By Isiah Christie
Between Wednesday, May 28th, and Saturday, May 31st, Jersey City hosted the Jersey City Jazz Week & Jazz Festival as a two-day celebration of the diverse, all-encompassing music genre.
Between three stages, food trucks, bars, a VIP experience, and more, reception to the event was unanimously positive, while the program itself was a wonderful showcase of the talent in the North Jersey area – but especially within the realm of its African-American innovators.
Among relevant cultural acts on May 28th and 29th, which embodied the extended “Jersey City Jazz Week” before the festival, were blues and jazz vocalist, Lezlie Harrison, and Chicago jazz pianist, James Austin Jr.
Ms. Harrison, who performed on the 28th, is noted for her genre versatility – aside from her strong presence in blues and jazz music, she also performs gospel, soul, and original composition records, and is renowned for her unique vocal delivery and lyrical intimacy. As a New York native, her presence in the bordering areas’ events remains at large, fully justifying and amplifying the importance of her performance during the Jazz Week. Her two-hour concert, which took place at Jersey City’s cocktail bar “The Junto”, sold out in a frenzy to kick off the week’s affairs.
Mr. Austin Jr., who concluded a five-stop monthly tour with Jazz Week, performed his album “Songs in the Key of Wonder.” Topically and musically influenced by soul legend, Stevie Wonder, whose work flows through the album’s essence in the form of honorable covers, “Songs in the Key of Wonder” employs a talented live band during performances to maximize its enticing qualities of groove. Austin Jr. performed at the historic Brennan Courthouse, famous for hosting some of New Jersey’s most legendary jazz performances.
During the main events on May 30th and 31st, which included free admission, a plethora of great black performers took the stage – this included jazz drummer, Winard Harper and Indian Funk & brass fusion band, The Rumble, who both enjoyed 60-to-90-minute sets.
The following day included the WBGO Next Gen Collective, a non-profit radio organization known for leadership in jazz exposure; Haitian-American modern jazz vocalist, Tyreek McDole; award-winning jazz ensemble, Sounds of April & Randall; New Jersey City University’s local jazz ensemble; and musical lessons from a variety of cultures, including swing dancing, salsa/mambo dancing, and a bucket drum class.
This festival was one of many events in Jersey City showcasing the area’s never-ending growth and acceptance of cultural variety. It is a testament to North Jersey’s solidified reputation as a melting pot worth living in, visiting, and outright embracing – this summer will be a busy one for the city, and its events live up to their potential!
The next festival that will be held by the organization is the JC Latin Jazz Festival on September 5th and 6th.
