Get Ready For Middlesex County Jazz Fest Sept. 28 - Oct. 1

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The first-ever Middlesex County Jazz Festival kicks off September 28 with performances in Edison, Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, Metuchen and Woodbridge.

There will be live jazz concerts through Oct. 1 and each town has created programing that combines hometown favorites with regional jazz greats.

Enjoy jazz across the county at the following dates and locations:

• Edison ― 6-8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Papaianni Park
• Perth Amboy ― 7-9 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Historic Amboy Ferry Slip
• New Brunswick ― 1-5:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center
• Metuchen ― 6-9:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at Halsey Street - Metuchen Station Lot 6
• Woodbridge ― 3-6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Parker Press Park

Here is the full line-up in each town:

Thursday, Sept. 28: Festival kick-off in Edison’s Papaianni Park (located off Rt. 27 at 100 Municipal Blvd.) 6 p.m. J.P. Stevens High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of John Zazzedi, followed by the band The Delegations at 6:30 p.m.

At 7:30 p.m., the evening’s headliner and much-admired local jazz musician Victor Quezada and his Latin Jazz Band will perform. Rain or shine. Parking is free and plentiful. Visitors may begin seating at Papaianni Park at 5:00 p.m. CD sales and signing of CD’s by the musicians will follow the performance.

Friday, Sept. 29: NOTE: Moved to Perth Amboy library due to rain. 196 Jefferson Street in Perth Amboy

The Festival lands in Perth Amboy on Friday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m., when Perth Amboy Artworks presents a great evening of Jazz under the Harvest Moon at the Historic Perth Amboy Ferry Slip at 300 Front Street on the Perth Amboy waterfront.

The show features two exciting NJ artists: Julian Meyers Koncept will play swinging experimental jazz featuring elements of gospel, funk & rock at 7:00 p.m. and Forbidden Tropics will play Afro-Peruvian Jazz at 8:00 p.m. Enjoy great live music, beautiful views of Raritan Bay and the full moon. Also check out the Ferry Slip Museum at the venue and the great food and drinks available along the marina and waterfront. Free parking is available at the Perth Amboy Marina next to the Ferry Slip.

Afternoon, Saturday, Sept. 30: The Festival continues in New Brunswick at 1:00 p.m. in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center at 11 Livingston Avenue with the New Brunswick Jazz Project Brass, followed by Conrad Herwig Latin Side All Stars at 2:15. Then at 4:00 p.m. the headliner Nat Adderley Jr. takes the stage with his quartet.

Paid parking is available at downtown New Brunswick Parking decks. Great food and beverages will be available at the festival for purchase from many great downtown New Brunswick restaurants. Bring your own chairs. The Middlesex County Jazz Festival – New Brunswick is rain or shine.

New Brunswick Jazz fans can hop on the NJ Transit train that leaves New Brunswick at 5:49 p.m. and arrive in Metuchen just in time to catch the next show:

Evening, Saturday, Sept. 30: Immediately after the Nat Adderely performance in New Brunswick, the Middlesex County Jazz Festival moves to Metuchen for the evening show on Saturday, September 30.

The evening in Metuchen begins at 6:00 p.m. with a performance by the Jill Justin Dance Alliance at 6:00 p.m., followed by an intro from the Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of John Messenger at 6:30 p.m. Molly Ryan and Manhattan Premier follows at 7:00 p.m. with the principal performer of the evening, Cyrus Chestnut Quartet at 8:00 p.m.

The performances take place in the Halsey Street Station Lot 6 near the Metuchen train station. Handicap parking will be available in the Halsey Street Lot. General parking will be available in the Pearl Street parking deck. Concert-goers can drop off chairs beginning at 3:00 p.m. Enjoy fine dining in the many downtown restaurants. Food venders will also be available on site. The Middlesex County Jazz Festival – Metuchen is rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather conditions, the show will move to Metuchen High School at 400 Grove Avenue.

Sunday, Oct. 1: The Festival finishes in grand style on Sunday, October 1 at 3:00 p.m. on the Summer Stage at Parker Press Park located at 400 Rahway Avenue in downtown Woodbridge. The Woodbridge High School Jazz Choir will open the event, followed by The Edmar Castaneda Quartet at 3:45 p.m.

At 5:15 p.m., a much-anticipated performance by the Alicia Olatula Quintet closes out the festival. Free parking is available at the Woodbridge Train Station (418 Pearl Street and walk through tunnel); next to and behind Berkeley College (430 Rahway Ave); Town Hall at (1 Main Street); and on the ground floor under apartments at 400 Rahway Avenue. Food trucks as well as beer and wine be available for sale. Coolers are not allowed. In the event of extreme weather conditions, the show will move to Woodbridge High School on Samuel Lupo Place in Woodbridge.

All Middlesex County Jazz Festival concerts are free and accessible. Concert goers should bring lawn chairs. Only service pets will be allowed in concert areas. For weather related up-dates on the days of performances visit www.middlesexcountyjazzfestiva... .

Grant funding for this project has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.