The five-year-old Somerville Jazz Festival and the New Brunswick Jazz Project, now in its fourth year of presenting weekly live jazz events, have come together to create the first ever
CENTRAL JERSEY JAZZ FESTIVAL
WHEN: Saturday, September 14, 1 PM to 6 PM in New Brunswick (Livingston Avenue near Monument Square) and Sunday, September 15, 1 PM to 6 PM in Somerville—rain or shine
WHERE: New Brunswick (Livingston Avenue near Monument Square) & Somerville (E. Main Street & Grove near the Somerset County Court House)
ADMISSION: free
Ralph Peterson, Jersey native, Rutgers Alum, and the last Jazz Messenger drummer, along with accomplished composer and tenor saxophonist Don Braden will headline the New Brunswick Event. Also performing on Saturday, the 11-piece soul jazz band Funktion 11, vocalist/bassist Mimi Jones Band and the New Brunswick District Jazz Band (middle & high school students.)
Grammy Award winning bassist, and Jersey resident, Christian McBride will be the main attraction Sunday in Somerville. Veteran tenor sax-man Donald Harrison, trombonist Michael Dease, vocalist Charenee Wade, and the acclaimed, community based, Jazz House Kids will complete the Somerville lineup which will take place on Sunday September 15.
Both the Downtown Somerville Alliance and the New Brunswick Jazz Project understand how important the arts are to keeping their respective cities’ downtowns active and vital.
“Joining forces seemed like exactly the right thing to do,” said Michael Tublin one of the New Brunswick Jazz Project founders. “We believe it will be a win-win for everyone involved. Especially Central Jersey jazz lovers,” added Rick St. Pierre of the Downtown Somerville Alliance.
Festival attendees are encouraged to bring chairs. In Somerville, there will be a beer and food court as well as art vendors on the Courthouse lawn. Additionally food and beverages will be available at restaurants in both cities.
The Central Jersey Jazz Festival is a co-production of the Downtown Somerville Alliance & The New Brunswick Jazz Project. Festival sponsors include: Johnson & Johnson, The Star Ledger, WBGO Radio, Somerset County Freeholders, Stage Left & Catherine Lombardi Restaurants, Fulton Bank, Division Street Music and The New Brunswick Cultural Center-Hub City Sounds.
For complete details and up to the minute Festival news, please visit http://centraljerseyjazzfestival.com and http://Facebook.com/Centraljerseyjazzfestival
