Dudley Jazz Festival: a musical gathering rooted in community

Fred Woodard’s annual event returns to Mary Hannon Playground July 19

Banner Arts & Culture Sponsored by Cruz Companies

At the Dudley Jazz Festival, performers, engaged in the Boston community, bring to life the arts and spirituality of the neighborhood through the power of music. 

Very much a local gathering, the free festival is an effort to have music bring people together in an informal, urban setting. Rooted in the community but inviting to all who want to share its values, the festival was founded by Fred Woodard in 2016 with an eye to enjoying where he lives and sharing that pleasure with strangers and friends.

A scene from the 2024 Dudley Jazz Festival. PHOTO: JayPix

“All I’m doing, it’s the same way every year,” Woodard told the Banner. “I’m the host. I live in the neighborhood, and I think of the festival as a neighborhood gathering. I wanted to expose my neighborhood to jazz music and create a platform to showcase their talents.”

Woodard said that in 2024, “between 250 to 300 people” attended the festival, “in and out, during the day.”

The Dudley Jazz Festival is back on Saturday, July 19, from noon to 6 p.m., at the Mary Hannon Playground, 621 Dudley St. in Dorchester.

Because the festival has only four shows with leaders and their bands, spread out with about 90-minute performances each, it’s easy to stop by, take a break and return to hear more. This year’s line-up is eclectic.

The opening act at noon is Kurtis Rivers. Playing alto sax, Rivers has performed with the Makanda Project Jazz Orchestra as well as with his own quartet and quintets. A well-known musician in the Boston area, Rivers draws upon the jazz genre’s traditions with a relaxed formality. Performing with Rivers is his band: John Kordalewski on piano, Gavin Connolly on drums, Ron Mahdi on bass and Alain Pacowski on guitar.

The crowd enjoying the jazz on a summer day. PHOTO: JAYPIX

Woodard takes the stage at 1:30 p.m. 

“My group, which is called The Fred Woodard Collective, has my son Fredrick Woodard on violin, Melvin Graham and Matthew Williams on drums and me on guitar. We’ll be playing a range of music, from R&B to blues to jazz, including tunes from ‘Indigo,’ our most recent recording, which is a collection of blues tunes done in a jazz format.”

At 3 p.m., Nigerian-born, Boston-based Temidayo Balogun brings together the cultural ways of his homeland and his North American home. Balogun plays tenor sax, piano and talking drum with his group Akede, a name that means a town crier in Yoruba dialect. Akede is Balogun on sax and gángan [talking drum], Digba Ogunbiyi on piano, Ian Quinton Banno on bass and Lumanyano Mzi on drums.

A scene from the 2024 Dudley Jazz Festival. PHOTO: JAYPIX

“Balogun’s style reflects his deep connection to Yoruba cultural roots,” Woodard said, “as well as his appreciation for the American jazz experience.”

Vocalist Donna McElroy, professor emeritus at Berklee College of Music, will also perform. She takes to heart an edict attributed to Duke Ellington: “There are only two kinds of music — good  music and bad music.”

Performing in jazz ensembles and on pop and gospel recordings, McElroy has even done background vocals on country tunes, most famously “We Shall Be Free” by Garth Brooks. Her band at the festival will be George Russell on piano, John Lockwood on bass and Sean Skeete on drums.

Festivalgoers can satisfy their hunger with food from two vendors (yet to be named). There will also be vendors selling merch and jewelry. Street parking is available.   

“I have an opportunity to give musicians to do what they want, the way they want to do it.” Woodard said. “The festival is a smooth, well-oiled machine, and each year we hope to bring more people out to enjoy it.”