A scaled-down version of True Blue Jazz Festival

The 8th annual True Blue Jazz Festival, held Oct. 15-18 in Rehoboth Beach, had to modify its normal jam-packed schedule of concerts.

“We knew we had to be smaller because of COVID-19,” said Peggy Raley during the Oct. 18 closing brunch bash at The Pines on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth. “It's been different, but very amazing.”

Raley and her husband, Eddie Sherman, aka Sherman Ward, are founders of the event and initiative, which includes workshops and outreach to music students in Cape Region schools.

“There will be no music tomorrow if we don't work with the youth today,” she said. “This is why we do it.”

The couple performed during the closing event accompanied by the Eddie Sherman Orchestra, featuring Cody Leavel, a former Cape Henlopen High School musician who toured for more than four years with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

This year's event was a mixture of virtual and limited live performances at a few venues instead of the traditional dozen or more throughout the resort city.

Virtual performances were streamed live on Oct. 16 and 17. “There are so many musicians hurting and out of work. To get 80 involved virtually and live this year is pretty mind-boggling and very humbling,” Raley said. “We all need the healing power of music right now.”

True Blue Jazz, which supports preservation through performances, is focused on jazz, featuring songs of the Great American Standards Songbook from 1900 to present day.

For more information, go to truebluejazz.org.