A heartfelt thanks to all performers and attendees at our First Annual AFM Local 47 Jazz Festival!

We celebrated our three-day inaugural concert series over three Sundays in April, during Jazz Appreciation Month, in our new Captain Greg Welch Gathering Place. Generously sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund and AFM Local 47, and supported by CenterStaging and Union Graphics, the concerts were presented free to the public.

Hat tip to our incredible performers:

Sunday, April 2
John Clayton
Brett McDonald Saxophone & Woodwind Quartet
That Chase Thing
Peggy Duquesnel Quintet
The Ron King Big Band

Sunday, April 16
Saturday Night Bath
Susie Hansen Latin Jazz Band
Bonsera
theBABAorchestra
Angela O’Neill and the Outrageous8

Sunday, April 23
The David Angel Jazz Ensemble
Los Angeles Mambo All Star Orchestra
John Leftwich Nonet
The David Wheatley Band
The Leslie Baker Quintet

Kicking off the series, John Clayton delivered a powerful speech about the importance of jazz music and jazz musicians. Ron King shared kind words of Captain Greg Welch, Local 47’s longtime security guard whose life was tragically cut short in January 2020, and in honor of whom our downstairs Gathering Place is named. In another touching moment, the final performers of the festival debuted a special tribute: Leslie Baker and her band performed a special song she wrote in memory of Captain Greg Welch.

AFM Local 47 looks forward to continuing our new annual tradition next year celebrating — in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King — the “triumphant music” that is jazz, and for many years to come.

AFM Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe introduces the Brett McDonald Saxophone & Woodwind Quartet

John Clayton (bass) and his band

Susie Hansen Latin Band

Bonsera

That Chase Thing

AFM Local 47 Director Dr. Norman Ludwin, Leslie Baker, Live Performance Assistant to the President Diane
Lauerman, and her granddaughter inside the Captain Greg Welch Gathering Place, with our beloved Captain Greg’s tribute photograph overhead.