Brass & Jazz in the Park

Brass & Jazz in the Park returns to Mattie Nash-Myrtle Davis Park on Saturday, November 7, for its sixth year in West Dallas. It's a free community event presented by the AT&T Performing Arts Center in partnership with The New Orleans Original BuckShop, part of the Center's annual festival series. The afternoon celebrates the music, culture, and traditions connecting Dallas and New Orleans, with live jazz, jazz dance, New Orleans brass, Black Mardi Gras Indians, Louisiana cuisine, and family art activities.

This year's edition honors two figures. One is Roy Hargrove, the Dallas-raised, two-time Grammy winner and Booker T. Washington HSPVA graduate who became one of the most influential jazz musicians of his generation. The other is the late Jerome 'Big Duck' Smith, the legendary New Orleans civil rights leader, Freedom Rider, and culture bearer. The day culminates in a traditional New Orleans Second Line curated by Michelle N. Gibson of The New Orleans Original BuckShop.

The music runs throughout the afternoon. The Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Jazz Band kicks things off at 1 PM, followed by Terence Bradford and Congo Square at 2 PM, and The Thaddeus Ford Band at 3 PM. At 3:45 PM, the Second Line takes over, led by Grand Marshal Michelle N. Gibson with the Big Easy Brass Band, the Wild Apache Black Mardi Gras Indians, and the BuckShop Kidz.

It's a family-friendly day, so bring the kids along for the art activities and the food. The festival begins at 12:30 PM, with the first set starting at 1 PM. It's free, though you'll need to RSVP. You can find the park at 3710 N Hampton Rd, Dallas, TX 75212.