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Performers and fans talk music, mingling, and making new fans at BeanTown Jazz Fest

The Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival turned 10 this year, and celebrated New Orleans style with the Wild Magnolias and Jonathan Batiste, Cajun food on the concourse, and temps in the 80 degree range.  Jazz, blues, soul, and Latin music added to the festivities that stretched over six blocks for six hours.   I spoke with some of the performers and a couple of long-time BeanTown fans about the event, and the festival’s role in bringing music to new listeners and community to a city that sometimes doesn’t mingle.

Grammy nominee Julian Lage ’08 played with his trio on the BeanTown Stage:

Berklee professor Gabrielle Goodman performed her own set on the Target Stage, and then sang back-up for Nona Hendryx:

Boston resident Celia Grant has been attending BeanTown festivals since 2000:

Jonathan Batiste brought his New Orleans jazz and soul music to the Berklee Stage:

Berklee student Jonathan Ong played in Nona Hendryx’ band on the Target Stage:

Boston native Barbara Gomes-Beach drove from her new home on Cape Cod for the festival:

Glen Gaines, Wild Magnolias manager, tells how the band gives the feeling of a New Orleans party wherever it plays:

Read more about the festival.

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1 Comment

  1. bonnie hale

    At last year’s festival, there was a videotaping booth where people were filmed answering the question What’s Your Jazz? Did those videos ever get uploaded somewhere? A lot of people invested a lot of time participating in it. (I sent the same question to JazzBoston, who I think was the sponsor of that booth.) Thanks for any light you can shed; link you can provide, etc.

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