A normally desolate strip of Broadway was brought to life Saturday by the deep beats and smooth melodies of some of Buffalo's best musicians.
The crowd at the second annual Queen City Jazz Fest grew steadily throughout the day, as the sun receded behind City Hall, casting long, cool shadows upon the hot pavement. By nightfall, when the last notes were being tickled on the ivories, the street was fully alive with jazz enthusiasts and supporters of the fledgling Michigan Avenue Corridor.
The impressive, and diverse, turnout speaks to the vast and growing interest in the Colored Musicians Club, host of the event, and its surrounding neighborhood. Tour groups from across the country visit the area to see history first hand -- from the Underground Railroad to the Civil Rights Movement to the Golden Age of Jazz.
The Michigan Avenue Corridor was recently the recipient of an influx of city money, which will help to fix up and market the CMC, the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, and the Jesse Nash House as national heritage and tourism destinations.
The CMC is now looking to further celebrate the impressive heritage of the club, and all those who have passed through it, by creating a museum on its first floor. The museum will display vintage instruments, band uniforms, letters and telegrams from old musicians and their families. A letter from Louis Armstrong's wife apologizes for being late with her dues, $35 that the family continues to pay each year.
"Back in the day, the slogan was basically, come down to the club, you never know who you'll see," explained George Scott, club president. The walls of 145 Broadway have certainly borne witness to some of the greatest jam sessions ever seen in this city. From the sharp trumpet wails of Dizzy Gillespie to the soaring vocals of Ella Fitzgerald, scores of world renowned artists made the CMC a necessary stopping point whenever they came to town.
The museum will hopefully drive people, from near and far, to visit the club -- which hosts weekly open jams (Sunday), band rehearsals and kids music lessons -- and learn more about its rich history. "We want people to know that we still exist," Scott said. "We're still here, and everyone's welcome to come by and indulge in some good jazz."