The first annual Chester County Jazz Festival brought an eclectic and impressive mix of artists and enthusiasts to the town of West Chester this past weekend. The highlight of the event was Peter White, an electrifying smooth jazz guitarist who performed on Friday night at West Chester University.
Saturday and Sunday, the jazz festival invaded Hoopes Park, and the sounds of jazz floated up through the heat into the trees. Spectators came out and enjoyed a free afternoon of artists, including: Warren Hill, Ronnie Laws, and local artist Melanie Roberts, who opened the festival on Sunday.
The MC for the two day extravaganza in the park was Richard Blackwell, host of Jazz on My Mind. Richard did a great job of keeping the crowd engaged and informed, and managed to really captivate the audience in-between sets. Attendees quenched their thirst on water ice and freshly squeezed lemonade, and enjoyed bites that included southern cuisine, pizza, Thai and even alligator ribs! The festival was filled with plenty of vendors with a variety of goods to suit anyone’s interest.
Overall, with the turnout we saw, the event seemed to be a huge success, and I hope that next year the festival grows even larger and returns to the park for the 2nd annual event!
Click here to view even more photographs from the first-ever event.
