THE RETURN JAZZ AT DREW
Since its 1991 debut , Jazz at Drew has been a cultural highlight for South Los Angeles . This 23rd edition marked the festival ' s return after a hiatus since 2019 due to the pandemic .
Headlined by Morris Day and The Time , the festival featured standout performances by Grammy-winner Norman Brown , Grammynominated DW3 , The Lao Tizer Band with Eric Marienthal , vocalist Erin Stevenson , and local artist J . Anthny .
Radio hosts Adai Lamar ( KJLH 102.3 FM ) and Greg Mack ( KTWV 94.7 FM ) emceed the event , engaging with the crowd through lively audience interviews .
DJ Mr . Quick energized the festival with a lively mix of jazz and dance rhythms , keeping the crowd dancing late into the night . He also paid tribute to Frankie Beverly , with the audience waving white handkerchiefs in celebration .
Erin Stevenson wowed the crowd with powerful performances of hits like " I Need Your Lovin '" and " Save Your Love for Me ," closing her set with tributes to Frankie Beverly ' s " Happy Feelings " and " Before I Let Go ."
The Lao Tizer Band , featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal , captivated the audience with selections from their album " Songs from the Swinghouse " and earlier hits , blending jazz with various influences .
Grammy award-winning guitarist Norman Brown was next to hit the stage with his soul-stirring performance of “ That ’ s the Way Love Goes ,” “ After the Storm ,” and “ Man in the Mirror ,” to name a few . The energy was undeniable as the crowd swayed , grooved , and lost themselves in the music as the sun set on the CDU Campus and the lights came up .
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