Jazz and Blues Fest Makes and Pleases Fans

by Andre Sims

Clear skies and light breezes were the perfect conditions for the 2003 Omaha Riverfront Jazz and Blues Festival. The second annual event began Friday, July 11 and concluded Saturday, July 12 on the parking grounds of the Durham Western Heritage Museum in Omaha’s historic Old Market. Top local and national musicians played hits from both musical genres. Saturday afternoon’s lineup included Gerald Albright, Jonathan Butler, Rene Marie and Sandra Hall.

Throaty vocals, wailing guitars and thumping bass notes from the stage stirred up a fun and soulful mood in the aisles. “It’s all about the music,” said Omaha Fire Captain and event volunteer Ron Estes. “Just look and see how it’s brought everyone together laughing and eating,” he said, indicating the diversity of the crowd.

For a number of individuals this particular venue was an unexpected surprise. Damon Watts says he wasn’t here last year but is proud to go to events that celebrate a bit of his heritage. “Oh this is great,” he said. “I love it.”

“This is awesome,” said Erica Johnson, a New York City native. “My aunt lives here and told me I needed to come with her. I’m glad I didn’t miss this,” she said.

Clark Connection Group, the organizers of the Riverfront Jazz and Blues Festival, estimates more than 5500 people attended the two-day all ages show. Richard Smith, Project Manager for the group, says music lovers come from as far away as Arizona, California and New Mexico. The goal is to make the Festival unlike any other outdoor concert they will experience.

 

“We want Omaha to know that our city can host a world-class event that is an enjoyable and memorable occasion,” he said. Secondly, we want the artists who inquire about the Festival to recognize our city as a major market when they make plans to tour and decide to work with us.”
 

Plans are underway for next year’s Festival to be held in Omaha closer to the newly developed Riverfront area. “Without giving too much away, let me just say it will be even bigger and better,” Smith said.

By all indications the fans had already expressed their approval when Jonathan Butler and Gerald Albright took the stage with their band around 7:30 Saturday evening. Sporting a long sleeved white shirt, jeans and shades, Butler brought the party to its feet several times as he sang and strutted the stage with his electric guitar. Albright, fully clad in black, used his saxophone to sway the crowd in every direction to the grooves of smooth funk and r&b.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been in Omaha so this is a great reunion for us,” Albright said later backstage. “Everyone here has been gracious and warm.” The duo
says they hope to work on some studio projects together this year and will continue playing similar dates together into the fall.

Returning this year to open for Albright and Butler that afternoon was jazz singer and stylist Rene Marie. Popular with the audience last year, Marie scatted, cooed and vocalized a range of emotions over cool and steady rhythms supplied by a backing keyboardist, bassist and drummer.

Other scheduled performances over the weekend included Kansas City native Angela Hagenbach, Sean Costello, Smokin’ Joe Kubek and B’Nois King, and Hobex.  Sandra Hall, known as the “Empress of the Blues”, kept things simmering for 2004 when she closed her performance Saturday night.

All day long the crowd sampled food and drinks from local vendors such as Jim’s Rib Haven, James Arthur Vineyards, and Wells’ Dairy. Others browsed through goods and ornaments by Import Village. Most of the artists who performed were available to greet fans near the tents to sell and autograph CDs. Many festival-goers brought their own seating although chairs were available for rent.

KETV Newswatch 7 anchors Pamela Jones welcomed the crowd Friday evening and Mike’l Severe emceed on Saturday. Festival volunteers and staff, wearing name tags and matching brightly colored shirts, were available throughout the entire festival as were Omaha Police and Emergency Medical personnel.

The Omaha Riverfront Jazz and Blues Festival is produced by Omaha’s Clark Connection Group. To find out about this and other events the company manages, call 402-884-1214, or go to www.clarkconnectiongroup.com  - www.omahajazzandblues.com