Montclair Jazz Festival returns in July for summer of music
The 13th annual Montclair Jazz Festival returns this summer with four days of performances, featuring more than 200 artists and 45 musical acts.
The festival is produced by the Montclair-based Jazz House Kids education and performance organization.
The festival’s music will be directed and curated by Christian McBride, Grammy award winner and Jazz House Kids artistic director, along with associate producer Ted Chubb, according to an announcement from the festival.
The Summer Soundcheck Series will be July 13 and 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lackawanna Plaza. The Wednesday night series will feature regional talent and a performance by top emerging Jazz House alumni artists, according to the announcement. The events will also feature food trucks, a beverage garden and a BBQ menu by Pineapple Express.
The Lackawanna Block Party will be Saturday, Aug. 13 from noon to 10 p.m., followed by the DJ Brother Mister Dance Party.
During the day, the party will feature big band performances by students participating in the Jazz House Summer Workshop directed by Chubb and the Family Jazz Discovery Zone with kid-centric activities, the announcement says. There will also be food and artisan vendors.
At 7 p.m., tables and chairs get cleared from the street for the DJ Brother Mister Dance Party, where McBride DJs all night long, the announcement says. Pineapple Express BBQ, a beverage garden and food trucks are open throughout the event.
Leading up to the final festival event, the Downtown Jamboree, the festival will host a week of special events and performances, according to the release.
Then on Sept. 10, at the Downtown Jamboree — internationally acclaimed headliners, regional favorites and emerging talent will perform on four stages spanning an all-pedestrian Bloomfield Avenue, the announcement says.
Nearly a half-mile long, the event will feature more than 100 artisan food and craft vendors and an expanded Family Jazz Discovery Zone, according to the release. This year’s grand finale is expected to attract more than 40,000 fans, organizers say.
(NEIL GRABOWSKY/COURTESY MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL)
The festival’s presenting sponsor is BDP Holdings, founded by David Placek.
“The Montclair Jazz Fest is the quintessential community event and it embodies everything that is amazing about Montclair,” Placek said in the announcement. “The festival unites our entire community by bringing some of the world's most extraordinary jazz talent to the streets of Montclair for all to see and hear for free.”
To learn more about getting involved with the festival, visit the festival website at montclairjazzfestival.org and follow Montclair Jazz Festival on social media including Facebook and Instagram.