The Jersey City Jazz Festival is back for its 10th anniversary celebration from Thursday, June 1 through Sunday, June 4 at various venues throughout the city. The festival features a two-day free outdoor concert on Saturday (6/3) and Sunday (6/4) at the newly renovated Exchange Place Plaza, presented by Exchange Place Alliance and produced by Riverview Jazz. The festival will also partner with the Bike JC Ward Tour on Sunday, June 5, and serve as its finish line along the Hudson Waterfront.
The Jersey City Jazz Festival has once again partnered with NYC jazz club, Smalls Live, to present a lineup of straight-ahead jazz. The tented “club” stage will feature performances from pianist Miki Yamanaka, Spike Wilner’s “Ancient Aliens”, saxophonist Eric Wyatt’s Quartet feat. Jeff “Tain” Watts, and organist Akiko Tsuruga’s quartet featuring Jerry Weldon and Joe Magnarelli on Saturday June 3rd. On June 4th the pianist Jon Davis will lead a trio and trumpeter Philip Harper brings his “Pham Expression” ensemble.
A diverse slate of music includes a Gospel on the Pier show Sunday (6/4) at noon by the great Joshua Nelson. Nelson has performed with such gospel greats as Albertina Walker, Kirk Franklin and Dorothy Norwood. On Friday (6/2) Nimbus Arts Center and Cool Vines present Winard Harper’s Jazz Tap Extravaganza featuring dancers Jason Samuels Smith, AC Lincoln, and Megha Vadehra. The innovative saxophonist Tony Malaby will hold fort at Nucky’s at Hudson Hound on Thursday and Friday late nights with his Turnpike Trio.
Saturday (6/3) will feature performances from vibraphonist Nikara Warren’s “Black Wall Street” and the Radam Schwartz Organ Big Band. Saturday evening will feature two post-festival events at the Hyatt House situated right at the festival – a jam session run by guitarist Charlie Sigler and a rooftop performance from Martin Kelley Affinity. The Sugar Tone Brass Band will be marching on the starting and finishing lines of the Bike JC Ward Tour Sunday 6/4. The event will conclude with a post-fest jam session at Moore’s Place on Monticello Ave.
For tickets and the full schedule, click here.
