Seven years ago, local New Orleans musicians Alex McMurray of the band Tin Men and his buddy Chaz Leary were lamenting the difficulty of securing a place on stage at the city’s annual Jazz Fest. So, motivated by a mix of frustration and inspiration, they decided to throw their own musical gathering, dubbed ChazFest. Held last week on May 2, the backyard Bywater event drew music enthusiasts from around America. For seven hours, grassroots acts of all sorts rocked the two small stages, playing to packed crowds.

Here are a few snapshots from the day.

The TBC Brass Band on the main stage. Featured in a documentary entitled From the Mouthpiece on Back, the jazz band was formed in 2002 by young men who grew up in the 7th and 9th Wards in New Orleans, Louisiana.
 

Helen Gillet on the small stage - she was voted Best in Contemporary Jazz by Gambit in 2011. She's a New Orleans-based cellist, singer, composer and improviser who grew up in Belgium, and sings in a mixture of French and English.
 

Local bartender Chris Hannah of Arnaud's French 75 bar created a signature twist on a classic Pimm's Cup just for Chaz Fest.

 

Music lovers watch the main stage

The TBC Brass Band on the main stage. Featured in a documentary entitled From the Mouthpiece on Back, the jazz band was formed in 2002 by young men who grew up in the 7th and 9th Wards in New Orleans, Louisiana.
 

Watching Helen Gillet on the side stage

On site there were over a dozen small food and beverage stalls selling everything from local sausage to canned craft beer and cocktails.