Concert review: Jazz Under the Stars in the Dallas Arts District

by Catherine Cuellar

DALLAS — Jazz Under the Stars is a June tradition, enticing crowds to picnic and listen to free live music in the heart of downtown's Arts District. While the musicians are top-notch, for most in attendance, they're an afterthought. In contrast to listening rooms where fans notice and applaud after each artist's solo, people here talk through the set and are more concerned with finding friends in the crowd or a corkscrew for the wine they've brought than the set list.

So it's notable that the Texas Gypsies, whose intimate live shows and local, independently released CDs have garnered critical acclaim, managed to engage hundreds of audience members in a call-and-response cover of Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher" during their second set. Other more surprising selections included their arrangements of the disco hit "I Will Survive," mariachi standard "Besame Mucho," and Cash country classic "Ring of Fire" to fit alongside western swing icon Bob Wills' "Right or Wrong" and "Roly Poly."

Upcoming installments in the series include big band and Afro-Cuban jazz. Long days, cloudy skies, and downtown lights may obscure a few constellations, but Jazz Under the Stars — celebrating its 25th season — is still bright with both onstage talent and energy from the crowd.