Jazz On The Ave Festival Brings Music, Change To Philadelphia
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The ninth annual Jazz on the Ave Festival is this weekend, an event that has been a catalyst for change in part of Philadelphia.
With acts like Jeff Bradshaw, Elle Varner and Eric Roberson -- the event is expected to draw thousands from all over the region to the area of Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Ave, but its focus is more than just the music.
"We want people to come out and revisit the community, so they can actually see for themselves first hand all of the improvements that have been done," says Ken Scott, who runs the Beech Companies.
That group has invested more than $2-billion in North Central Philadelphia over the past 25 years. For the past nine, they've organized Jazz on the Ave to showcase the change and draw more people back to the once desolate Cecil B. Moore community.
"After every festival we get tons of calls from people calling about business opportunity and housing opportuities," Scott says.
From noon to 8 p.m. Saturday acts will perform for free on two stages along Cecil B. Moore Avenue between 17th and Broad Street. Jazz on the Ave also includes a health fair and food vendors.
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