Five Points Reliving its Jazz Hey Day

The heart of Denver’s Historic Five Points neighborhood came back to life on Saturday, May 19, 2012 for the 9th Annual Five Points Jazz Festival. Rainy weather did not spoil the festivities at this Free all ages event. The Five Points neighborhood was once referred to as the “Harlem of the West” but the festivities brought a positive atmosphere back to a once thriving neighborhood in Denver.

The air was filled with the sounds of Jazz music and the decadent smells of food served from booths lined up along Welton Street. Artists performed on seven stages with the main stage featuring artists such as Erica Brown, Carlos Lando, and Bob Montgomery . The event also focused on the community’s youth showcasing talented local kids on several of the stages. There was a” kids zone” featuring a small tennis court with kid sized equipment to make playing easier. Local Latin jazz musician Ray Pacheco and local dance legend Cleo Parker Robinson were both honored for their significant contributions to the arts.

The Festival Marketplace was located between 26th and 28th streets featuring food, drink, artists, exhibits and organization booths. One standout exhibit featured the history of the Five Points Jazz Festival displaying posters from the last 8 years of the festival. Indoor exhibits included a free lecture series on Jazz improvisation, and an exhibit by local artist Rory Knudston entitled “The Lost Suppers” featuring the work of students enrolled at Redline’ Epic Arts program. The Redline Arts program teaches Denver K-12 students art using an experimental curriculum focusing on social justice.

The Festival ran from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with plenty of activities to interest attendees of all ages. The turnout was not quite as high as previous years due to rainy weather but this historic jazz neighborhood was once again brought back to life.