Jazz festival jams on
GREENCASTLE -- Each year it happens right here in the city, and each year it's a truly remarkable event. First-class musicians gather in a backyard on the south side of Greencastle for an afternoon of amazing music.
And so it was on Sunday for the Crown Street Jazz and Blues Festival. Greencastle transplant Tad Robinson was the headliner of the event, but from top to bottom, the afternoon of music left everyone smiling.
With a nice breeze, even the leaves were dancing to the music.
The lineup featured The HausKatz, Convergence, Robinson, Randy Salman Quartet and was topped off by Blues Side Up. With music ranging from traditional jazz and blues to some rock and funk-infused tunes, the entertainment ran the gamut.
Each year, the event is the main fundraiser for the Family and Youth Community Development Program (FYCDP), which provides tutoring and other services to the residents and community of Greencastle and Putnam County.
FYCDP was the brainchild of DeWayne Norris, who served as its original executive director. Norris now lives in California but was back in town for the festival.
The current board took a few moments to honor Norris and his vision, as board member Lisa Trigg presented him with a plaque for his contributions to FYCDP.
"It's good to be back and see how much this thing has moved forward," Norris said.
Each performance was punctuated by some words from judges Matt Headley and Denny Bridges, who served as emcees for the event. Raffles and a silent auction also helped raise money for the FCYDP.
But the real attraction was the music. The crowd was especially thick during Robinson's performance, but remained steady most of the day. Board member Joe Miles estimated it to be the largest crowd the event has had in its seven years.