For the second year in a row, Valencia got jazzed up a little bit.

The Santa Clarita Jazz and Blues Festival was held on Saturday at the Valencia Country Club and featured several well-known jazz and blues musicians, including Jazz Boy Jeff, Theresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Jeff Lorber and Jeff Golub.  

Though last year’s event spanned two days, festival attendees didn’t seem to note a difference in quality in this year’s one-day event.  

Barbara Vilardo traveled from Palmdale to attend the festival. Vilardo, a former resident of Santa Clarita and member of the Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce, also attended the festival last year.

“I think it’s great for a community to have local events like these,” she said.

A first-time attendee was Valencia resident Richard Harris, a self-described “jazz enthusiast” who has attended similar outdoor events in Newport, Long Beach and Las Vegas in the past. Based on what he had seen so far, Harris said he would gladly attend the festival if it is held next year.

“It’s close, and I always want to hear good music,” Harris said. “It’s been fantastic so far.”

But the festival didn’t just attract dedicated blues travellers such as Vilardo and Harris. Valencia resident Yasmin Merelay wandered over to the event after finishing a round of golf at the Valencia Country Club.

“I love jazz and blues and, when I was playing golf, I could hear the music,” she said. “It was great.”

Event organizers estimated that the festival would see about 800 attendees.

lmoney@the-signal.com