Boise-based scat singer Jeff Baker said the Snake River Canyon is the most beautiful venue where he's ever played.

Hundreds of people Saturday at the 10th Annual Jazz in the Canyon seemed to agree, as they bobbed their heads to live music, beers in hand, and with a backdrop of cliffs and sunshine.

Adults paid $15 to $20 to attend, and lounged in folding chairs under sprawling umbrellas at Centennial Waterfront Park. A handful grooved on the dance floor, and swayed to songs from six jazz groups featured under clear skies with temperatures that hit the 80s.

Local Twin Falls High School musicians from the Ethan Tucker and Grass Roots All-stars took the stage first at noon, followed by five groups that jammed till 9 p.m., including Soul Survivors, the Jeff Baker Group, In a Mellow Tone Quartet featuring Gene Loranger, Hot Club Sandwich and The Jeni Fleming Group.

Jeff Baker, 28, has played the event for nine years. "This is an incredible place to perform," he said. "There's been years where the wind gusted and it was rainy. The weather is great."

Baker's a scat singer, which he said involves vocal interpretations of instrumental solos. He teaches part-time at a private arts school in Eagle, and performs around the country, showcasing songs from his most recent album "Shopping for your heart," produced with his band from Seattle.

Baker lent the stage Saturday to three of his music students, just as it was lent to him nine years ago at the same event when he was a younger, aspiring musician. "Jazz is passed down," Baker said. "These kids worked really hard … If you can play jazz, you can play anything."

This year for the first time the Magic Valley Arts Council and the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce presented Jazz in the Canyon. The Twin Falls Rotary Club organized it for the past nine years and helped this year by providing volunteers, said Stacy Madsen, executive director of the arts council.

A related jazz and wine event was also held Friday night at Kimberly Nurseries with live jazz from Hot Club Sandwich out of Seattle, which performs gypsy jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt, an acoustic jazz and swing artist from the 1930s.

Revenue from Jazz in the Canyon will be used by the arts council and chamber to fund their free-to-the-public community programs, Madsen said.

Organizers estimated that by night's end about 1,000 people attended the event.

Andrea Jackson can be reached at 735-3380 or Andrea.Jackson@lee.net.