Long Beach blues and jazz weekend showcases performances

The second annual Blues and Jazz Weekend in Long Beach drew enthusiastic audiences for three days of performances at the Long Beach Public Library and Roc and Olive Restaurant.

Organized by Artists in Partnership, Inc. in collaboration with the Long Beach Public Library, the event featured a diverse lineup of local, national, and internationally recognized musicians, showcasing a wide range of blues and jazz genres, Sept. 27-29.

The weekend began Friday evening with a performance by the Katie Mitchell Band, joined by vocalists Jenny Rubin, Brittany Devarso, and Cat Parr. The group performed a set titled “Ladies Sing the Blues and Jazz” to a packed house.

On Saturday evening, Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, a multi-instrumentalist known for playing many instruments including the guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, and fiddle, delivered a performance that highlighted different styles of Black American music. His interpretations of blues, ragtime, old-time, and Cajun music were complemented by stories about his ancestry, as well as the historical roots of these musical traditions.

Sunday afternoon featured a performance by jazz and blues vocalist Rahsaan Cruse and his trio. The group showcased a combination of new compositions and classic jazz and blues tunes. The afternoon was capped by special guest, Grammy-nominated artist Guy Davis, who brought a mix of roots, blues, folk, rock, rap, spoken word, and world music to the stage. Davis touched on historical themes and personal experiences.

“At times one could observe tears in the eyes of audience members,” Johanna Mathieson, Executive Director of AIP, said. “At other times the room filled with uproarious laughter and the recognition that, as human beings, ‘we’ve all been there,’ at some level and capacity.”

The weekend wrapped up with a blues jam at Roc and Olive Restaurant, headlined by Ben Metzger, a musician, songwriter, educator, producer, and founder of Studio Noir Music. Fellow musicians and vocalists joined Metzger for the event’s annual jam session. Steve Adelson, founder of the Long Beach Jazz Festival and a Chapman Stick musician, also performed. Despite the undesirable weather, the event had a groovy atmosphere. Plans for next year’s Blues and Jazz Weekend are already in progress.

For more information about AIP and opportunities to get involved, visit aip4arts.org.