Middlesex Jazz Festival Will Be Sept. 24 - 28

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The 2025 Middlesex County Jazz Festival, now in its fourth year, kicks off in Woodbridge September 24 and continues with free performances in Carteret, Metuchen and New Brunswick.

The 2025 Middlesex County Jazz Festival kicks of September 24 in Woodbridge at Parker Press Park. This free festival then moves to the Carteret Performing Arts Center on September 26, then onto Metuchen High School on September 27 and closes in New Brunswick outdoors on Livingston Avenue on September 28.

All these concerts are entirely free. Grant funding for the festival is provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.

This year’s offerings spotlight women in jazz as well as several of the towns' excellent high school music programs. For more info. including weather-related concert updates, go to www.middlesexcountyjazzfestal....

The schedule:

Woodbridge Arts will open the MCJF Festival on September 24 at Parker Press Park starting at 7:00 p.m. The Woodbridge High School Jazz Choir, under the direction of Lisa Romero, start things off. Next up that evening are the Brass Queens, a 10-piece band with an all-female horn section, whose sound is deeply inspired by the music of New Orleans mixed with the flair of modern pop. Elizabeth Bougerol of The Hot Sardines headlines the evening with her vocal stylings of the early 20 th century jazz.

Moving to September 26, Carteret will present the jazz vocalist, bandleader and on-air radio host at WBGO, Lezlie Harrison at the Carteret Performing Arts Center at 45 Washington Street in Carteret. As a vocalist, Harrison has long captivated audiences with her distinctive style and heartfelt delivery. Her role as a curator and presenter at jazz radio station WBGO informs the breath and caliber of the music she performs.

On September 27 the festival moves to Metuchen, where the Metuchen Arts Council and the Friends of Metuchen will present a full evening’s entertainment starting at 5:30 p.m. with a collaborative performance featuring the Metuchen High School Jazz Combo and the Metuchen Dance Center. That will be followed by the Metuchen High School Jazz Collective and Orchestra directed by John Messenger. At 7:00 p.m. the AAPI Collective led by trombonist Peter Lin takes the stage followed by Sherrie Maricle and the 15 member, all-female swing band, DIVA Jazz Orchestra. The Metuchen event takes place indoors in the newly refurbished Metuchen High School auditorium located at 400 Gove Avenue in Metuchen.

On September 28, the festival finishes up in New Brunswick where the New Brunswick Jazz Project will provide a lively afternoon on Livingston Avenue in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center starting at 1:00 p.m. with Mike Noordzy and the Rutgers Alumni Jazz Orchestra, followed by the renowned jazz vocalist Antoinette Montague. The afternoon is capped off with Conrad Herwig Latin Side All-Stars.

Woodbridge – Wednesday, September 24
At Parker Press Park, 400 Rahway Avenue in downtown Woodbridge
7:00 p.m. – Woodbridge High School Jaz Choir
7:30 p.m. – Brass Queens
8:30 p.m. – Elizabeth Bougerol (of The Hot Sardines)

Carteret – Friday, September 26 At the Carteret Performing Arts Center, 46 Washington Street, Carteret

7:00 p.m. – Lezlie Harrison

Metuchen – Saturday, September 27
At Metuchen High School, 400 Grove Avenue, Metuchen
5:30 p.m. – Metuchen Dance Center + Metuchen High School Jazz Combo
6:00 p.m. – Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra
7:00 p.m. – AAPI Jazz Collective with Peter Lin
8:15 p.m. – Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra

New Brunswick – Sunday, September 28
At Livingston Avenue in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. – Mike Noordzy & the Rutgers Alumni Jazz Orchestra
2:15 – 3:30 p.m. – Antoinette Montague
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Conrad Herwig Latin Side All Stars