Featured image: Drew Dempsey Photo
It’s a sunny April evening in Ridgeland as the breezy sound of Grammy-winner Nestor Torres’ flute carries from a packed tent. Audience members bob their heads and tap their feet, soaking in the performance from the legendary jazz musician. Though the spring heat feels more like midsummer — even by Southern standards — it hasn’t stopped families from spreading picnic blankets across the lawn or kids tossing footballs nearby.
This is the Township Jazz Festival, the beloved yearly event that transforms Ridgeland’s bustling Township district into a lively celebration of music, community, and springtime in Mississippi. Over nearly two decades, the festival has cemented its reputation as one of Mississippi’s premier family-friendly events, with attendees looking forward to the lively atmosphere, free admission, and, of course, world-class jazz.
From the Top
When local jazz musician and festival co-founder Raphael Semmes first floated the idea of an all-day jazz festival, his partner, fellow co-founder Tripp Douglas, wasn’t immediately sold.
At the time, the two were collaborating on a series of live jazz sessions at Fusion Coffeehouse—Douglas’ jazz-themed café, where even the drink menu pays tribute to legendary musicians. Launched in 2004, the monthly events featured a local performer in an intimate setting, followed by a Q&A led by Semmes.
“We would be ecstatic if 20 people showed up,” Douglas said. “In that context, I just thought, I don’t know how we can pull off an all-day festival.”
Still, Fusion Coffeehouse was ahead of its time. When it opened in 2003, it became the first retail business in Ridgeland’s Township development and a pioneer for the area’s jazz scene. And while Mississippi is widely celebrated as “The Birthplace of America’s Music,” known for shaping everything from blues to rock ’n’ roll, jazz often gets overlooked. According to Semmes, though, its roots in the state run just as deep.
“Our jazz heritage is Mississippi’s best-kept secret,” Semmes said.
A central figure in Mississippi’s jazz scene—having toured internationally and being a recipient of the 2021 Governor’s Arts Award—Semmes draws much of his inspiration from the state’s rich musical lineage. From early pioneers like Mose Allison of Tippo to contemporary standouts such as Jackson’s Cassandra Wilson, Mississippi’s deep bench of jazz talent confirmed his instincts that a local festival could truly take hold.
Build It Up
Semmes’ instincts proved right. As word spread about Fusion’s jazz series, growing crowds eventually convinced Douglas it was time to take a bigger swing.
“Finally, in 2008, I said, ‘All right, we’ll give this a shot,’” Douglas recalled. “About 100 to 150 people came, and we were ecstatic.”
From that modest beginning, the festival has grown into a major draw. At this year’s event on April 11, an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 people filtered through over the course of the day. The lineup now spans high school jazz bands to internationally renowned artists, alongside food trucks and a kids’ zone filled with inflatables. People come for the music and stay for the easygoing atmosphere—and perhaps most notably, it’s completely free.
That accessibility has been intentional from the start, says Semmes.
“Thanks to our tremendous sponsors, the festival is free,” Semmes said. “In the jazz world, you don’t know if the next Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, or Ella Fitzgerald is sitting in a classroom nearby. Everybody came from somewhere, so we want to give those kids the chance to be around jazz.”
That open-door approach has paid off, drawing a crowd that reflects the full spectrum of the community—people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life coming together to share in the music.
In the Groove
This year’s festival felt like a fitting culmination of nearly two decades of work by Tripp Douglas and Raphael Semmes. The music was infectious, the energy undeniable—spilling out into the crowd as spontaneous bursts of salsa dancing took over the lawn, and for Douglas and Semmes, it’s enough to continue the festival for years to come.
“There’s a lot of different reasons to do live music, but we really do it for two main reasons: to keep jazz alive and to cultivate an appreciation and understanding for [the genre],” Douglas said, “And the second one really is just to create this event for the community and promote a sense of unity.
This article is presented in partnership with Explore Ridgeland, a Modern South Founding Partner.
