Submitted photo
A member of the Al Cobine Big Band performs Friday at the WFIU Jazz in July concert.
Jazz in Columbus hit another high note Friday.
The Al Cobine Big Band free WFIU Jazz in July concert attracted an estimated crowd of 750 people at the Bartholomew County Public Library Plaza downtown. The attendance represents the largest crowd for an event at the plaza in several years.
It comes on the heels on the July 17 JazzIN Columbus free jazz concert for The Blue Side jazz ensemble that drew an estimated audience of more than 350 people over 90 minutes along Fourth Street. It also surfaces at a time when the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s ticketed Jazz at Helen’s intimate concerts are mostly selling out a 96-seat space, also with nationally performing artists, in many cases.
Seven and eight years ago, the Columbus Area Arts Council’s free Live On the Plaza series attracted estimated crowds of 1,000 and 2,000 people for nationally touring, nontraditional arts acts such as Black Violin and the Groovaloos.
All this is significant especially in recent years as seasoned consultants recently have reminded city officials that a vibrant downtown — and especially one with affordable or free, family-style activities — is a key to any community’s future growth and its ability to attract new residents seeking a strong quality-of-life quotient.
Maddie Paul, the library’s marketing and community relations manager, mentioned that the library aims to enhance elements such as that.
“Crowds like these highlight the incredible impact we can have when we combine our resources, passions, and strengths with community partners,” Paul said. “As we move forward, our goal will be to foster more community connections and continue to grow the variety of events we offer.”
Her thought dovetails with library executive director Jason Hatton’s pointed push for the past few years to make the library, its resources and its surroundings more readily accessible to the public.
Just last month, the library’s inside space and outdoor plaza became an extended location for the Columbus/Bartholomew County Branch of the NAACP’s presentation of Juneteenth that attracted an estimated 400 to 500 over the course of several hours.
