Jazz is universal because it has conquered the world for the past one hundered years. Jazz is not about race, age or borders. It's about people and where it all boils to is that the way music possesses people is the same! NOJF is a living proof....I just wish you were here to see all those different faces...youngsters and old ladies, young men carrying their babies, grandmothers and grandaughters, people from all the states of America, and people from all the corners of the world ....

Lionel Hampton's Band

Well,I tell you because I saw it, they all moved their bodies to the rhythm, they all had a wide smile on their face, they all laid under the sun and enjoyed the good food in the same way! They all praised when it rained, they all put their clothes off when it shined. I've been to many festivals, but I tell to you out there, I've never seen such a strong community spirit within so much regionally different people before in my life!

Words & Photos: Andreas G Veneris, andreas@metaverse.com