A Night to Remember: The 2026 Caprock Jazz Festival

Tom Braxton, Toni Redd and a super talented crew make it happen for a great cause!

Jul 13, 2026

If you don’t know by know, the Caprock Jazz Festival is a must-go event that takes place annually in mid-July here in the Hub City. It is put on by Mrs. Shirley Green and the Fabulous Roots Crew.

My family and I have traveled and lived in many places around the country, and in my opinion, it would be difficult to find a better night out for the price anywhere. Attendees enjoyed a plated dinner catered by Stellas, with wine, cocktails and beverages provided.

Joy Harris and Marcos Crew really jammed out during dinner. I mean, it’s unbelievable just how talented that little ensemble is. They played all kinds of mellow funky stuff from Sade to who knows what. There was virtuoso guitar playing, soulful crooning and saxophany (yes, I made that word up…I think), plus the funkiest rhythm section I’ve heard in a long while.

Visiting Artist Mr. Randy Groden displayed an incredible selection of impressionistic jazz portraits that really took your breath away to behold.

Mrs. Stella Demba’s authentic African jewelry was available for purchase and there was a silent auction with a ton of gifts and items that just made you want to take something home!

Tom Braxton and versatile singer Toni Redd anchored the concert that evening, which started off with a trip down memory lane in honor of Tom Braxton, Senior, a renowned musician and educator. And of course you know the whole evening is actually designed to fund the future of Texas music and education by providing scholarships.

In fact, Stephen Warren of the West Texas Community Foundation joined Tom and Sharon Braxton, and Maria Strong, to announce a brand new scholarship in Eric Strong’s name. Recall that Eric Strong was the founder of the Lubbock Roots Historical Arts Foundation (or Roots Crew, as I affectionately call them), and part of the group that founded the Caprock Jazz Festival.

So not only was this a night to remember, but it was all for a good purpose. We had a great time at the Festival, and we urge you to come on out to the next one if you haven’t yet attended. Oh, and by the way, The Mighty Roots Crew puts on the Jazzy Christmas Concert in December, so start picking your outfits now!

In the meantime, please enjoy these interviews with several attendees, and peruse the following selected photos from the event.