Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival Set To Return This Fall

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Music returns to the Green this fall, and Morristown will trade in the end-of-summer blues for blues music at the annual Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival.

The festival draws thousands of fans and several accomplished musicians, making it a staple community event in Morris County. The beloved music festival will take place on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23.

This year's festival has expanded to include free music on Friday at Pioneer's Plaza and Saturday on the Morristown Green.

"Thanks to Mayor Tim Dougherty and the Town of Morristown, music fans of all ages will enjoy great music both on Pioneer’s Plaza, which is conveniently located on Speedwell Avenue between Headquarters Plaza and 1776, and on The Green," event organizers said.

The festival will feature five groups on The Green in Morristown from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, but there will also be three acts performing at Pioneer's Plaza on Friday, Sept. 22, beginning at 5 p.m.

The Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival will once again pay tribute to Linda Smith, one of the festival's founders who co-produced the event for many years, and Michael Fabrizio, another founder who served on the festival board.

The Friday show will begin at 5 p.m. with Ty Stephens and Soul Jaazz. At 6:30 p.m., Debra Devi Group will take the stage as a blues and rock guitarist.

To end off the night, the Downtown Charlie Brown Blues Band will take the stage at 8 p.m., led by 1973 Morristown High graduate Charles Brown, who grew up singing at the Union Baptist Church.

To kick off the Saturday festival, the Commodores, the US Navy Jazz Band, will perform at noon for their first appearance at the festival. At 2 p.m., the Gotham City Latin Jazz Septet will perform. At 4 p.m., it's The Hot Sardines.

At 6 p.m., Ana Popovi will take the stage. The California-based guitarist and singer, who last performed at the festival in 2017, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of the pandemic. However, after a series of difficult treatments, she is now in remission.

Louis Prima Jr. & The Witnesses take the stage at 8 p.m. to pay tribute to Louis Prima Junior's incomparable father, who penned some of the most well-known hits such as "Sing Sing Sing," "Jump Jive an' Wail," and "Just A Gigolo."

Since its inception in 2011, the Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival has grown to become one of the area's most anticipated music events, attracting visitors from across the country, boosting local economies, and showcasing top-tier musicians who honor two great American art forms.