The 17th annual Montclair Jazz Festival will return to its namesake home in New Jersey this summer, featuring the free Soundcheck Series, which will run June 16–August 4, and culminating in their flagship Downtown Jamboree on August 15. The festival, hosted by Jazz House Kids, will celebrate key cities in the pantheon of the genre throughout the festival. “We are here to build community,” said founder Melissa Walker at a kickoff event on May 12, “and we are here to do it with you.”
Jazz House Kids, spearheaded by Walker and her husband/Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride, is vital to the artist community in North Jersey. The organization provides a host of classes, workshops, and free performances for youth and beyond. Last year’s festival, which featured performances by renowned artists like Lakecia Benjamin and Luisito Quintero, drew more than 30,000 attendees who shopped local vendors, took in art, and grooved to the vast and diverse array of sounds that fall under the genre umbrella. “I call it the people’s festival,” Walker said to the crowd, recalling past battles with weather and ones more current regarding institutional funding in the wake of the Trump administration. “We are resilient.”
The theme of this year’s festival celebrates cities across the U.S. that were integral to the development of jazz, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, and of course: New York and New Jersey. Each artist is connected to their respective city. Artists who will perform at the free Soundcheck Series at Wellmont Plaza include Bobby Watson, Jason Moran, the Count Basie Orchestra, and Joel Ross.
The July 1 performance will feature a special performance by the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary. The festival’s flagship Downtown Jamboree, which will return to Lackawanna Plaza on August 15, will feature performances by Cyril Neville, Patrice Rushen, Dianne Reeves, and many more. More than 150 young people are slated to perform throughout the festival. “This is unlike any other lineup we’ve had,” said co-founder and artistic director McBride.
This year, the festival will offer a special “pay what you can” Jam Pass, which gives attendees access to an express entry lane and a chance to win access to the VIP tent. For more info and for the full lineup, visit montclairjazzfestival.org.
WELLMONT ARTS PLAZA (6–10 p.m.)
June 16: Bobby Watson/Jason Moran (honoring Kansas City and Houston)
July 1: The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Guest Conductor Jon Faddis (honoring Red Bank)
July 14: Michele Rosewoman and Quintessence/Orrin Evans (honoring New York/Newark and Philly), underwritten by the Chamber Music America Presenter Consortium for Jazz
July 28: Joel Ross’s Good Vibes (honoring Chicago)
Aug 4: Rebirth Brass Band (honoring New Orleans), underwritten by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation
AUGUST 15 DOWNTOWN JAMBOREE ARTISTS
at LACKAWANNA PLAZA
11a.m. SECOND LINE BAND FROM CHURCH + PARK TO LACKAWANNA FESTIVAL
SITE – The Gotham Kings
MAIN STAGE 12 noon–8 p.m.:
Take Me to the River — New Orleans All Stars featuring Cyril Neville (honoring New Orleans), underwritten by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation
Christian McBride Big Band w/ Bilal (honoring Philadelphia)
Patrice Rushen (honoring Los Angeles)
Dianne Reeves (honoring Detroit)
Spanish Harlem Orchestra (honoring New York City)
SECOND STAGE 12 noon–8 p.m.:
JAZZ HOUSE COLLECTIVE (honoring Miles Davis and John Coltrane)
JAZZ HOUSE ALL STARS
JAZZ HOUSE Emerging Artists studying at the JAZZ HOUSE Summer Workshop
BLOCK PARTY (presented by United Airlines [official airline]), 8–10 p.m.:
DJ Prince Hakim