The 17th annual Montclair Jazz Festival was selected by the Smithsonian Institution as a collaborating festival for “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals,” commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. The Smithsonian’s oldest and largest public event, the annual Folklife Festival, will make a stop in Montclair, New Jersey at the region’s largest outdoor summer jazz festival.
Produced by JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, the festival kicks off with five Tuesday evening Soundcheck Series concerts starting in June at the Wellmont Arts Plaza. “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals” culminates with the all-day Downtown Jamboree and Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the historic eight-acre Lackawanna Plaza property in Montclair.
This year’s festival spotlights major American jazz cities that have shaped culture. Confirmed performers include Take Me to the River All-Stars featuring Cyril Neville, Omari Neville, Ian Neville and Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr., representing New Orleans. Two-time GRAMMY-winning salsa and Latin jazz band Spanish Harlem Orchestra represents New York City.
The festival will also celebrate the centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane with a special tribute performance and through festival artwork by visual artist Andres Chaparro. McBride explained jazz was born in New Orleans and raised in New York City, but made many stops where it grew and continues to grow today. The cities spotlighted at the festival are among the most important in jazz history, places where the music helped shape the cultural identity of the cities themselves.
The festival began in 2010 as a student summer concert in Montclair’s Nishuane Park with a few hundred attendees. The 2025 edition drew more than 30,000 people, the largest crowd in Montclair Jazz Festival history.
For more information, visit jazzhousekids.org.
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