Tacoma Jazz Fest: Jazz, blues, food and beer

Established and new talent join in Saturday’s 13th annual Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival, this year with four stages within one block along South Tacoma Way. Recent “The Voice” singer Stephanie Anne Johnson, CBS “Late Show” trombonist Tom “Bones” Malone, “Tonight Show” lead trumpeter Chuck Findley and harmonica icon Curtis Salgado are some of the star acts playing alongside festival organizer Rich Wetzel and his Groovin’ Higher Jazz Orchestra .

With three stages inside Stonegate Pizza and Bar, Dawson’s Bar and Ah Badabing Pizzeria plus an outdoor stage at the corner of South Tacoma Way and South 54th Street, the festival brings national and local blues players together from 2 p.m. through midnight.

Local performers include Stephanie Anne Johnson, finalist in NBC’s “The Voice” and in demand on regional stages, singing with Northern Pacific; swing band Lance Buller and the Roadstars; Tacoma saxophonist Kareem Kandi and Wetzel’s Higher Groovin’ Orchestra, playing with Tom Malone and Chuck Findley. Other Northwest bands include Junkyard Jane and the Billy Shew band, and harmonica-and-vocalist Curtis Salgado will have his own set. South Tacoma Way will be closed, with a street canopy, food and crafts vendors and a beer garden near South 56th Street.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 1:20 PM with the headline "Tacoma Jazz Fest: Jazz, blues, food and beer."