The first-ever Caprock Jazz Festival lit up Texas Tech’s Allen Theater Saturday evening with several performances by both nationally and internationally recognized artists. Organizers said it’s intended to honor both jazz music and culture.

The festival continues through Sunday and Monday, with a breakfast featuring renowned artist Kirk Whalum, followed by a church service at the Kent Hance Memorial Chapel on the Tech campus.

“We have a choir that’s gonna be there,” organizer Craig MacDonald said, “that’s called the Gospel Choir. They’re quite good, all Tech people that trained here.”

“All of that is gonna be,” he continued, “a fun thing, I think. A ‘melting pot,’ I thought of it. It’s going to be very exciting for me.”

The profits from the festival will be going to the Caviel Museum of African-American History.