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The West Dallas festival opens with the Booker T. Washington HSPVA Jazz Band, then turns toward a Second Line honoring New Orleans civil rights leader and culture bearer Jerome “Big Duck” Smith.
All times are local to the venue · America/Chicago
The first set at Brass & Jazz in the Park has a direct link to its honoree: the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Jazz Band opens a festival celebrating the legacy of the school’s alumnus, Roy Hargrove. Later, a Second Line led by Grand Marshal Michelle N. Gibson will honor New Orleans culture bearer Jerome “Big Duck” Smith.
The sixth-year festival frames its program around musical and cultural ties between Dallas and New Orleans. Hargrove, the honoree, was raised in Dallas, graduated from Booker T. Washington HSPVA and became a two-time Grammy-winning trumpeter.
Organizers describe the performances as trumpet-forward, combining the bands’ own music with selections from Hargrove’s work. The school jazz band’s opening set makes his Dallas connection part of the day’s program; the listing does not publish a setlist or identify which Hargrove pieces will be played.
The event description says four jazz bands will perform, but the timed schedule names three jazz performance entries and does not identify a fourth. The listed entries include Terence Bradford and Congo Square, and The Thaddeus Ford Band.
Further reading: Brass & Jazz in the Park | Dallas ↗
The afternoon’s scheduled Second Line brings together Grand Marshal Gibson, the Big Easy Brass Band, Wild Apache Black Mardi Gras Indians and the BuckShop Kidz. Gibson curated the festival and is associated with The New Orleans Original BuckShop, a partner in the event.
The procession will also pay tribute to the late Smith. The event identifies him as a New Orleans civil rights leader, Freedom Rider, community mentor and culture bearer, and describes his work as supporting young people and preserving his city’s traditions. That tribute gives the festival’s Dallas–New Orleans connection a focus beyond its jazz sets.
Further reading: Brass & Jazz in the Park | Dallas ↗
The festival advertises jazz dance, New Orleans brass, Black Mardi Gras Indians, Louisiana cuisine and family art activities alongside the live jazz and Second Line. These are advertised parts of the event, but the schedule does not assign them individual times.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase, separate from free admission. The organizers describe the gathering as family-friendly and suggest bringing a blanket or short lawn chair.
Further reading: Brass & Jazz in the Park | Dallas ↗
The Booker T. Washington HSPVA Jazz Band is scheduled to open the performances at 1 p.m., followed by Terence Bradford and Congo Square and The Thaddeus Ford Band. The Second Line is listed for 3:45 p.m. Although the event description says four jazz bands will perform, the timed schedule names three jazz entries and does not identify an additional band.
The festival begins at 12:30 p.m.; the first scheduled performance is at 1 p.m. The final listed item is the Second Line at 3:45 p.m. No closing time is announced.
3710 N Hampton Rd, Dallas, TX 75212.
An RSVP is required for free admission. Food and beverages are available for purchase separately.
The organizers suggest bringing a blanket or short lawn chair. The event is described as family-friendly.
The event is at Mattie Nash-Myrtle Davis Park, 3710 N Hampton Rd, Dallas, TX 75212. Use the event’s directions link to calculate a route from your starting point. The listing does not specify transit routes, event parking, a particular entrance or park-specific accessibility arrangements.
Yes, with an RSVP. Food and beverages are available for purchase separately.
The festival begins at 12:30 p.m. on November 7, 2026; the first scheduled performance starts at 1 p.m.
No. The last scheduled item is the Second Line at 3:45 p.m., but no closing time is announced.
The organizers suggest bringing a blanket or short lawn chair.
3710 N Hampton Rd, Dallas, TX 75212
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-11-01 against the linked sources.