A new rhythm rises: Jazz returns to Old Sacramento with Capital City Festival
As the deep, steady chords of Harley White Jr.’s upright bass floated through the spring air and families laid out quilts on golden, sun-warmed grass, one thing was clear: Jazz has found its beat again in Old Sacramento.
On Saturday, the inaugural Capital City Jazz Festival marked a soulful return of live jazz to the historic riverfront district. The free event had drawn a crowd of about 200 music lovers by the time the music kicked off at 1:15 pm.
Fans like mother and daughter Audrey and Tiffany Lighter came early and stayed late — basking in sunshine, good vibes and the sounds of Agape Soul, Nagual, the Harley White Jr. Quartet and headliner Jeff Ryan and Friends.
Regional entertainment group A-List Party Experience, or APEX, organized the event in partnership with Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, whose district includes Old Sacramento.
It was more than a concert. For many, it was a reunion — a nod to Sacramento’s rich musical past and a hopeful look forward.
“We’re true to this, not new to this,” said Tiffany Lighter, a 45-year-old Elk Grove resident, beaming as she relaxed beside her mother, their parasols keeping them cool. “If it’s music and good ambiance, good music at a good cost, why not? People say there’s nothing to do in Sacramento — yes, there is. You just have to find it.”
Jazz festival was family affair for many
Tiffany’s mother, Audrey Lighter, 72, is living proof that it’s never too late to fall deeper in love with music.
“I’ve been playing acoustic for almost 20 years. Now I’m learning bass,” she said, noting that her husband gifted her a bass guitar for her 71st birthday. “Every time we went to a concert, I was admiring the bass. Now I’m learning to play it.”
The location — Old Sacramento State Historic Park, once the heart of the Gold Rush-era riverfront — added to the festival’s nostalgic glow. It’s where Sacramento’s Dixieland Jazz Jubilee unfolded for decades.
Just beyond the levee, the Sacramento River shimmered. Around the stage, steam engines, museums and 19th-century storefronts grounded attendees in the capital’s history as White’s quartet took them on a journey through jazz.
For Susan Baxter, 63, the event stirred bittersweet memories of jubilees she had attended in the past and the entertainers who made those events so much fun.
“The jazz festival is a lifelong Sacramento tradition for me,” she said. “Tony Cox was the emcee for 30 years. Mick Martin was a staple. For me, it was always like coming to a family reunion. I’m really glad it’s back — even if it’s smaller. I just wish there was more diversity.”
Still, she applauded the free entry and open format: “I have my own water bottle. I brought my own chair. That’s fabulous. It’s peaceful. It feels safe and relaxing. Most concerts, you break the bank. This? This feels right.”
That sense of belonging, ease and community echoed throughout the crowd.
“We love jazz and wanted to enjoy the sunshine,” said Monica Butler, 52, of Hercules, who came with her fiancé, Jeffrey Melson, 60. “Agape Soul and Jeff Ryan — they’re amazing.”
APEX reimagines a Sacramento festival tradition
Behind the scenes, APEX co-founder and director of talent Michael Craft saw this festival as a test run for something bigger. A former probation officer turned promoter, Craft has deep Sacramento roots and big dreams.
“We’ve been in this game a long time,” he said. “We’re doing a whole different vibe down here. We’re doing smooth to contemporary to even funk jazz.”
Craft and his team have been laying the groundwork for a jazz festival resurgence, building on successful events in Elk Grove and now extending into Sacramento proper. On Aug. 1, APEX will bring Grammy Award winner Avery*Sunshine to the Sofia.
Why jazz?
“Jazz has deep roots here, especially in the West End,” explained White, a local jazz historian and bandleader. “We had our own version of jazz — a whole different brew. During the Gold Rush, people from all over the world stepped off that embarcadero right over there and brought their sounds with them.”
White is producing a special concert-lecture series, “West End Blues,” at the Sacramento History Museum, exploring the city’s unique jazz evolution. The next date will be July 10.
Pluckebaum, enjoying the sun and sounds alongside constituents, said the event marked a potential turning point. His team will study parking trends, business sales and even cellphone traffic to determine whether the event swings into a fuller rhythm next year.
“This is the fun part,” he said. “I don’t know why other people run for office, but for me, being with people, together enjoying music, this is the best part.”
This story was originally published May 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
