Englewood Expanding Downtown Jazz Concerts

Englewood's outdoor jazz series is getting an earlier start this summer.

The swingin' Englewood Economic Development Corporation initiative that for the past two years has brought New York City-area jazz musicians to play at various spots in downtown Englewood on consecutive Thursdays in July and August will start in mid-May this year.

"It’s been such a tremendous success we’re going to extend it into June and the latter half of May," EEDC Chairman Adam Brown said after the group's last meeting. "We’re going to go from eight performances to 14. I think it's a no-brainer."

The Bergen Performing Arts Center selects the jazz combos, the city of Englewood coordinates when they'll play and the EEDC provides the funding, Brown said.

He hopes the jazz series livens up the downtown and brings in out-of-towners to patronize city businesses.

"The idea is to bring life to the downtown," Brown said. "I think it’s good for the residents, it’s good for the customers, it’s good for everybody to have a thriving downtown, both economically and socially." 

The schedule of summer jazz nights is still in the works, but Brown said he intends to advertise it extensively once the dates have been set.

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