Each year for the past 6 years, in the beginning of September, the intersection of Selby and Milton is the spot to be for a fantastic free and fun street fair of lively jazz music, great food, local retail from artists and businesses, displays and kids events. The event has been steadily growing since its beginning in 2002. Mychael Wright, the owner of Golden Thyme Coffee Shop and the "father of the fest", has described JazzFest as "the biggest backyard party in St. Paul."

The event is family friendly and has a little something for everyone. From the state fair food with a southern soul twist in the food area to Twin Cities’ best jazz musicians to games for kids and booths featuring handcrafted goods. The day is geared towards fun. Make sure to mark your calendars for September 12, 2008. Stop into Golden Thyme on the corner of Selby and Milton throughout the summer for more information or bookmark our website to find out more about the stellar line up and the people behind the event.

Selby Ave JazzFest began as a vision of Golden Thyme Coffee Café owner and Selby community activist Mychael Wright back in the early months of 2002.

“I didn’t have a grand opening celebration for my business, Golden Thyme Coffee Café,” stated Mychael. “As we got up and running, I wanted to see how the community would react to a yearly music fest-type of event.”

“The first anniversary of 9/11 was coming up and you could just tell that people were feeling pretty somber,” added Mychael. “I then thought to myself, ‘I’m tired of feeling this way. We need to celebrate the good things that are going on in this world...especially here on Selby.’ Nothing gets people together like a good old-fashioned block party, so we took it from there.”

The first Selby Ave JazzFest took place on Milton Avenue between Dayton and Selby Avenues. A small, but enthusiastic crowd of between 600 and 700 people enjoyed an afternoon of great local jazz, food...and a much needed dose of community healing.

“The morning started out rainy and kind of cold. I looked at my wife Stephanie and wondered what the heck we were going to do if the weather stays this way,” recalled Mychael. “Around noon, the sky opened up and beautiful sunshine shown through.”

Mychael added, “It turned out to be a perfect fall day which was great because I think most folks were tired of feeling down about the events of the past year.”

In 2003, Mychael expanded the Festival’s grounds to include frontage on both Selby and Milton. An estimated crowd of 2,800 enjoyed top-notch entertainment bill that included Jazz by Fosse; featuring the legendary Irv “Mr. Smooth” Williams, Sara Renner with Billy Steele & Band and national recording artist Cynthia Johnson whose jazzy version of the late 70’s Lipps, Inc. hit “Funkytown” still has Fest regulars talking.

The 2004 JazzFest featured the first in a number of “Jazz Heritage Showcase” main acts. Twin City jazz artists, Geoff Jones, Thomasina Petrus and Greg Sears meticulously recreated the image and vocal stylings of Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstein. The crowd of approximately 4,500 was also entertained by St. Paul Central High School’s Jazz Ensemble and JOTO—an Afro-Cuban jazz side project of Mint Condition’s Stokley Williams. “This Fest was one to remember...Joto’s brilliant musicianship had everyone in a state of awe,” recalled Mychael.

In 2005, 6,500 people took in a sun-soaked day of great music what has been the hottest day in the Fest’s history. “It was unseasonably hot. Most folks were perched up next to the building on the south side of Selby and Milton; all trying to grab what little available shade there was,” said Mychael. Headliner Patty Lacy-Aikin wowed the crowd with a full set of Gospel-influenced jazz originals. The Fest also featured the second inclination of the Jazz Heritage Showcase, which included Debby Duncan, Geoff Jones, Thomasina Petrus, Greg Sears and Regina Marie Williams put on a dazzling tribute to history’s great jazz duos.

For as hot as the ’05 Fest was, 2006 was just the opposite in the temperature department. “I think a few flakes flew while we were setting things up that morning,” stated Mychael. A crowd of 5,500 braved the “low-50’s by the headlining act” sets of music, including the first-ever open-stage event.

2007 marked the largest JazzFest crowd to date. An estimated 9,500 people visited the Fest over the course of its 8 hours. “It was beautiful,” Mychael said of last year’s gathering. A diverse mix of music was featured, including the Latin sounds of Salsa del Sol, West African rhythms of SUNplug’d w/ Ken Wanaku and Caribbean stylings of Irie Sol & Angelo Williamson. The Fest also marked the inaugural year for the Leigh Kamman Award; an honor given to the individual who has contributed to the Twin City’s jazz scene at the grassroots level over the course of their lifetime. Award namesake Leigh Kamman was rightfully awarded the honor for his decades of broadcasting excellence. The 2007 JazzFest was also awarded “Best Neighborhood Jazz Festival” by Mpls-St. Paul Magazine.

From the 2007 Selby Ave JazzFest: