Streets Come Alive With Sounds of Jazz

It was a beautiful Tuesday night full of jazzy tunes in downtown Westfield.  The weather was lovely with clouds hinting at a possible rainstorm that never came. 

These clouds  did not deter swarms of people from coming out to celebrate the Sweet Sounds Jazz Festival, which is held every Tuesday night from 7-9 p.m. during the months of July and August.  Children flocked to the streets with their white heart-shaped balloons, courtesy of the Downtown Westfield Corporation. 

Headlining the event was the Scarlett Lee Moore Band, in front of the northside train station lawn.  This was not the band's first time playing for Westfield's jazz night, and that was certainly apparent from the large crowds that they attracted.  Families, couples and children gathered around the lawn to dance the night away to the band's lively songs.  The bands' eclectic sounds, ranging from skats to blues to a Talking Heads cover, got the crowd on their feet.

Further down the road, the Justin Derman band set a more mellow vibe with their extensive drum sessions and crowd favorites, such The Beatles cover "The Fool on the Hill".  If one was looking for more of  a big band sound on jazz night, they would have made themselves comfortable in front of the Banana Republic on Central Ave to hear the Jazz Lobsters Big Band.  They played some classic big band songs that had their fans singing and humming the night away. 

Across town, the Emilio Teubal & La Balteuband were set up  on the First Baptist Church's lawn.  Their progressive jazz riffs and sultry saxophone sounds were quite popular with the residents, who were comfortably camped out on the church lawn. 

Tuesday night's jazz night was no dissapointment, with families and friends eager to celebrate a beautiful summer night in downtown Westfield.  Children were partaking in the fun as well,  dancing around with their DWC white heart-shaped balloons and toy saxophones in hand. 

The Sweet Sounds jazz night will be back next Tuesday, with Dr. Dubious and the Agnostics, Too Blue Lou and the Crew, Lauren Shub Trio, and Radam Schwartz as the line-up, see you there!