With festival producers including Wharton Center and the MSU College of Music, Whitaker had access to a variety of musicians, from 19-year-old jazz sensation Grace Kelly to Randy Gelispie, an instructor for the MSU College of Music.

Festival coordinator Ami Van Antwerp said everything was paid for by sponsors, grants and donations, raising close to $7,000.

Because of the variety of artists, there was something in the festival to appeal to everyone, Whitaker said.

“When you hear jazz live, it’s a totally different experience,” Whitaker said. “Ultimately our goal is that people will come to this festival to have a good time.

“It’s not about spreading jazz — although some of us think about it like that. It’s really about people realizing that jazz is a good time.”

Caribbean flavor
Among the diverse performers was Etienne Charles, a native of Trinidad and an assistant professor in the College of Music. The trumpeter is a graduate of Juilliard, and his most recent album, “Folklore,” was named the No. 6 jazz album of 2009 by National Public Radio.

Charles described his music as all-encompassing and inspired by his life. Because he spends most of his time traveling and performing when he’s not teaching, Charles said the jazz festival was a great opportunity for him to connect with the East Lansing community and share his music.

“It includes growing up in the Caribbean, growing up in a big family, … growing up hearing fascinating stories, growing up with music everywhere, growing up with rhythm everywhere and people dancing everywhere and then coming to America and seeing all that change,” Charles said.

Van Antwerp said although it was not on purpose, the festival included a lot of young and popular talent, and it proves jazz still is alive.

“Etienne is great because not only is he a well-known performer who lives right here in East Lansing, but he’s also a professor at MSU,” she said.“He’s on a national record label, and people don’t always realize what’s in your own backyard.”

Although it might seem like different styles of music would not be cohesive together, Charles said the diversity at the jazz festival serves as a reflection of the people and talents found in America.

“I’m from Trinidad, Grace Kelly is Asian American, Tumbao Bravo is playing Latin music,” he said. “That’s what America’s about — different people coming from different places and coming together — and a festival should reflect that, and I’m glad this one is.”

Young gun
Still a teenager, Grace Kelly has become an international phenomenon as a saxophonist, singer and composer. With mentors such as Lee Konitz and Phil Woods and having played with Harry Connick Jr., Kelly is a rising star who has already released seven albums.

With her set ranging from jazz funk to bebop, Kelly said her music is rooted in the tradition of jazz.

“I’ve had people come up to me (after shows) who have said, ‘You played a sassy thing, and then you sang something, and it made me want to cry,’” she said. “It’s that range of emotions that I’m really trying to target.”

Kelly has been writing music since she was 7 and playing the saxophone since she was 10. Having never played at an outdoor festival before, she said she loved the vibe of the open environment surrounding the stage.

As an eclectic blend of various genres, Kelly said, her music is joyful and emotional, and she hopes it creates an exciting atmosphere.

“I like to compare my music to types of colors, and my favorite types of colors are bright turquoise and oranges and these really vibrant things that resonate,” she said. “We take the music sometimes so far that people are on the edge of their seats, and then we bring it down.”

Kelly’s performance in the festival provided the community with a glimpse of something new in the world of jazz, Whitaker said.
“She has so much promise,” he said. “So many of the older jazz musicians and international figures have been talking about her.”

Honoring ‘Lady Day’
After portraying Billie Holiday in stage plays, Mardra Thomas became very close to the legendary singer and has become known for her impersonation of Holiday. Combining jazz and acting, Thomas stood out at the festival by utilizing music and drama to create her portrayal.

“She does Billie Holiday songs, and she really gets in character,” Van Antwerp said. “She’s nationally known for what she’s done.”

Thomas said because she loves Holiday’s music, she wants to share it where it’s welcomed, and Whitaker said he was excited to bring her to East Lansing. During her performance, she said she was energized by the audience’s response to her music.

“(Holiday) is — to this day — a musician who moves me, and one of my desires is to move people,” Thomas said. “It seems like people love the spirit of Billie Holiday and the music she shared.”

With so many artists and constant music playing, the jazz festival created a fun and relaxing atmosphere for those who attended. East Lansing resident Geoffrey Habron said he loves jazz, and he wasn’t surprised with the large attendance with the music, weather and crowd working together.

“This is a rare chance to hear jazz for free, and I love outdoor music,” Habron said. “It’s a great community event, and people come from all over, and it’s great music.”