Central Avenue Hosts 2nd Annual Jazz Festival
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Central Avenue, once the heart of black Los Angeles, will return to a distant era this weekend when a mile-long stretch of the historic street will be closed for the second annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival.
Thousands of music lovers are expected to converge on Central between Vernon Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to hear the sounds that once drew musical giants and jazz fans from around the world to the area.
Most of the entertainment will be centered in the historic Dunbar Hotel near 42nd Street, where such jazz legends as Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington and Fats Waller stayed while performing in Los Angeles.
Various performers will entertain between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on both days. Today’s highlights include Big Jay McNeely, Buddy Collette and Jeanne and Jimmy Cheatham and the Sweet Baby Blues Band. On Sunday, Teddy Edwards, Jimmy Witherspoon, blues stylist Margie Evans and comedian Reynaldo Rey will perform.
Admission is free at the festival, which also features dance groups, gospel singers, a comedian, food booths and arts and crafts.
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