By Runa Lemminn

Features Editor

 Musical talent from near and far will once again flood the amphitheater at CSU, Bakersfield when the 32nd annual Bakersfield Jazz Festival returns this weekend.

 The festival, which is a fundraiser for CSUB student scholarships, will feature a broad range of artists.

 CSUB music professor and festival director Jim Scully stated via email that he was looking forward to hearing “music that covers rock, Latin, jazz, funk and all elements in-between.”

 According to a CSUB press release dated April 5, local talent such as the Kern County Honor Jazz Band will perform, as well as CSUB’s own Jazz Collective.  Other local groups such as Velorio will be there as well as some from further away, such as Latin Jazz artist Poncho Sanchez.

  CSUB’s Jazz Festival is lucky to be one of the stops for The Funky Knuckles on their Alpaca Tour. The Funky Knuckles are from Dallas, and will continue touring in California after their performance in Bakersfield.

 The best part of the festival, besides the great music, is that it goes toward raising scholarship funds for CSUB students.

 “The scholarship money comes from endowed scholarships accrued over the years and some sponsorship money each year,” stated Scully in an email.  “The awards go to mostly music students, but students from engineering, math, geology, biology, and nursing have received awards in the recent past.”

 The family-friendly event is free for children 12 and under, CSUB students, and faculty and staff.

 For everyone else, tickets can be purchased on Vallitix or the Bakersfield Jazz Festival website.

 Additional information can be found on www.bakersfieldjazzfest.com.

Photo By Karina Diaz/The Runner – Soulajar brought out the crowd on the first day of the 2017 jazz festival.