Not many people know that during the early part of the 20th Century, northern New Jersey was one of the capitals of jazz. Nearly all the jazz greats of the period appeared in clubs from Newark to Paterson and beyond.
Picking up on that tradition, and perhaps aiming to bring a bit of that reputation for quality jazz to Jersey City, RiverviewJazz.Org (RJO) will present the Riverview Jazz Festival from June 1 to 7.
“This year for our third edition of the Riverview Jazz Festival, we have expanded to a weeklong event,” said RJO president Will Tatz. “We will be co-promoting live club dates at venues throughout Jersey City during the week leading up to our main event. Then it all culminates with a Gatsby-themed Dixieland performance and brunch at the Farmers Market on Sunday. This proves to be our biggest and best festival to date.”
An open reception and jam session will be held at the Brightside Tavern, 141 Bright St., starting at 7 p.m. on June 1. The jam session will start at 8 p.m. and will feature the Noel Sagerman Trio.
“This year for our third edition of the Riverview Jazz Festival, we have expanded to a week-long event.” – RJO president Will Tatz.
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On Wednesday, June 3, Razza at 275 Grove St. will feature a gypsy jazz jam with the sounds of Django Reinhardt at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, June 4, Madame Claude Café, 364 Fourth St. will present Manouche Bag with Mattias Gustaffson, Jim Kaznosky, Bryan Beninghove, and Joe Bussey will perform starting at 7:30 p.m. Please call for reservation (201)876-8800.
Friday, June 5 kicks off JC Fridays, which includes Wild Jazz Adventure at the Jersey City Reservoir 6 to 8 p.m. This is presented by the Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance and includes renowned jazz musicians Kyle McGinley (trumpet), Charlie Sigler (guitar), Kahlil Kwame Bell (percussion), Peter Lin (trombone), Andrea Brachfeld (flute), and more. This is located at 199 Reservoir Ave. near the corner of Summit Avenue.
Other jazz events on June 5 includes Elise LaBarge singing Edith Piaf at the Statuary, 53 Congress St. at 7 p.m. There is an art exhibit by Kendall Messick, and the debut performance of the band Arbiters of Taste.
Jazz drummer Winard Harper will perform in a jam at Jazz Jam at Moore’s Lounge , 189 Monticello Ave. near McGinley Square at 8 p.m.
Nabuki Takamen Trio will appear at Groove on Grove near the Grove Street PATH station at 6 p.m.
Saturday is the main part of the festival
The main events of this year’s Riverview Jazz Festival will be held in Riverview Fisk Park in Jersey City Heights on Saturday, June 6, featuring seven bands performing from noon to 8 p.m.
This will include an open air beer garden, and a diverse array of food trucks.
The Jazz House Kids Organ Messengers, directed by Radam Schwartz, will appear at noon.
Tony Malaby’s Paloma Recio with Ben Monder, Billy Mintz, and John Hebert will appear at 1 p.m.
Dave Stryker’s Eight Track Band will appear at 2 p.m.
Hip hop drummer John Robinson and Pat Van Dyke will appear at 3 p.m.
Swamp Cabbage, with veteran blues and jazz guitarist Walter Parks (formerly with Richie Havens and the Nukes) will appear at 4 p.m.
Beninghove’s Hangmen will appear at 5 p.m.
Chino Pons and Grupo Irek, considered one of the top Cuban music acts in New York City, will appear at 6:30 p.m.
The festival wraps up the next day, Sunday, June 7 from 12-3 with a Dixieland Jazz Brunch, co-presented with Farms in the Heights/The Riverview Farmer’s Market.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.