Montclair Jazz Festival 2024: Cheers to 15 Years

If you happen to be in the North Jersey area this weekend and looking for something to do, the largest free jazz festival in the New York area is happening right in Montclair as JAZZ HOUSE KiDS presents the 15th annual Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree this Saturday, September 14th.

Taking over Bloomfield Avenue in the afternoon and early evening, this year’s festival features legendary saxophonist and former Miles Davis sideman Kenny Garrett as one of the headlining acts. Other artists scheduled to perform include former Rolling Stones background vocalist Lisa Fischer and her group Grand Baton, drummer Jerome Jennings & ill Philosophy, Colombian harpist Edmar Castañeda Quartet, seashellist and veteran trombonist Steve Turre Sextet, rising star Brianna Thomas, Montclair State University Jazz Ensemble directed by Oscar Perez, and the JAZZ HOUSE Collective Celebrating Sarah Vaughan featuring vocalist and JAZZ HOUSE KiDS founder Melissa Walker. Nine-time GRAMMY-winning bassist, and the festival’s music director, Christian McBride will also perform with his acclaimed quintet, Inside Straight.

“This year’sMontclair Jazz Festival will be another joyous celebration of America’s greatest art form with some of the world’s greatest musicians and fans, many of whom have been supporters of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and this festival since the very beginning 15 years ago,” said Christian McBride.  The ones that aren’t are simply those we haven’t met yet.  Everyone who comes to our festival leaves enfolded in our shared community, and their love for jazz is strengthened further.”

What’s new this year, however, is that after eight hours of live music on two stages, the Montclair Jazz Festival will transform into a celebratory block party in honor of its 15th anniversary, with DJ sets by McBride (as DJ Brother Mister) and New Jersey’s own DJ Prince Hakim plan to overtake the streets with a down home dance party loaded with funk and soul classics spinning on the turntables. 

See below for a full schedule of events, and for more information on how to get involved as a volunteer, sponsor, vendor and business or individual supporter, visit the website and download the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL App in the Google or Apple store.

 

DOWNTOWN JAMBOREE SCHEDULE:

DOWNTOWN STAGE | 12:00 PM-10:00 PM

Stage host: Alonzo Bodden

JAZZ HOUSE Legacy Band: 12:15-1:00 PM

Steve Turre Sextet*: 1:15-2:00 PM

Kenny Garrett Sounds from the Ancestors: 2:30-3:45 PM

Christian McBride & Inside Straight: 4:15-5:45 PM

Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton: 6:15-7:30 PM

15th ANNIVERSARY BLOCK PARTY

DJ Brother Mister + DJ Prince Hakim: 8:00-10:00 PM

 

UPTOWN STAGE | 12 PM – 8:00 PM

Stage host: Andromeda Turre

Montclair State University Jazz Band feat. Dave Stryker + Steve Nelson: 12:15-1:00 PM

Edmar Castañeda Quartet: 1:45-2:45 PM

Jerome Jennings & ill Philosophy: 3:15-4:30 PM

Brianna Thomas Band: 5:00-6:15 PM

JAZZ HOUSE Collective feat. Melissa Walker: 6:30-7:45 PM

VERIZON FAMILY JAZZ DISCOVERY ZONE @ WELLMONT PLAZA | 12-4 PM

Montclair Early Music: 12:00-12:15 PM

Jazz Explorers Program* fea. Riza Printup: 12:30-1:30 PM

Jazz Explorers Program fea. Riza Printup: 2:00-3:00 PM

Montclair Early Music: 3:15-3:30 PM

 

*JAZZ HOUSE KiDS’ presentation of the Steve Turre Sextet is supported through a Chamber Music America Presenter Consortium for Jazz grant in collaboration with Isham Park Restoration Program, (IPRP) 1970 Inc and Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. A component of the Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project, Presenter Consortium for Jazz is funded by the Doris Duke Foundation.

*Jazz Explorers program supported in part by the Montclair Foundation