Reservation Wails with the Blues

The blues vibrated throughout South Mountain Resevation on Sunday, where hundreds of concert-goers enjoyed the scene from the park lawn and dozens of musicians jammed away from afternoon through evening at the second annual South Orange International Blues Festival.

Festival creator Michael Griot, a bass player, said he organized the free concert as a way to share the great music he's heard and performed at other music festivals throughout the country and the globe.

Last year, the blues festival was held at Floods Hill in South Orange. Griot said the musicians played in the rain for an audience of about 400 people. This year, the festival drew more than 800 people, Griot said.

What was the best part of blues festival?

"The look of happiness in the individuals' faces," Griot said.

And, indeed, audience members did share Griot's enthisiasm for the blues. Newark residents Doris Manning and Carol Spears said they loved guitarist SaRon Crenshaw, of Mattawan. "Crenshaw is the man today for me," Manning said. "Me, too. And hopefully we have many more," Spears said.

"This is lovely. I don't think people know what they are missing," said Russel Wavershaj, of Toms River, who approached musician Poppa Chubby to get an autograph on his CD. "I've been here all day and I loved enjoying every minute of it," Wavershaj said.