Popular Jazz Fest Is Returning To Montclair For 2024 (What To Know)

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The “largest free jazz festival in the greater NYC region” will be returning to the streets of Montclair this weekend, with an action-packed lineup of music scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14.

The 15th annual Montclair Jazz Festival “Downtown Jamboree” will take place on a nearly half-mile portion of Bloomfield Avenue, which will be closed to vehicles during the event (see map below, and learn more here).

Tens of thousands of jazz fans are expected to attend the end-of-summer bash, which will feature multiple stages and more than 170 food sellers and vendors.

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny Garrett will be headlining the 2024 festival, which is produced by local jazz education and performance organization Jazz House Kids. Other artists who will be performing include vocalist Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton, drummer Jerome Jennings & ill Philosophy, Colombian harpist Edmar Castañeda Quartet, “seashellist” and veteran trombonist Steve Turre Sextet, rising star Brianna Thomas, the Montclair State University Jazz Ensemble directed by Oscar Perez, and the Jazz House Collective Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, featuring vocalist and Jazz House Kids founder Melissa Walker.

Meanwhile, Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride – who serves as the festival’s music director – will perform with his acclaimed quintet, Inside Straight.

“This year’s Montclair Jazz Festival will be another joyous celebration of America’s greatest art form with some of the world’s greatest musicians and fans, many of whom have been supporters of Jazz House Kids and this festival since the very beginning 15 years ago,” McBride said.

“Everyone who comes to our festival leaves enfolded in our shared community, and their love for jazz is strengthened further,” he enthused.

This year – after eight hours of live music – the festival will transform into a giant “anniversary celebration block party,” while McBride assumes his alter ego of “DJ Brother Mister” and partners with special guest DJ Prince Hakim for a funk and soul dance party.

Here’s the schedule for the 2024 Downtown Jamboree, organizers said:

DOWNTOWN STAGE | 12:00 PM-10:00 PM

Stage host: Alonzo Bodden

JAZZ HOUSE Legacy Band: 12:15-1:00 PM

Steve Turre Sextet*: 1:15-2:00 PM

Kenny Garrett Sounds from the Ancestors: 2:30-3:45 PM

Christian McBride & Inside Straight: 4:15-5:45 PM

Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton: 6:15-7:30 PM

15th ANNIVERSARY BLOCK PARTY

DJ Brother Mister + DJ Prince Hakim: 8:00-10:00 PM

UPTOWN STAGE | 12 PM - 8:00 PM

Stage host: Andromeda Turre

Montclair State University Jazz Band feat. Dave Stryker + Steve Nelson: 12:15-1:00 PM

Edmar Castañeda Quartet: 1:45-2:45 PM

Jerome Jennings & ill Philosophy: 3:15-4:30 PM

Brianna Thomas Band: 5:00-6:15 PM

JAZZ HOUSE Collective feat. Melissa Walker: 6:30-7:45 PM

VERIZON FAMILY JAZZ DISCOVERY ZONE @ WELLMONT PLAZA | 12-4 PM

Montclair Early Music: 12:00-12:15 PM

Jazz Explorers Program* fea. Riza Printup: 12:30-1:30 PM

Jazz Explorers Program fea. Riza Printup: 2:00-3:00 PM

Montclair Early Music: 3:15-3:30 PM

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.