OKC Jazz Fest Cancels Performances

This was upsetting to at least one musician and local business where artists were scheduled to play, since there were nothing but blue skies on the cancellation date. The festival took place May 31-June 4. An email was reportedly sent a couple of nights before June 4 saying outdoor performances at Deep Deuce, a historical district where jazz made an impact in the 1940s, would be canceled because of a chance of storms in the area, according to KFOR.com.

The Justin Young Jazz Band and staff at Deep Deuce Grill were affected by the decision. The band didn’t play after putting in efforts for the performance and the Grill was overstaffed and had to deal with customer complaints about the canceled event, KFOR.com reported.

OKC Jazz Fest Chairman Mike McAuliffe stands behind the decision and issued a statement saying they were able to make arrangements for Young’s band to play at the Grill that night but the band didn’t appear. He said the weather threat outweighed “the cost of putting on a free outdoor event.” Al Jarreau and Oklahoma natives Color Me Badd and The Gap Band were the headliners of the festival.