Susan Jones of the Susan Jones Jazz Quartet began her set with the song “¿Quién será?” or in English: “Sway” by composers Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltrán Ruiz. A man sitting close to the stage clapped along to the song while others tapped their feet, drummed their fingers or patted their laps to the upbeat tune.
This is the fifth year the Jazz Festival has been held in Greenbelt, according to Greg Meyer, event organizer. Over two dozen people gathered in Roosevelt Center this year, including Councilmember Ric Gordon who briefly swung by. The festival roster included Tom Reyes Trio, Susan Jones Jazz Quartet, M-Class, Not 2 Cool, Greg Meyer Project, Brother Bill Quintet and Pete Reppert.
Terry Parham, M-Class keyboardist, called the warm sunny Saturday a “great day for some great music.”
People of all ages came out to listen to the outdoor music. Attendees came with foldable chairs or filled benches to watch the musicians perform. Some of the New Deal Café patrons sitting outside on the patio watched and bopped their heads to the music. Toward the end of each group’s set, two big red tip buckets would make their way through the crowd.
A young boy with big blue headphones recorded some of the performances while he walked around Roosevelt Center, swaying along to the music while he pointed his smartphone at the stage.
Jones, violinist in the Susan Jones Jazz Quartet, urged the crowd to get up and dance if they felt moved to. She continued to try and encourage people to dance after each song and called Roosevelt Center a big dance floor.
During the fourth song of Jones’s set, an older gentleman in knee-high white socks, jean shorts and a gray T-shirt jumped into the middle of Roosevelt Center, taking up Jones’s challenge. He threw his arms about as he leaped and skipped around in front of the stage. He continued throughout an entire song and bowed to the crowd when he finished. There was clapping and cheering for him and the Susan Jones Jazz Quartet.