What a Spectacular Day!  

Clear skies, brilliant sunshine: the weather couldn't have been more picture perfect for the 4,500+ music lovers at the 4th annual Montclair Jazz Festival on Saturday, August 17.  

The eight hour music fest was true to its reputation of being a not-to-be-missed highlight of the summer for the entire region, a swingin' celebration of community, great jazz music and family activities -- right in our own backyard!

Headliners at this year's free festival produced by Jazz House Kids included the extraordinary Christian McBride with NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron and the amazing Carl Allen; the mesmorizing Anat Cohen & the Choro Ensemble; the great Freddie Hendrix Septet;the indelible Oscar Perez Nuevo Comienzo with special guest acclaimed vocalist Melissa Walker and the electrifying Ed Palermo Big Band Does Zappa & More.  

Adding to the more than 50 professional musicians who took the stage that afternoon, over 100 students from the Jazz House Summer Workshop wowed the crowds in large ensembles directed by Jazz House Kids faculty Lovett Hines, Ed Palermo, Oscar Perez, Mike Lee, Bruce Williams and Julius Tolentino.   

WBGO Patrons  Jazz 88.3FM's on-air host Gary Walker was on hand to emcee the day's festivities.

Two exciting additions to the Montclair Jazz Festival were a huge successes this year -- the Beer Garden sponsored by the California-based North Coast Brewing Co. and the Family Jazz Discovery Zone sponsored by Whole Foods Market.   

Doug and Deborah Moody of North Coast Brewing, in their continuing support and encouragement of jazz education, generously donated all the gross sales of the beer garden to Jazz House Kids -- which of course sold out!   

The new Family Jazz Discovery Zone sponsored by Whole Foods Market was a resounding hit with both the younger set and their parents.  Along with Jazz House Kids friends and partners, the Montclair Art Museum and the Montclair Public Library, the Zone was a special place to hang out, create, improvise and learn all about the music while you play.  Activities included guest musicians reading from their favorite jazz story books, arts & crafts and tasty healthy food samplings.  

The Family Jazz Discovery Zone also featured a sneak peak at Jazz House Kids upcoming Jazz Drama Program created by pianist and composer Eli Yamin.  The Jazz Drama combines storytelling, drama, music, dance and visual arts.