Description

Music producing organizations in five Middlesex County towns, each with a distinct reputation for presenting live jazz, are working together to form the Middlesex County Jazz Festival, with free performances in each town scheduled for September 28 through October 1.

The organizations include Edison’s Mayor & Council, Perth Amboy Artworks, New Brunswick Jazz Project, Woodbridge Arts and the Metuchen Arts Council & Friends of Metuchen Arts.

Concert schedule:

Thursday, September 28
Papaianni Park, 100 Municipal Blvd, Edison
The J.P. Stevens High School Jazz Ensemble will kick off the first evening of the festival at 6 pm, followed by the band Delegation at 6:30 pm. At 7:30 pm, the evening’s headliner, local jazz musician Victor Querzada and his Latin Jazz Band, will perform.

Friday, September 29
Ferry Slip, 300 Front Street along Raritan Bay, Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy Artworks presents a double bill featuring Julian Meyers Concept at 6 pm followed by Afro Peruvian jazz band Forbidden Tropics at 8 pm.

Saturday, September 30
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
The festival continues with the New Brunswick Jazz Project Brass, followed by Conrad Herwig Latin Side at 2:45 pm. Then at 4:30 pm the headliner Nat Adderley Jr. takes the stage.

Also Saturday, September 30
Metuchen Town Plaza, New and Pearl streets, Metuchen
At 6 pm the festival moves to Metuchen with a lineup that features performances by The Jill Justin Dance Alliance; Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble with Band Director John Messenger at 6:30 pm; Molly Ryan and Manhattan Premier at 7 pm and, the principal performer of the evening, Cyrus Chestnut Quartet at 8 pm.

Sunday, October 1
Summer Stage at Parker Press Park, 400 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge
The Woodbridge High School Jazz Choir will open the event at 3 pm, followed by The Edmar Castaneda Quartet at 3:45 pm. At 5:15 pm, a much-anticipated performance by the Alicia Olatula Quintet closes out the festival.

All Middlesex County Jazz Festival concerts are free and accessible.

For concert details and up-to-date announcements, visit Middlesex County Jazz Festival.