Jazz it up this weekend on Lake Stella | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Stephen Chandler and Sleek will be playing at the Sunset at Stella event Saturday in Crescent City from 5-7 p.m.
Positively Putnam FL

CRESCENT CITY – What could be more relaxing than watching a sunset on Lake Stella with the sweet sounds of music?

Area residents can find out when the Crescent City Venture Corps hosts Saturday Sunset at Stella featuring the jazz sounds of Stephen Chandler and Sleek.

The free concert is 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the gazebo near the boat dock on Lake Stella, Central Avenue and East Grand Rondo, and is being held in collaboration with the city of Crescent City. The public is invited and should bring chairs or a blanket. A variety of food trucks will also be on hand.

“Our purpose in forming our nonprofit group was to host fun events in Crescent City to bring the community together,” said Tracy Eckhardt, one of five directors for Venture Corps. “We have beautiful sunsets on Lake Stella and decided it would be fun to gather there as a group with live music and food.”

Sleek, founded by Chandler, a resident of Palatka, plays a collaborative sound of music that is derived from a group of musicians young and old with sounds ranging from traditional jazz, smooth jazz, gospel, and rhythm and blues.

Band members include Chandler playing the saxophone and piano; Godfrey Smith Sr. playing bass; Willie Wright Jr. on drums; Eddie White playing guitar; and Edwin Givens, vocalist.

Eckhardt said the first Saturday Sunset at Stella was Jan. 15 and featured the St. Augustine band Salt and Pine.

“It was very well-received,” she said. “We were hoping to have at least 25 attendees but were overjoyed when over 150 people showed up.”

Eckhardt hopes Saturday’s event will also have a good turnout.

“Since it is Black History Month, we couldn’t be more proud to present this group and also hope it will engage more of our community to become involved,” she said. “We hope to have a more diverse crowd in attendance.”

The sunset concerts are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month through March.

“This event brings exposure to our cute little town,” Eckhardt said. “It brings an event for the locals to look forward to and a purpose of community for our citizens to bond and take pride in a town that is rebuilding.”

Eckhardt said Crescent City is a beautiful town with a lot of potential.

“We need to take advantage of any opportunity to bring residents together in a positive manner,” she said. “It is also an opportunity to reach outside of our immediate boundaries and invite others in to see what we have to offer.”

Eckhardt said Lake Stella is the ideal spot for the community concerts.

“It is a very underused area with a gazebo and spectacular views of the sunset over the lake,” she said. “Basically, it was a no-brainer.”