Despite delay, jazz festival impresses
Despite lengthy delays due to events promoters say were out of their control, the inaugural Riverfront Jazz Festival at Regional Park’s Riverfront Amphitheater kept locals entertained throughout the night of April 6.
The one-night concert featured two of smooth jazz’s top acts in singer Lalah Hathaway and saxophonist Boney James. Those performers, with nine Grammy Awards between them, were the main attraction and delivered even as those who waited had to endure a pause of at least an hour between keyboardist/guitarist Justin Lee Schultz and Legally Blynd, the band that toured with Hathaway according to Lauren Williams of Kreative Logistics, which promoted the show along with the Pine Bluff Cultural Alliance.
Among the extenuating circumstances Williams named, the production company responsible for providing the sound, lights and backline equipment encountered a serious incident while traveling from Nashville, Tenn.
“Their vehicle experienced a double blowout and came close to flipping, putting the lives of the drivers at risk,” she said. “We are grateful that no one was seriously injured or worse.”
Also, the production manager, who was also traveling from Nashville, became ill with food poisoning from a meal picked up en route to the market, Williams said.
The gates to the amphitheater opened at noon with the opening artists scheduled to begin at 2:30, but Williams said the show didn’t start until about 4:30 and wrapped up by about 11 p.m. Tickets were sold for $50 apiece.
“Opening early would relieve parking confusion and congestion at the gate,” Williams said, adding a high number of on-site ticket purchases and traffic was expected. “To allow our production staff to completely set up, the opening acts were omitted. We understand that this delay may have caused frustration among attendees, but it’s important to emphasize that the reason for the delay was far from a mere excuse. It involved potential harm to individuals who were working to bring the festival to our city.”
Violinist Josh Vietti performed, followed by Schultz, who ended his segment going into the crowd with his guitar. Some in the audience expressed their frustration and left before the remaining three acts, while others like Zedralyn Butler of Pine Bluff arrived just in time with a friend to see the rest of the performers.
Butler said the show had a nice vibe.
“I actually enjoyed myself,” Butler said. “We were skeptical, but when we got there, we didn’t have to wait too long for the show to begin. The acts were very interactive.”
Butler said it was nice to attend a show like the Jazz Festival in her hometown, which Williams said was the goal. The festival was intended to elevate the cultural landscape of the city and establish it as a vibrant hub for artistic expression, Williams added.
“We were definitely going to make it a memorable event,” she said. “The objective is to bring other events like this to Pine Bluff. I lived in Houston, and I noticed there is nothing cultural here, but it is a city that is deserving of these opportunities.”
Williams added citizens of Pine Bluff shouldn’t have to travel to Little Rock always just to see a show of similar caliber. She hopes Kreative Logistics and the Cultural Alliance can stage an international-themed show in the fall.
“I am proud we actually delivered,” she added. “We didn’t shut down. We took a hit.”