friends are bound to show up with a football soon Not soon enough he mumbled As much as Mom and I loved jazz Parker despised it Unless there was an electric guitar riff involved he wouldn’t listen to it Mom picked up her chair and picnic basket and led the way toward the Green We dodged parents pushing strollers and clowns twisting balloons into animal shapes as we weaved in and out of the crowds Parker stomped along glaring at everything we passed Why is it so packed Because it’s a beautiful July day said Mom It’s not often that New Jersey gets a day without humidity smack in the middle of summer Who wouldn’t want to come out and enjoy a perfect day filled with music She winked at me Jazz music Parker clenched his jaw But we came here last year too Why does this stupid town always have these boring jazz festivals First of all Bakersfield isn’t a stupid town said 8
Mom Back in the 1930s and 40s jazz acts came here to try out new music in front of a live audience before opening up in New York City Bakersfield is so close to the city that it was the perfect pit stop for them Mom’s right I said In music class we learned that if someone famous went to the Apollo Theater or to the Harlem Opera House you could bet they came here too Parker wasn’t listening He was much more interested in the food trucks selling candy apples and funnel cakes At least the food smells good he said He licked his lips I’m starving I laughed When wasn’t he hungry For such a super skinny fifth grader he sure did stuff his face a lot Mom held up the picnic basket This will put some meat on your bones After we eat our sandwiches you can get some treats Then she motioned toward 9
the Green and dropped her bag onto the grass Since I can see the stage’s red white and blue bunting through those trees I’m setting up camp here We’re close enough to hear everything but far enough away that the speakers won’t hurt our ears I spread out our blanket This is a perfect spot Just then a woman started to sing on the stage She sounds like Ella Fitzgerald Doesn’t she Mom shrugged Sort of But there isn’t really anyone on the planet that sounds exactly like Ella No one has a voice as smooth as hers No one No one Parker mimicked Mom dug through her bag and pulled out a white envelope with Happy Birthday Chloe written on it This festival’s free She handed it to me This is your gift I tore the envelope open and gasped What is it asked Parker Money No way I shouted as I jumped up and down It’s tickets to the Apollo Theater The Apollo Theater 10
Parker’s eyes lit up Is that the new movie theater they built at the mall I giggled Nope said Mom It’s not a movie theater It’s a music hall in Harlem New York where Ella Fitzgerald got her start You can see a concert there attend a lecture or take a tour I’ve wanted to go ever since I was in high school Parker didn’t seem too impressed I got an extra ticket said Mom Come with us I said to Parker All of the great jazz artists have performed there Right Mom She nodded as she slathered sunscreen on her legs Anyone who was someone played at the Apollo at one time or another Like Ella I shouted She sure was someone They called her the First Lady of Jazz Parker rolled his eyes What’s so great about Ella Fitzgerald What’s so great about her I asked Was he 11
