From Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 9, Jersey City is transforming into a city-wide celebration of jazz!
Formerly the Riverview Jazz Festival, the festival has rebranded and relocated the closing festival to the Newark Ave Pedestrian Plaza near the Grove Street PATH station. Over 250 musicians will perform at 30 events held throughout the city, with a majority of the shows free to the public.
The festival will begin with the Exchange Place Alliance Opening Party at the J.Owen Grundy Pier on May 31 from 6pm to 9pm and will feature 2019 Grammy winner Doug Beavers’ Salsa Orchestra, and the brass band Nation Beat. The closing festival on June 8th and 9th will feature three stages, vendors, and refreshments. In addition to the Bank of America and NJCU stages will be the WBGO Jazz Alley sponsored by Courvoisier. This will be a tented jazz club curated by the world renowned venue Smalls Live (NYC). Both of these events are free.
Highlights of this year’s festival include the “Jazz Underground,” a ticketed tour on the evening of June 8 featuring three underground venues, all with distinctly different vibes. Those participating are Pet Shop (featuring saxophonist Tony Malaby with Mike Formanek and Tom Rainey), Pasta e Vino (noir classic trio Big Lazy), and Underground Grove Square (Ted Chubb Group featuring Charenée Wade, followed by a jam session). On Friday, June 7, the Indian brass band Red Baraat will be playing at White Eagle Hall. Saturday, June 1 marks the return of Vault Allure, a sensory experience presented by the Statuary, RNA, and Nokia Labs at the historic Holland Street (Riverview-Fisk Park). There will also be a pre-festival show at the Brennan Courthouse featuring legendary saxophonist Houston Person with the Matt Chertkoff Trio.
The two-day closing festival will feature such diverse acts as the NY Palladium Mambo All-Stars, saxophonist J.D. Allen, pianist Miki Yamanaka, the LadyBugs, Cuban vocalist Chino Pons, the NJCU Salsa Orchestra featuring John Benitez, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, drummer Winard Harper, vocalists Marion Cowings and Lezlie Harrison, Swingadelic, Akiko Tsuruga, and many more.
A VIP experience is available that includes free food and drinks during the closing festival, and a premium VIP experience that includes access to all festival related ticketed events throughout the week, including the Jazz Underground tour.
For all information, including tickets, scheduling, and planning your trip, go to JerseyCityJazzFestival.com.
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