Smooth Jazz and Lots of Fun at Two Strike

Public treated to the sounds of J.D. Hall Band and Cal Bennett.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Two Strike Park hosted an afternoon of jazz on Saturday. The day began with the sounds of the J.D. Hall Band and their jazz/rock mix and ended with the classical jazz sound of Cal Bennett from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

The Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department had the park filled with music and fun things for kids to do including a bounce house. Of course, there was the new permanent playground equipment to play on as well.

All of this and free popcorn and cotton candy, too.

Kufu master and Tai Chi Youth owner Richard Del Connor had a student demonstrate the art of Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Later Del Conner showed his musical talent by performing a flute solo, “Great Salt Lake.”

Toward the end of the evening Bennett asked the audience to pick a musical note from A to G. He then took those notes and began to play his new composition, “Two Strike Park.” Go to www.cvweekly.com to hear a sample of the song.

“Cal performs at the Blue Note in Las Vegas. He loves to play,” said Larry Muepo, supervisor for Two Strike and Crescenta Valley parks.

Muepo added he understood that the CV community loves their parks and enjoys events like those that are family friendly like the afternoon of jazz.

“We want this to become an annual event,” he said.

The next event at Two Strike will be the Dennis Morgan Film Festival on Aug. 6.