The Sweet Goes On
Lake Arbor Jazz Festival Continues Delivering Hot Music, Cool Bands, Great Food and Elevating County Culture
Story and Photography by Raoul Dennis
After nine years, Lake Arbor Jazz Festival Board President and Executive Producer Kevin C. Alexander is now a veteran at delivering one of the county’s signature summer events. But he’s the first to say that it isn’t easy and it doesn’t get done without help.
“One of the things is the team that we have. We have 10 core committee members that are committed to making this thing work. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible,” Alexander says. “I can’t do it by myself. We have some people that have been with us from Day One and they are still with us because they believe in the dream, the passion, the vision and that’s what it’s all about.”
There many who have been parts of the dream both inside and outside Alexander’s circle.
Lake Arbor Jazz Festival Photographer John Wardell, who lost a daughter to cancer earlier this month, still showed up to shoot the entire three days of the festival – just as he has done for the past few years. For him, the work is part of the healing process.
The primary vendor at Passanante’s Home Food Services, travels from Baltimore every year to make sure her company has a station at the festival. “I have been here every year since the beginning,” she says. “I’ve been here when it was much hotter – and in the rain.”
And then there’s the audience. “I haven’t missed one yet,” says one Clinton resident. “I may not always stay for the whole day, but I always come out.”
The number of sponsors have grown but those who were there from the start are special.
“Outback was there from Day One along with Passport, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Comcast/Xfinity and the Lake Arbor Foundation. Every year they look to support us and we really appreciate the love. We also have Wellspring, a new sponsor,” Alexander says.
Alexander’s dream is a year away from becoming a cultural institution. He says plans are already in the works to make the 10 anniversary reflect the milestone that the festival will make.
“We will have the signature gala. We will raise money for scholarships as we always do,” Alexander says. “We will also bring in high caliber talent - nationally recognized recording artists like Norman Brown and others like him for the entire weekend. Stay tuned.”
