Mose Allison © Myrna Jacobs

JazzFest is the fastest growing festival of any kind as well as the largest free music event in mid-Michigan, but the overwhelming success of this year’s event surprised even the event’s coordinators.

“This was a record crowd for Jazzfest, almost doubling last year’s attendance,” said OTBADA president Terry Terry. “We had well over 15,000 attendees, perfect weather, phenomenal music and a really fun crowd from all over the state.”

Lisa Smith, Public Relations chair for the festival admits, “After several years of promoting this event we could feel that this year the festival had taken flight in a bigger way. Media outlets were inquiring early-on, from every area of Michigan.”

JazzFest has grown to include more than 20 musical acts, and this year’s performance line-up, which included local acts as well as internationally-known headliner and Grammy nominee Mose Allison, kept attendees entertained late into the night on both Friday and Saturday. The prestigious set-list added to the appeal of this year’s event and is attributed to its resounding success.

Accompanying the on-stage entertainment, the festival offered fabulous ethnic cuisine options and Old Town shops and galleries kept their doors open to attendees during festival hours. Among the galleries open was the late Robert Busby’s Creole Gallery, which his daughter Ena Busby opened for the occasion. This year’s festival was dedicated to his life and memory, as he passed away earlier this year and was one of the original founders of the festival.

The 2007 Jazz Brunch took place Saturday morning under the main tent. Those present were privileged to a special silent art auction, with proceeds benefiting the Banyan Gallery and the Robert P. Busby Jazz Scholarship Fund at Michigan State University. “The jazz brunch was very successful, well beyond what we did last year,” said Terry. “We had great sponsor participation for the brunch which helped make it a success.”

One thing is certain from the success of this year’s event; the community spirit in Old Town, which Busby worked so hard to establish, is more evident now than ever. To learn more about this year’s JazzFest, visit the Web site at www.jazzlansing.com.