2015 Montclair Jazz Festival Will Feature Christian McBride, Jose James, Paquito D'Rivera

This Saturday, Montclair will once again become a bebop Mecca in Essex County, when thousands of music fans arrive in Nishuane Park for the 2015 Montclair Jazz Festival.

This year’s festival – slated to kick off at noon on Aug. 15 – will feature nine hours of music from artists such as José James, the Paquito D’Rivera Quintet, and the Christian McBride Big Band.

In addition – for the first time in the festival’s history – performances will be streamed live online.

Watch the live stream on Aug. 15 here.

Returning to the festival is the Family Jazz Discovery Zone, a collaboration among Jazz House Kids and partners Montclair Public Library and Montclair Art Museum, which will feature healthy snacks, music-related story books read by festival musicians, and a host of other kid-friendly art activities for wee-boppers and their parents.

Also returning to the festival is the popular Beer Garden, sponsored by North Coast Brewing Co., which donates 100 percent of its proceeds to the festival’s organizer, Montclair-based nonprofit Jazz House Kids.

According to a release, the Montclair Jazz Festival is the brainchild of jazz vocalist and recording artist Melissa Walker - the president and founder of Jazz House Kids - with creative direction from her husband, Christian McBride.

“We are thrilled that the Montclair Jazz Festival has metamorphosed into much more than one great music day in the park,” said Walker. “The festival has become part of the fabric of our community, solidifying this town’s standing as a thriving arts and cultural destination all-year round.”

Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor S. Epatha Merkerson, best known for her 17-season run as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s “Law and Order”, for which she won three NAACP Image Awards, will reprise her role as the Montclair Jazz Festival’s Mistress of Ceremonies.

In addition, WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM’s on-air host Gary Walker will serve as the stage host, providing an inside scoop on the many talented performers.

Read more about the 2015 festival’s performers and see a full lineup here.

File photo: Performers entertain a field of concertgoers during the 5th annual Montclair Jazz Festival.

Send Montclair news tips and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com