It was hard to ask for much more than the “chamber of commerce” weather glowing down on Harmon Park Saturday for the seventh annual Prairie Village Jazz Festival.
With temperatures in the 70s, clear skies, and a lineup packed with Kansas City jazz favorites, the event drew thousands of people to the hill, where jazz lovers from across the metro convened to take in a variety of stylings.
SM East’s Blue Knights opened the day, and were followed by the Kansas City, Kansas, Community College Vocal Jazz Ensemble, who were making their outdoor performance debut.
“We’ve done a lot of lot of shows, but never outdoors,” said member Andi Kennedy. “It’s a good day. I’m glad it wasn’t any hotter. It’s a perfect day to come out though, it was cool that my family could come out and watch and by on the hill in lawn chairs.”
The afternoon sets were anchored by Sons of Brasil and Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7, the Friday night house band at the Green Lady Lounge. Here they are in action:
Saxophonist Dan Thomas and Voyage took the stage as night fell:
And then the inimitable Marilyn Maye took the stage for the headline set:
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