Each year on a Fall weekend in late September, the same question pops into my head: How much fun can I have during a single weekend? Once again, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival answered that question with a resounding “Lots of fun, and even more music.”

This year the festival’s organizers were kind. In the past, the first set began at 1:00 PM on the Wagner Stage. This year, the second day kicked off at 2:00 PM, giving everyone an extra hour of sleep (or of photo editing).

Sunday is a bit different than Saturday. Rather than the sometimes more serious and sometimes experimental music that is heard on Saturday, Sunday’s fare is devoted to more straight ahead and danceable music. There are five sets on the Midway Plaisance, alternating between the West and Wagner stages.

Orbert Davis and his Sextet of accomplished musicians kicked the afternoon off with some top-flight jazz. How could it be anything else with John Moulder (guitar), Rajiv Halim (tenor sax), Ernie Adams (drums), Stewart Miller (bass), and Leandro Lopez Varady (piano) working in unison with Davis? All are longtime Chicago jazz-scene stalwarts. For me, the set came down to Ernie Adams, one of the nicest guys in the jazz community and always fun to hear and watch. As usual, he was a driving force behind a great set.

Everyone then moved to the West Stage, where Johnny Blas and company provided wonderful Latin rhythms, which brought the dancers out. People had a great time listening to music influenced by Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto, and Dizzy Gillespie.

But the HPJF never rests on its laurels, so it was back to the Wagner Stage, where Chicago’s favorite jazz singer, Dee Alexander, was performing with the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective. Alexander is incredibly versatile—over the years she has spirited the Three Ellas, paid tribute to Jimi Hendrix and James Brown, inhabited Billie Holiday’s soul, recalled the songs (jazz standards) that Alexander’s mother loved, and sung who knows what else. Her latest venture does exactly what its name suggests—a mixture of jazz and soul. Because it was Sunday, we heard some church-inspired music, as well as a call and response duet with the audience on the need for more humanity. The audience ate it up despite the now overcast skies.

When Alexander and company finished, the audience headed to the West Stage for drummer Clif Wallace’s set with Plus Five. Once again, the dancers came out.

It was then back to the Wagner Stage for the final set of the festival: Victor Garcia and his sextet. Garcia has worked with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Paquito d’Rivera, and Dr. John, which is a reflection of his talents. The sun had returned for a set of great music.

Today, Chicago artist Lewis Achenbach was on hand, painting what he heard. Lewis is extremely talented, prolific, and a nice guy on top of everything else. He has developed a highly unique style, using figurative symbols, bold colors, and dark lines to translate the aural to the visual. He shows up just about everywhere there is music, so keep an eye out for him.

Then the proverbial curtain came down on another weekend of fabulous music at the festival that celebrates jazz and humanity. I can’t wait for next year.

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