Towaco Jazz Festival Turns 10

In 2001, barely a month after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Montville Township Committee hosted a unique dedication ceremony. The event, which had been in the planning stages before Sept. 11, was the first Towaco Jazz Festival.

Designed to bring people to the heart of the area's business district and celebrate the newly renovated train station, it was a day of food, music, art and, ultimately, community.

"We began this event in October, 2001 and it was an instant tradition," former mayor, and co-chair of the original Towaco Jazz Festival, John Rosellini, said last year.

This coming Saturday, the tradition continues as the Towaco Jazz Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary. Eight jazz bands, 57 artisans and several food vendors from around the area and beyond will be in attendance.

"The Jazz Festival is crisp, and fall and pumpkiny," said Fisher, Montville resident and president of the Montville Historic Society. She was a major sponsor for last year's festival.

"I think it's a great event," she said. "It's an event for the town. It's wonderful for the community. It's a place where people can come together and get to know each other. We need more events that bring people together."

Held at the Towaco Train Station on Route 202, more than 5,000 people attend the festival annually. Artisans, crafters, area businesses, community organizations, food vendors and jazz musicians will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"The Jazz Festival is one of the two biggest events in Montville Township," said Christina Renfer, owner of Landauer Café and president of the Towaco Civic Association. 

In 2008, when the Montville Township Committee cancelled the Jazz Festival due to budget constraints, the TCA assumed the coordination of and responsibility for the festival.

"It's a great day," Renfer said. "It's an important event. It's a free event. The TCA sponsors it because it's good for the community. No one makes money on this event. We are all volunteers.  Even the police volunteer."

Atlantic Stewardship Bank will serve as the 2010 official sponsor. Additionally, Pine Brook businesses Christine Valmy, Inc., and O'Dowd Associates, as well as Sheriff Ed Rochford are among the major contributors to the Towaco Jazz Festival's 10th anniversary.

Former committeeman, Dan Grant was co-chairman of the first Towaco Jazz Festival with Rosellini. 

"It started when NJ Transit said they were going to replace the bus and train shelters with the same kind of plastic structures that were there," he said. "John [Rosellini] and I both objected and began a series of meetings with [NJ Transit] in a effort to restore some prototype of what had been there long ago when this was a functioning, real, full-service train station."

Grant recalled that the Towaco Train Station, built in 1910, originally had two buildings, a waiting room and an underground tunnel to go to the other side of the tracks. He and Rosellini worked with members of the Montville Historic Society in an effort to convince NJ Transit to renovate historically, rather than simply replace weathered plastic shelters with new ones.

"We came up with what you see today, and NJT agreed to fund a portion of it," he said. "The vote [by the Montville Township Committee] to approve the funding [for the renovation] was 3-to-2, so it barely passed."

It was the completion of the historic renovation of the Towaco train station which led to the Towaco Jazz Festival.

"NJT once gave a presentation to the Morris County Freeholders using the Towaco train station as an example of what could be done all over Morris County, with the cooperation of either towns or the county," Grant said. "It is something that I, as a long time resident, am very proud of."

Eight area bands will perform throughout the day. Newer bands like, 287 The Band and Valhalla Band, featuring Montville Township High School students, will join more established groups like Dave Miller Quartet and Nikki Armstrong & Whole Lotta Blues, to provide both cutting edge music and old favorites.

"There should be something for everyone," said Agave Sunset bandleader, Ken LaPenta. "Soul, Jimmy Buffet, fusion, we have diversity."

The festival will also feature home grown honey, candles, chair massages, photography, paintings, home décor, woodworking, handmade jewelry, African crafts, tie dye items, clothing, and many other area artists, shops and restaurants.

"There are still a few spaces left for artisans who wish to attend," Fisher said. "The Historic Society will be there again this year with some new items, like playing cards, and more literature about the town."

Additionally, many community organizations, such as the Montville Board of Education, Montville Pet Parents, and the Montville Bronco Cheerleaders, will have booths at the Towaco Jazz Festival this year. 

"There is nothing like it," Towaco resident Lauren Trionfo said about the jazz festival. "The artisans, who attend, sell an array of quality items.  The performers are amazing, and the food is delicious. We love that we live in Towaco." 

The Towaco Jazz Festival is open to the public. It will be held on this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  In case of rain, the event will be postponed to Sunday, Sept. 26. Anyone interested in participating can find out more by calling Christina Renfer at 973-394-1100. Booths are $50.

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