On Friday morning, the Automotive Building at Fair Park was a buzz of activity, having nothing to do with the upcoming State Fair. It’s for The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) 8th Annual Riverfront Jazz Festival.
“I see enthusiasm, I see people working, and I see this place filled with compassion,” TBAAL Founder and President Curtis King said. “I see one moment, people lay all of their stuff aside.”
The annual music festival helps raise money for TBAAL’s youth programs. It’s usually held at TBAAL’s home at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, but renovations there have moved TBAAL and its Riverfront Jazz Festival to Fair Park temporarily for the next few years.
“Packing up, moving, renovations, it’s just a lot,” King said. “The spirit said, ‘No, you have to do this and you’ll be fine!’”
So the Automotive Building will become a main stage, with other stages located in the Centennial Building and Women’s History Building at Fair Park in Dallas. On Friday, audio and lighting crews were working alongside catering crews to get the space ready for the festival.
“My main job is, as long as the vibe is set with the musicians, I’ll follow along with it,” Lighting Tech Richard Gutierrez said as he carted cables around the hall. “Everybody’s happy, we all come home with a great night!”
“I hope and pray that when people come to this festival, they leave all of their negative energy. Don’t get on your cell phone unless you’re going to tell somebody, ‘Hey, get your ticket and come to the jazz festival,’” King said. “I think it’s gonna be an amazing experience!”
The TBAAL 8th Annual Riverfront Jazz Festival runs through Sunday, August 31st. NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 are proud sponsors. For the lineup schedule, click here. For tickets, click here.