Taste of 4th Avenue ‘keeps jazz alive’

The Historic Fourth Avenue Business District was a vibrant center of African-American culture and commerce during the days of segregation.

Each summer, the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival celebrates that spirit of the district by presenting food vendors and national and local jazz artists. The festival returns to Fourth Avenue North and 18th Street North on Saturday, Aug. 24, beginning at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Inspired by the “Taste of Chicago,” the Taste of 4th Avenue was launched in 2003 by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

The 2019 musical line-up includes Ragan Whiteside, Selina Albright and Gary Motley, plus Birmingham artists Eric Essix, Domenion Band and LP (Like Paul), according to the event website.

Birmingham has a rich jazz heritage with such musical greats as Erskine Hawkins and Sun Ra, according to Carla Youngblood of Urban Impact, a nonprofit that presents Taste of 4th Avenue along with the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association and the city of Birmingham. 

For more information, including ways to donate to help keep the event free, go to 4thavenuejazz.org.