http://www.blue-echoes.com/gedowntown.html

Okay, my first attempt at shooting a live concert. The lighting was BAD, I was going back and forth between 2 cameras, and pretty much learning one of them (main camera), but they turned out pretty decent.

We arrived at about 5:20 and walked around, had a glass of wine, and mapped out the place. The Ken Chaney Trio was playing and they are a stellar band. Very tight. We talked to the bass player afterward and he is a great guy, even trusted Mrs. Bry in holding his bass while he packed up. She is now an official roadie. I started during the last song of KCT which was too bad; I would have loved to take more of them. Looks like the play at Navy Pier alot, will be checking them out again!

Bobby Lewis Sextet - unfreakinbelievable. Just an awesome collection of musicians. If you get a chance to see them, do it. Alejo Poveda is an awesome percussionist, and a darn funny guy. He hammed it up a few times while I was shooting him. What energy! The entire band was great.

GM of WDCB: great guy. He was having a blast. You can see he went through a ton of grief to get this done, but knew it was well worth it. He told us he was all choked up when he saw the turn out. Can't remember his name, if anyone met him and got a name, please post here, I want to send him a link to the pictures.

This event took A TON of work, to those asking if this could happen once a month, no way, BUT IT SHOULD HAPPEN EVERY YEAR FROM NOW ON. Best GE event I have ever seen, and the diversity of people there, the friendliness, and overall atmosphere was unlike anything I have seen at a town event. I mean, great jazz on a closed street with good food and wine and only blocks away from your home. CANNOT BE BEAT!

Thumbs way up to all that brought us this event. It was perfect. Seriously.

Nothing to do with photos of the Jazz Fest (Fan already sent you his commentary and critique), but does anyone know who spearheaded and did the work to make the Jazz Fest happen? There appears to be some doubt that the Chamber did anything other than lend their name to it...true or no? If no, which retailers/citizens deserve our thanks?

"To make summer a little cooler, Glen Ellyn's Chamber of Commerce will host the first Jazz Fest downtown from 3 to 8:30 p.m. July 14."