Cuba LA performing at the 18th Annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival.
Count on it: the last weekend of July is the weekend for the Central Avenue Jazz Festival. This year is the 18th annual festival on Central Avenue, between 42nd and 43rd streets.
This year’s line-up included old favorites like Ernie Andrews and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, and Latin jazz acts like Cuba LA.
The festival pays tribute to Central Avenue’s historic connection to the Los Angeles jazz scene when musicians like Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and Billy Holiday stayed at the Dunbar Hotel and jammed at the jazz clubs that dotted the street.
The Dunbar Hotel was renovated and recently opened as a senior living facility. During this year’s jazz festival, young music act, such as the A Place Called Home music group played in the Dunbar’s courtyard.
The Central Avenue Jazz Festival is coordinated by the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) in partnership with 9th District Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr.
The jazz festival attracts a diverse audience, but there are many patrons who are there every year without fail. And every year, there are new and tasty food offerings. Enjoy some of the images from Saturday’s festivities.
This man dances his way through the jazz festival every year
Ernie Andrews and his band play at the Central Avenue Jazz Festival.
The food offerings at the Jazz Festival range from soul food, gumbo and jambalaya, to Mexican and Salvadoran tacos and pupusas, reflecting the demographics in the South Central neighborhood.
Cooking up pupusas.
Former 9th District Councilwoman Jan Perry, who championed the festival for 12 of its 18 years, spoke to the crowd.
Looking north down the Jazz Festival food corridor.
The LAUSD Beyond the Bell All-City Jazz Big Band.
Members of the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, in their bright T-shirts, could be seen throughout the festival ready to help and keep the grounds clean and orderly.
Enjoying soul and rhythm and blues tunes by A Place Called Home music ensemble in the Dunbar Hotel courtyard.
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