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The Jersey City Jazz Festival is back. The
12th annual event,
produced by the non-profit organization Riverview Jazz
and presented by Exchange Place Alliance,
will host hundreds of musicians on
Friday, May 30
beginning at 6pm
and Saturday, May 31
at Exchange Place plaza on
the Hudson River waterfront from noon to 9pm.
The festival will also host events throughout Jersey City leading up to
the festival beginning Tuesday, May 27.
The festival is a free event with one ticketed stage
(Clubhouse by Fords Gin) and VIP options.
This year’s lineup includes a number of
eclectic and exciting ensembles across three waterfront
stages. Performing at 3pm on Saturday will be Artemis, the
all-female supergroup helmed by pianist and musical director
Renee Rosnes, and featuring trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor
saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer
Allison Miller. The quintet is fresh off their 2nd
consecutive win for “Jazz Group of the Year” in the Downbeat
Readers Poll and recently performed to a sold-out audience
at the Village Vanguard.
Also featured this year will be the
dynamic New Orleans ensemble, The Rumble (Friday 5/30 8pm
RWJ Barnabas Stage). Fronted by Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux
Jr. of the Young Eagles Black Masking Indian Tribe, the band
blends Mardi Gras Indian funk, brass band traditions, jazz,
and hip hop to create a modern take on the iconic traditions
of New Orleans.
The outdoor festival will feature a Community
Zone presented by the Jersey City Public Library that will
have arts & crafts, a bucket drum class, dance classes, and
kids programming. There will be two bars, a VIP experience,
jam sessions, and plenty of food and local vendors.
“The whole goal of the Jersey City Jazz
Festival is to bring the community together and collectively
experience all this incredible music we are surrounded by,”
says festival organizer Bryan Beninghove. “We live in an
unparalleled location that many of the greatest musicians in
the world call home, it’s just an honor to get a bunch of us
together each year to celebrate the music and have a great
party.”
Winard Harper, the legendary drummer and
pillar of the Jersey City community has been a mainstay of
the festival for years. With a career spanning over 50
years, he reflects on the importance of the arts. “We are at
a time where this music and this festival are very important
and much needed. We are in need of things that bring us
together and give us hope. This music is both medicine and
love, ad infinitum.” Harper will be performing with his band
Jeli Posse Friday, May 30 as well as leading the closing
party jam session at his regular hit at Moore’s Place
(Sunday, June 1).
Another accomplished Jersey City resident who
will be featured at this year’s event is world-renown
bassist John Hébert. He will be fronting his own trio
Tuesday, May 27 at the Pet Shop and will perform as part of
an all-star ensemble featuring pianist Fred Hersch,
saxophonist Bennie Wallace, and drummer Billy Drummond
(Saturday, May 3 at Fords Gin Clubhouse, 5pm). “As a
longtime resident of Jersey City, witnessing the growth of
the Jersey City Jazz Festival is nothing short of amazing,”
says Hébert. “Being on both sides of the festival, from
artist to attendee, I have experienced first hand the joy
and fellowship that Riverview Jazz brings to our
multicultural city. That said, I’m very excited to present
this new quartet featuring such legends of jazz. Fred and
Bennie have never shared the stage, so I can’t wait to see
what happens when we get these heavyweights together.”
There will be 30 performances at this year’s
festival. Some other notable performers include the LA-based
keyboardist/producer and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Sam
Barsh with freestyle rapper Harry Mack, the past two Sarah
Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition winners April
May Webb (with Sounds of April & Randall) and Tyreek McDole,
saxophonist Tim Berne, trumpeter Kali Rogriguez Peña,
Astoria Salsa Project, WBGO’s Next Gen Collective, Steven
Bernstein’s MTO featuring Catherine Russell, pianist James
Austin Jr., and many more. Emceeing the outdoor event and
both performing at the Junto will be Champian Fulton (5/27)
and Lezlie Harrison (5/28).
This year’s event is presented once again by
Exchange Place Alliance. Other community and corporate
partners include RWJ Barnabas Health, the Jersey City Free
Public Library, WBGO, NJ PBS, the City of Jersey City,
Fifteen, and many more. Funding is also made possible in
part through the Jersey City Arts & Cultural Trust Fund, the
Hudson County LAP grant, and the
Princeton Foundation grant.
For more information and tickets, go to www.JerseyCityJazzFestival.com
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JERSEY CITY JAZZ WEEK
TUESDAY, May 27, 2025
6-8pm - The Junto: Attic Bar - Champian
Fulton ($)
8-11pm - Pet Shop - John Hébert w/Brandon
Seabrook & Ches Smith ($)
WEDNESDAY, May 28, 2025
6-8pm - The Junto: Attic Bar - Lezlie
Harrison ($)
7-10pm - The Archer - Go Bailers (bluegrass)
8-11pm - Pet Shop - Tim Berne w/Gregg Belisle-Chi,
Tim Angulo, John Hébert ($)
THURSDAY, May 29, 2025
6:30-9pm - Brennan Courthouse - James Austin,
Jr. Songs in the Key of Wonder, with opening act Danny
Raycraft ($)
7-10pm - The Rooftop on Pacific (902 Brewery)
- Riverview Jazz All-Stars
7-10pm - The Archer - Milkman & Sons
7-10pm - The Statuary - Kali Rodriquez Peña
JERSEY CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL
FRIDAY, May 30, 2025
Hyatt Regency
4:30pm-6:30pm - Happy Hour Opening Party
featuring Orion Turre
RWJBarnabas Health Plaza Stage
6-7pm - Winard Harper & Jeli Posse
7-8pm - DJ Niko & Bad Habits
8-9:30pm - The Rumble featuring Big Chief
Joseph Boudreaux Jr.
Hyatt House After Party
9pm-1am - Official JCJF Jam Session on the
Terrace with Charlie Sigler
SATURDAY, May 31, 2025
The Clubhouse by Ford's Gin ($)
1-2pm - WBGO Next Gen Collective
3-4pm - Artemis ft. Renee Rosnes, Ingrid
Jensen, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda & Allison Miller
5-6pm - Hersch*Hébert*Wallace*Drummond -
Bridge & Tunnel
7-8pm - Tyreek McDole
RWJBarnabas Health Plaza Stage
Noon - 1pm - Riverview Jazz All-Stars
2-3pm - Sam Barsh
3pm - Honk Family Band (parade to Pier
Stage)
4-5pm - Sounds of April & Randall
6-7pm - Steven Bernstein's Millennial
Territory Orchestra featuring Catherine Russell
8-9pm - Astoria Salsa Company
Exchange Place Alliance Pier Stage
1:30-2:30pm - United Children's Music Project
Latin Ensemble
3:45-4:30pm - New Jersey City University Jazz
Ensemble
4:30pm - Swing Dance Lesson
5-6pm - Robert Edwards Big Band
7pm - Salsa/Mambo Dance Lesson with Salsa
Fever On2
Jersey City Free Public Library Community
Zone
Programs for youth and families - full
schedule to be announced
Hyatt House
9pm-1am - Official After Party on the
Terrace
SUNDAY, June 1, 2025
Moore's Lounge
7pm - Closing Party Jam Session at Moore's
Lounge, featuring Winard Harper and friends
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