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1,000-plus pour into Youngstown for Wine and Jazz Fest
1,000-plus pour into Youngstown for Wine and Jazz Fest
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Wine and Jazz Fest
Gallery
Alex Bugnon, world-renowned jazz pianist and composer, and local guitarist and singer Jay Byrd provided the jazz for Saturday’s seventh annual Youngstown Wine and Jazz Fest, and local wineries served up the bubbly.
Bugnon, the featured artist who performed at 8:30 p.m., studied at the Paris Conservatory and the Mozart Academy in Salzburg, Germany, and at 19 moved to the United States and attended Berklee School of Music in Boston.
“I love jazz. You’d have to pay a $100 to see Alex Bugnon in concert. He’s one of the best jazz musicians anywhere. To see him here cost $10,” said Rhonda D. Woods of Youngstown, a traveling medical assistant with Visiting Physicians.
Bugnon’s recording career began with his 1988 debut album “Love Season,” which reached the pop charts and the Top 40 of the R&B charts, as did his follow-up “Head Over Heels.” He toured with “Gospel Leviticus” in the deep South and was nominated for two Soul Train Music Awards for Best Jazz Album in 1990 and 1992.
To boot, the show opened at 7:30 with Jay Byrd, well-known local rhythm and blues singer who accompanies himself with an acoustic guitar and harmonica.
“The atmosphere was great ... to have a drink and listen to great music,” said Michael Scarnecchia and Vickie Holley, first-timers to the annual concert.
The wine was supplied by three local wineries: L’uva Bella Winery & Bistro, 6597 Center Road, Lowellville; Mastropietro Winery, 14558 Ellsworth Road, Berlin Center; and Halliday’s Winery, 2400 NE River Road, Lake Milton.
“It is great to come out and meet people and give them a sample of our wines,” said Bill Santangelo, vice president of sales for L’uva.
“Everybody was in a wine and jazzy mode,” said Ron Birchak, owner of Halliday’s Winery and the Old Dutch Mill Golf Course, both in Lake Milton.
“It’s a wonderful event that is very positive for downtown Youngstown. The city has definitely made some positive moves in the last 10-20 years. It’s a very nice event and great for Youngstown,” said siblings Daniel and Cathy Mastropietro, owners of the winery that carries their name. “It’s so nice to see so many people supporting a city event,” said Cathy, a Youngstown resident.
A policeman on security duty estimated between 1,000 and 1,200 people crowded onto Wick Avenue between Federal and Commerce streets to hear the performers.
In that crowd was Dr. Wynand Nel, of Ontario, Canada, a resident at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital who came to the event with friends. “I’m not a big jazz fan, but I like live music of any kind,” he said.
“I love jazz and Christian music,” said the Rev. Nathaniel DuBose, pastor of Lilly Grove Baptist Church. “Events like this help Youngstown’s image.”
Enjoying the crowd and the concert together were David Berry of Liberty, an electrical engineer with Columbus McKinnon in Salem, and Lauren Johnson of Youngstown, manager of 422 Project and Mahoning County business development for Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
The couple had come to the event after attending the Greek festival up the hill at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and other concert-goers had migrated from the Festival of the Arts at Youngstown State University.
The primary purpose of the Wine and Jazz Fest is to showcase what downtown Youngstown has to offer all year long, said Michael McGiffin, the city’s director of events and special projects.
It appeared downtown restaurants also were busy and benefited from the event.
Proceeds from alcohol sales from the wineries are used to support the Youngstown Marathon Foundation and to bring other events to the downtown, McGiffin said.