Jazz Festival 2022 brings together Savannah communities
Written by Lulu Hamilton. Photo by Lulu Hamilton.
As the cool air of fall rolled into the city this weekend, so did jazz musicians from all over the world; in turn, Savannah communities came together to celebrate the widespread love for this musical movement. The 41st annual Savannah Jazz Festival kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 20, with Latin Dance Night at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. The music trumpeted its way to Broughton Street, where the Teddy Adams Quintet with Cynthia Utterbach performed at Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant.
By Friday night, the festival landed in Forsyth Park, where friends, families and jazz lovers alike united to listen to an array of highly regarded musicians. As the sun set over the park, beautiful sounds of piano melodies and vocal harmonies floated over the crowd. Patrons gathered together through the weekend to enjoy groovy music, scrumptious food and camaraderie.
The jazz festival has been bringing Savannahians together since October 1, 1983, when Ben Tucker, a sensational bassist, wanted to bring people together for the sake of learning and loving jazz. The 1983 festival reignited a city-wide passion for jazz which had not been widely enjoyed since the introduction of swing and big band music in the 1930s. The popularity of these movements sank after World War II, but famous jazz musicians such as Mary Lou Williams and J. C. Higginbotham kept the spirit of jazz alive in Georgia.
As jazz evolved over the decades, the Coastal Jazz Association formed in 1981 in hopes of bringing Savannah communities together to learn about, explore and appreciate jazz again. The Association’s mission succeeded as the Savannah Jazz festival celebrated over 4 decades of dazzling performances this year. Folks who attended the festival experienced the exquisite sounds of global performers such as Cuban singer Gino Castillo and the Buena Vista Legacy Band, who had the audience on their feet and jiving along to the music with each other. Loved ones came together, danced, laughed and twirled through the grass.
Saturday night brought even more spectacular performances with the U.S. Navy Band Commodores bringing their big band excitement to the stage. Listeners relaxed and enjoyed the magnificent sounds of the saxophone, trumpet, guitar and many other instruments on blankets and chairs on the grass. The speaker for the U.S. Navy Band Commodores then shared that in 1987, the United States Congress declared jazz a national treasure. After seeing the Savannah community connect so deeply over a love for jazz music, it is certain that this treasure is priceless. The Savannah Jazz Festival is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an early fall evening with family and friends, all while enriching your heart and soul with the lively spirit of jazz.
