner Abdul Zuhri featuring vocalist Cheryl Pepsii Riley.
Music is the reason for the celebration.
From the Selby Avenue Jazz Fest website: “Since 2002 on the second Saturday in September, the intersection of Selby and Milton Avenues becomes a wonderous gathering that celebrates the positive path that has been taken by neighborhood residents and business owners. People from all walks of life, cultures, backgrounds and professions interact together through music, food and activities to become an engaged community.”
Stephanie and Mychael Wright of Golden Thyme, founders of the Jazz Fest, work hard every year to make the Selby Avenue Jazz Fest happen. From the Selby Avenue Jazz Fest website:
“The first anniversary of 9/11 was coming up and you could just tell that people were feeling pretty somber,” added Mychael. “I then thought to myself, ‘I’m tired of feeling this way. We need to celebrate the good things that are going on in this world…especially here on Selby.’ Nothing gets people together like a good old-fashioned block party, so we took it from there.””
Besides music, food is a big feature, from catfish (above) to ribs, turkey drumsticks, Caribbean specialties and much more.
A block of booths included food, clothing, jewelry, politicians, schools and more. Above: samples of cashew brittle. Irresistible!
Shaolin Kenpo Karate school
A clown made balloons for children.
Vote Yes (for St.Paul school referendum) volunteer Jackie Statum Allen with State Senator Sandy Pappas
Besides voting yes on the school referendum, lots of signs and people urged no votes on the Voter ID and Marriage amendments.
Hmong Americans for Obama, Women for Obama, Veterans for Obama – pretty much everybody at the Selby Jazz Fest seemed to be for Obama, with lots of voter registratoin volunteers and Obama signs, T-shirts, literature, magnets …
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Coverage of issues and events that affect Central Corridor neighborhoods and communities is funded in part by a grant from Central Corridor Funders Collaborative.
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