Kate Dumbleton’s passion for Hyde Park Jazz Festival comes through fabulously loud and clear

For Hyde Park Jazz Festival artistic director Kate Dumbleton, nothing is more important than making connections with the South Side community in which the fest is based — with its storied music history, its sturdy traditions, and of course its musicians. (Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times)

It takes more than a gathering of great musicians to make a great jazz festival. For Kate Dumbleton, the much-admired executive and artistic director of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, it takes a vision.

For her, nothing is more important than making connections with the South Side community in which it is based — with its storied music history, its sturdy traditions, and of course its musicians.