Saturday the humidity was high, but that didn't slow Day 1 of the two-day event. In midafternoon, Austin-based saxophonist Elias Haslanger and his band did straight-ahead jazz that featured originals such as "For the Moment."

"I think this year is better than last year," said drummer Kyle Keener, who played with his band Small World earlier in the day. "There's a better selection of music from straight-ahead to contemporary. There's a good mix. To me, this is the high-water mark of playing before the public."

Fans staked out listening spots in front of both the AT&T Jefferson Street stage and the Bud Light Main Stage.

(Toby Jorrin/Special to the Express-News) Pete Rodriguez (left) and Elias Haslanger play with the Elias Haslanger Quintet, from Austin, at Jazz'SAlive on Saturday.

San Antonians Lesbia Charles, 42, and Alfonso Charles, 55, had their chairs at the main stage, waiting to hear Eddie Palmieri.

"I enjoyed it last year because you get to see a variety of people," Lesbia said.

"I like the music and the atmosphere," Alfonso said.

With food, beverage and crafts booths plus activities for kids, Jazz'SAlive drew an array of people to the park.

"This is the premier jazz event in San Antonio," said KRTU music director Aaron Prado as Com Voce played bossa nova-based jazz on the Jefferson Street stage. "It's the one time of year people who aren't normally jazz fans are lured out by food and friends. It's the biggest opportunity of the year for jazz musicians to reach out to people who aren't necessarily jazz fans and maybe those people will support jazz elsewhere."

And the Ken Slavin Quintet finally got to reach out from the main stage with a sharp set of vocal classics such as "Just In Time" and "Alright, Okay, You Win." This year, Slavin won.

Jazz'SAlive will continue today beginning at noon with the Regency Jazz Band, Billy Ray Sheppard & the Main Event Band, Jazz Protagonists, Dean James Band, Dianne Reeves, Urban-15's Carnaval de San Anto and Yellowjackets.