Jazz Fest: The Stories We Tell. A History of Jazz in Southwest Michigan
Wed Apr 22 2026 6:00PM – 7:30PM
Event Description:
Southwest Michigan has a jazz story that most people have never heard, and it is time to tell it. The Stories We Tell is an intimate evening of live music and living history, weaving together the sounds and memories that shaped this region's extraordinary musical legacy. From the storied stages of Crystal Palace on Paw Paw Lake to the global stages of jazz's greatest era, Southwest Michigan was never just a place you passed through. It was a destination, home to world-class artists, untold legends, and a cultural richness that has waited far too long for its spotlight. At the heart of the evening is the story of Gene Harris, Benton Harbor's own soul jazz giant, Blue Note recording artist, and one of the most influential pianists of the 20th century. His daughter, vocalist Beth Haire-Lewis, joins host and performer Andrew Fisher for an evening unlike anything this region has seen. Expect live jazz performances interspersed with firsthand stories, rare history, and surprising discoveries, from celebrated recording artists to the beloved local legends, including beloved LMC music department director, Ed Bagatini, and iconic landmarks that made Southwest Michigan a place where great music simply had to happen. From then to now, the story is richer than you know. The Stories We Tell is Night One of the LMC Jazz Festival, and the beginning of something much larger, a community rediscovery of its own voice. Jazz Fest events are supported in part by funding from Howard Youth Endowment Program Grant through the Berrien Community Foundation.