State News on Lansing JazzFest..eclectic mix of jazz, enlightenment

The following article appeared in the State News on Aug 6, 2012. 

http://statenews.com/r/7f9890fd

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Lansing JazzFest provides eclectic mix of jazz, enlightenment

Julia Nagy | The State News496 West saxophonist Reggie Page performs at the 2012 Lansing JazzFest in Old Town on Saturday Aug. 4, 2012. “I like to come down and actually interact,” Page said about the audience. Julia Nagy/The State News

The streets of Lansing’s Old Town were packed this weekend as jazz enthusiasts gathered for a two-day celebration of music.

The 18th annual Lansing JazzFest took place Friday and Saturday in Old Town and featured performances by about 20 local, regional and national musical acts.

Terry Terry, president of the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art, the organization that produced the festival, said the purpose of hosting the event is to promote Old Town while also entertaining attendees in a friendly, accessible area.

“(We try) to create what we call an open space in our community where people can get together, meet new friends (and) meet old friends.”

Performers at the event represented an eclectic mix of jazz-influenced music, including numerous variations of the genre, such as Dixieland, smooth jazz and bebop.

Terry said some of the musicians chosen for this year’s festival were newcomers to the event, while others have played it before.

“We always try to mix it up and get some people who have played before, and then we always bring in new bands,” he said.

Edye Evans Hyde, frontwoman for Edye Evans Hyde and The Terry Lower Quartet, made her first appearance at Lansing JazzFest Saturday. Prior to the event, the jazz vocalist said she looked forward to her debut performance.

“It’s a new festival for me, (and) it seems like it’s a huge event,” she said. “I looked at the other people who are performing — many of them I know and love.”

Evans Hyde described her music as danceable, jazz-influenced sounds with a fun and funky twist.

“Jazz is such an interesting thing,” she said. “Everyone does it differently. My personality kind of comes out (in my music).”

Lansing resident Jack Budd, who has attended Lansing JazzFest several times, said it’s this wide range of musical acts Terry and other event organizers bring to the festival that keeps him coming back.

“It’s jazz, but it’s a variety of different bands,” he said. “I like the diversity and the atmosphere.”