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The Montclair Jazz Festival’s 2026 Downtown Jamboree will take place on Aug. 15.
Dianne Reeves, The Christian McBride Big Band (with singer Bilal), Patrice Rushen and The Take Me to the River New Orleans All-Stars (featuring Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers and The Meters) will be among the performers at the 17th annual edition of the free, outdoor Montclair Jazz Festival, whose Downtown Jamboree will take place Aug. 15, on two stages at Lackawanna Plaza.
Other performers will include The Spanish Harlem Orchestra; The Jazz House Collective (paying tribute to John Coltrane and Miles Davis, both born 100 years ago); The Jazz House All Stars; and trumpeter Alphonso Horne & the Gotham Kings, who will begin the day by leading a New Orleans-style second line march down Bloomfield Avenue.
The music will last from noon to 8 (set times are not yet available), with a “Block Party” featuring DJ Prince Hakim following, from 8 to 10 p.m.
JON FADDIS
The festival will also offer a five-week Soundcheck Series with free shows at The Wellmont Arts Plaza featuring Bobby Watson and Jason Moran, June 16; The Count Basie Orchestra conducted by Jon Faddis, July 1; Michele Rosewoman & Quintessence and The Orrin Evans Trio, July 14; Joel Ross’ Good Vibes, July 28; and The Rebirth Brass Band, Aug. 4. These shows will be at 6 p.m.
The festival is produced by the Montclair-based educational organization, Jazz House Kids. The Take Me to the River New Orleans All-Stars and The Rebirth Brass Band are underwritten by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation, and Michele Rosewoman & Quintessence are underwritten by the Chamber Music America Presenter Consortium for Jazz. The Block Party is presented by United Airlines.
The festival’s artistic director, Christian McBride, has put together a lineup that will feature the music of some of the major jazz cities of The United States.
“Jazz was born in New Orleans and raised in New York City, but along the way it made many stops where it grew, and continues to grow today,” said McBride in a press release. “The cities that we’re spotlighting at this summer’s festival are among the most important cities in the history of jazz. Places where the music didn’t just develop, but helped shape the cultural identity of the cities themselves.”
EVELYN FREJA
CHRISTIAN McBRIDE
McBride’s Big Band, Reeves, Rushen and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra will pay tribute to Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles and New York, respectively, in their sets. In addition to Cyril Neville, The Take Me to the River New Orleans All-Stars features New Orleans music-scene luminaries such as Omari Neville (Cyril Neville’s son), Ian Neville (son of The Neville Brothers’ and The Meters’ Art Neville) and Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr.
The Soundcheck Series artists will feature the music of the following cities:
Kansas City and Houston: Bobby Watson and Jason Moran
Red Bank: The Count Basie Orchestra
New York: Michele Rosewoman & Quintessence
New York and Philadelphia: The Orrin Evans Trio
Chicago: Joel Ross’ Good Vibes
New Orleans: The Rebirth Brass Band
For the first time, Downtown Jamboree attendees will need to register in advance for a Jam Pass, which will have a Pay What You Wish option.
The festival has been selected by The Smithsonian Institution to be a Collaborating Festival for its Of The People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, commemorating the United States’ semiquincentennial.
“This year’s festival is especially meaningful as we celebrate the centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, welcome the Smithsonian as a collaborator, and present artists representing the great jazz cities that helped shape America’s cultural story,” said Jazz House Kids founder and president Melissa Walker, in the press release. “The Montclair Jazz Festival has always been about bringing world-class music and community together in a way that’s welcoming and accessible to everyone. As the festival continues to grow, the new Jam Pass helps us sustain this incredible summer tradition while still keeping the Downtown Jamboree accessible to all through our ‘Pay What You Wish’ option. We’re excited for audiences of all ages to experience the music, the energy, and the sense of connection that makes Montclair such a special place every summer.”
For information and updates, and to register for a Jam Pass, visit montclairjazzfestival.org.
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