Can’t Stop the Jazz
Concert Numbers Despite Storm, Weather

In the Broadway musical Chicago, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly paint the town in “All That Jazz”. This weekend in Naperville, the 2^nd annual Lexus of Naperville Jazz Festival did the painting.

The three-day concert with national acts attracted locals as well as visitors to Central Park.

“Who can say no to paying nineteen bucks to see the Yellow Jackets,” said Flossmoor resident John Carvalho.  “It’s cool, you can set up a blanket, watch some jazz, hear some great music.” 

Along with Saturday night’s performance of the award winning Yellow Jackets attendants were treated to the swinging sounds of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Friday Night. The weekend concluded with the tunes of Ross Bon and The Mighty Blues Kings.

Despite Naper Days, Ribfest, and Last Fling all having a plethora of musical acts, Walter Johnson, Vice President of the Heritage YMCA said no festival was solely based on the Jazz genre.   

Though the weekend was about music, an undertone to the story also hit some visitors’ heartstrings. The jazz festival is also raising money for the Heritage YMCA and the Turning Point Autism Foundation.

“This partnership was basically fostered on a handshake,” said Randy Wolf, founder of the Turning Pointe Autism Foundation. “And it’s blossomed from there.”

Wolf has been affected personally by autism.  His ten year old son suffers from a severe case of autism, and was unable to find the help he needed. Wolf founded Turning Pointe Autism in 2007. The not-for-profit group is planning on helping autistic children by building a specialized school in Naperville.

“We want to build a state of the art school for Autistic kids impacted by autism,” said Wolf. “When the school district can’t meet the needs, kids don’t need to be outsourced.”

The Strong Kids Campaign run through the Heritage YMCA Group also benefited from the festival.

“Lots of people don’t realize if you’re a single mom and work, where do you take your kid for day care when school is out,” said Johnson. “The Y is there to help if your family situation changes.”

The Heritage YMCA and the Turning Pointe Autism Foundation hopeto raise fifty thousand dollars through the Jazz Festival, and look forward to it in summers to come. Despite the poor weather in the area this weekend, Wolf said the turnout was humbling.

“It puts a lump in your throat,” he said.

Elitsa Bizios Reports.