Experience cool jazz outdoors — the one-of-a-kind trio of Joe Lovano, Christian McBride and Billy Drummond; The Bronx Horns, originally one of the mainstays of Tito Puente’s Latin Ensemble and many more at the third annual Montclair Jazz Festival, brought to you by Jazz House Kids. This Saturday (8/18) bring your blankets and chairs to Nishuane Park, and hear today’s jazz greats as well as future jazz stars. Admission to the festival, presented by City National Bank, is free; WBGO Jazz 88.3FM on-air host Sheila Anderson will be festival emcee.

The performance line-up includes:

Joe Lovano
Christian McBride
The Bronx Horns
Dave Stryker’s Blue to the Bone
Michele Rosewoman’s Quintessence
Radam Schwartz’s Organ-ized
Melissa Walker

Between acts students from the Jazz House Kids Summer Music Workshop will showcase their amazing talents. Bring a picnic, or enjoy food from onsite vendors. The show goes on rain or shine – in the event of rain, the location will be the Salvation Army Citadel, 13 Trinity Place, Montclair.

Produced by Jazz House Kids under the direction of jazz vocalist & recording artist, Melissa Walker and with creative direction from bass virtuoso Christian McBride, the Montclair Jazz Festival features world-class artistry in a family-friendly environment. “What started out as an end-of-summer camp concert for our kids and their parents, has blossomed into a major summer free music event,” says Melissa Walker, president and founder of Jazz House Kids. “We see the festival as a wonderful gift from our organization and its supporters to music lovers across the tri-state area.”

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012, Jazz House Kids is the only community-based arts organization in New Jersey dedicated to providing year-round musical, educational, and cultural programs to students in grades K-12, teachers, adults, and families from diverse backgrounds. Through music, mentoring, education and apprenticeship, Jazz House Kids cultivates tomorrow’s global citizens so they may build vibrant communities where they live.

Here’s a look at last year’s festival:
https://youtu.be/DGta3cjzaA0