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: