The 16th annual Montclair Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 13 will feature a great lineup and special activities for everyone. The event is free.
Jazz House Kids founder and President and singer Melissa Walker and her husband 9-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride created the festival in 2010. At that time, the festival was held in Nishuane Park in Montclair. Last year's festival at Lackawanna Station drew more than 25-thousand visitors.
Melissa Walker spoke to WBGO's Doug Doyle about the 2025 Montclair Jazz Festival.
"We're so proud of this festival. The Jazz House and the work of the festival is just an extension of our commitment to this cultural art form and our desire to really support emerging talent. And also, we want to bring the very best to our neighbors, and to do it without no tickets required. That's big lift these days. It is hugely important to us. We could not be more excited to present the 16th annual Montclair Jazz Festival."
The Gotham Kings led by trumpeter and two-time GRAMMY-nominated Alphonso Horne kicks off the Downtown Jamboree with the sounds of New Orleans and his high energy second line band. This year’s headliners performing on the main stage sponsored by McBride's World at Sea include acclaimed saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and Phoenix with a meld of jazz, R&B and funk; Christian McBride’s Ursa Major, the nine-time GRAMMY winner’s bold multi-generational quintet; singer Jose’ James…and the JAZZ HOUSE Collective celebrating the music of this year’s Legacy Artist, New Jersey’s own James Moody.
Newly added to the stellar Jamboree lineup is Luisito Quintero, the GRAMMY-winner master percussionist from Venezuela, who will bring the crowd to its feet with his electrifying Afro-Latin rhythms and unmatched musicality.
There is more music on the Emerging Musicians Stage, where more than 50 young artists from the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS program ages 14 to 25 will be featured, including the debut of this year’s alumni JAZZ HOUSE All-Stars, a group of accomplished musicians who will set sail in January 2026 on McBride’s World at Sea, bringing the thrill of live performance across the Caribbean and performing on the same stage as some of the hottest stars today including Samara Joy, Ledisi, Benny Green, Cecile McLorin Salvant and the Christian McBride Big Band.
2025 MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL JAMBOREE
Sep 13, 2025, 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Lackawanna Station, 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair, NJ
2025 Block Party featuring DJ Brother Mister
Sep 13, 2025, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Downtown Stage, Montclair, NJ,
You can SEE Doug Doyle's entire conversation with Melissa Walker below.
