Old Port visitors and Portland area residents were treated to a free, impromptu concert Sunday afternoon by none other than the State Street Traditional Jazz Band behind Gritty McDuff's and Beal's Ice Cream.

Their New Orleans style jazz seemed like the perfect complement to Old Port's quaint shops, restaurants and cobblestone streets. The group has been around since 1987 and was founded by Ret. U.S. Merchant Marine Capt. John T. Page and some of its influences include Louis Armstrong and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, according to the group's Facebook page.

The group has become a Portland area institution that allows people to imagine they are enjoying the city during a different era. As eclectic as Portland is today, the city's rich history and culture are the things that really make it stand out and this band's music celebrates its spirit.

Have you come across the State Street Traditional Jazz Band in your travels around Portland? Share your comments here on our web site and on our Facebook and Twitter page with the hashtag #PortlandJazz.

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