Riverview Jazz, the non-profit producer of the Jersey City Jazz Festival, has just announced the lineup for its ambitious 2025 festival. The annual event, which will see hundreds of musicians perform for thousands of attendees, will take place Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, at Exchange Place plaza on the Hudson River waterfront. The festival will also host events throughout Jersey City leading up to it beginning Tuesday, May 27.
“We are so excited for this year’s festival. Each year has a different feel, and this year sure looks like it’s going to be a fun one”, says festival founder and director Bryan Beninghove. “It’s really amazing to see the response we get, people are coming from all over to attend. But honestly, it’s shooting fish in a barrel, I mean the riverfront location is unparalleled and we have the best musicians in the world here!”
This year’s lineup will feature a number of diverse musical acts spanning the spectrum of jazz. Bands include the funky New Orleans outfit The Rumble, the Jersey City-based legend Winard Harper & Jeli Posse, Downbeat’s jazz group of the year Artemis, the genre-defying Steven Bernstein’s MTO featuring Catherine Russell, a combo featuring Fred Hersch, John Hébert, and Bennie Wallace, and the LA-based keyboardist/producer and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Sam Barsh. The lineup will also include two Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition winners, April May Webb (with Sounds of April & Randall) and Tyreek McDole. Also performing will be the supremely talented WBGO’s Next Gen Collective, the Riverview Jazz All-Stars led by festival founder Bryan Beninghove, the NJCU Jazz Ensemble, and the United Children’s Music Program’s Latin Ensemble. As is tradition, there will be a parade of brass through the plaza with Honk NYC. As always, dance will have a prominent place at the festival with swing dance classes leading into a performance from the Robert Edwards Big Band, and Salsa Fever on2 will host dance classes leading up to a performance from the Astoria Salsa Company, a Columbian-flavored NYC salsa group led by master percussionist Samuel Torres.
Beginning Tuesday May 27, venues across Jersey City will be filled with music. The Junto, a downtown cocktail bar, will host some fabulous singers, Champian Fulton (5/27) and Lezlie Harrison (5/28). The Pet Shop basement will host some of the wilder performances of the week with both John Hébert (5/27) and Tim Berne (5/28). The Heights-based performance space The Statuary will present trumpeter Kali Rodriguez Peña (5/29), a special Live at Brennan's show will feature James Austin Jr.’s Songs in the Key of Wonder (5/29), Groove on Grove will host a jazz show (5/28), as well as a special happy hour performance at the Hyatt Regency (5/30). The official jam session will be hosted by saxophonist Mike Lee at the Hyatt House (5/30), and the official closing party will be held at Moore’s Place (6/1).
The outdoor festival will feature a Community Zone presented by the Jersey City Public Library that will have arts & crafts and kids programming. There will be two bars, a VIP experience, and plenty of food and local vendors. The majority of the festival is free with the exception of the Clubhouse presented by Ford’s Gin, a tented stage with a cocktail jazz club feel.
This year’s event is presented once again by Exchange Place Alliance. Other community and corporate partners include RWJ Barnabas Health, the Jersey City Free Public Library, WBGO, NJ PBS, the City of Jersey City, Fifteen, and many more. Funding is also made possible in part through the Jersey City Arts & Cultural Trust Fund, the Hudson County LAP grant, and the Princeton Foundation grant. Lodging partners include Hyatt House, Hyatt Regency, and the Canopy Hotel.
For a full schedule and tickets, go to www.JerseyCityJazzFestival.com.
