Five towns host shows for the first Middlesex County Jazz Festival
Edison, Metuchen, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Woodbridge are coming together to create the first Middlesex County Jazz Festival, a free weekend of performances from Thursday, Sept. 28, to Sunday, Oct. 1.
The rain-or-shine event, funded by a $20,000 grant from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund, is expected to attract more than 10,000 people.
“We wanted to continue to expand jazz in our towns, so in creating this event we are one step closer to making that happen,” said Michael Tublin, co-founder of New Brunswick Jazz Project and the Middlesex County Jazz Festival.
New Brunswick was a part of the Central Jersey Jazz Festival for nearly a decade, and Metuchen joined the CJJF in 2021. That festival took place Sept. 8 to 10 in Somerville and Flemington.
“It just wasn’t a good fit since we wouldn’t have been able to add five towns [to the Central Jersey Jazz Festival],” Tublin said. “We wanted to see a bigger, more robust lineup … We hope to see the Central Jersey Jazz Festival pick up another town or two themselves.”
Here’s what to expect from the Middlesex County Jazz Festival:
Edison: Thursday, Sept. 28
The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Edison’s Papaianni Park, 100 Municipal Blvd., with the J.P. Stevens High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of John Zazzedi. That's followed by The Delegations at 6:30 p.m., and local jazz musician Victor Quezada and his Latin jazz band at 7:30 p.m.
Visitors may begin seating at Papaianni Park at 5 p.m. Parking is free.
CD sales and signings of CDs by musicians will follow the performances.
Perth Amboy: Friday, Sept. 29
The festival heads to Perth Amboy when Perth Amboy Artworks presents jazz at the Historic Perth Amboy Ferry Slip, 300 Front St.
At 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, Julian Meyers Koncept will play swinging experimental jazz featuring elements of gospel, funk and rock. Forbidden Tropics will play Afro-Peruvian Jazz at 8 p.m.
Free parking is available at the Perth Amboy Marina next to the Ferry Slip.
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New Brunswick: Saturday, Sept. 30
The festival continues in New Brunswick at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Ave., with the New Brunswick Jazz Project Brass.
Conrad Herwig Latin Side All Stars then perform at 2:15 p.m., and Nat Adderley Jr. takes the stage with his quartet at 4 p.m.
Paid parking is available at downtown New Brunswick parking decks. Bring your own chairs.
Metuchen: Saturday, Sept. 30
Immediately after Nat Adderely’s performance in New Brunswick, the festival moves to the Halsey Street Station Lot 6 near the Metuchen train station.
The Jill Justin Dance Alliance starts things off at 6 p.m., followed by the Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of John Messenger at 6:30 p.m.
Molly Ryan and Manhattan Premier take the stage at 7 p.m., and the Cyrus Chestnut Quartet begins at 8 p.m.
Concertgoers can drop off chairs beginning at 3 p.m. Parking will be available in the Pearl Street parking deck.
In the event of inclement weather, the show will move to Metuchen High School, 400 Grove Ave.
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Woodbridge: Sunday, Oct. 1
The final day of the festival begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, with the Woodbridge High School Jazz Choir on the Summer Stage at Parker Press Park, 400 Rahway Ave.
The choir will be followed by the Edmar Castaneda Quartet at 3:45 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., the Alicia Olatula Quintet closes the festival.
Free parking is available at the Woodbridge Train Station, 418 Pearl St. (walk through the tunnel); next to and behind Berkeley College, 430 Rahway Ave.; at Town Hall, 1 Main St.; and on the ground floor under the apartments at 400 Rahway Ave.
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Food trucks as well as beer and wine be available for sale. Coolers are not allowed.
In the event of inclement weather, the show will move to Woodbridge High School, 1 Samuel Lupo Place.
Go: Middlesex County Jazz Festival, Thursday, Sept. 28, to Sunday, Oct. 1, free; middlesexcountyjazzfestival.org.
Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Middlesex County Jazz Festival runs Sept. 28 to Oct. 1
