Hot was the word to describe the atmosphere at 54th and College on Labor Day when the eleventh annual street fair served up jazz and food on the sidewalks. The outdoor tables quickly filled up with jazz aficionados and locals, who were there to savor the sweet strands of Steve Allee, the oh-so-polished guitar of Bill Lancton and the spicy blend of Dixon/ Rhyne Project.

It was a lazy sticky-as-syrup day, great for listening and sharing the moment with friends. The shortage of tables and heat did not deter the crowd. Attendees parked their lawn chairs in parking lots and yards. Lines were long at Yats and burgers were sizzling on the Jazz Kitchen grill. People washed down their chili-cheese etouffee with beer or cream soda. Be Bon Vivant held a sale of colorful summer purses and fun dishes. Old and young alike gave into the temptation of the sweet cakes, homemade cookies and brownies offered by Penny Nolting. WICR-88.7 FM's Doug Howsmeyer was doing call-ins on the corner. In between sets, Spill, aka Phillip Kincaid, displayed his juggling skill. Whirlwind personality and Yats creator, Joe Vuskovich, seemed to be everywhere: meeting and greeting and checking his kitchen.

This Labor Day's musicians are well known in jazz circles. Steve Allee is pure Indy home grown and is rated as one of the top jazz talents in the country. His current CD, Dragonfly, recently made the top 50 Jazz Week Radio Chart. The Steve Allee Trio included Frank Smith on bass, and Kenny Phelps on drums. Guest drummer, Greg Corn, was also there to beat the skins a bit. Offerings, like Pure and Simple and My One and Only Love, were crowd pleasers.

Bill Lancton, of Dog Talk fame, has been an Indianapolis fixture since 1973. For the fair, the Bill Lancton Coalition included Bill's masterful guitar, the sassy sax of Al Schikaly, bass by Lafayette's Scott Pazera and the drums of Vince Jackson. There were snippets of Happy Birthday and Sleigh Ride weaving through a selection. Dave Allee, owner of The Jazz Kitchen, even stepped on stage to play. The funky sounds of Dixon/ Rhyne Project were last, but not least. Melvin Rhyne, B-3 organ master and Rob Dixon, tenor saxophonist, are legends in their own time. Melvin has played with blues man, T-Bone Walker, and is best known for his work with Indy's own late, great, guitarist, Wes Montgomery. Rob went to New York to work with jazz heroes like the Count Basie Orchestra. He returned to Indy and today he leads the popular group, Trilogy +1.

Closing the day with a team of super jazzmen, the warmth of the sun and that mellow feeling that jazz brings to the soul can only be described as perfect.