Welcome to the 2024 Central Jersey Jazz Festival!
We are excited to welcome you to the 2024 Central Jersey Jazz Festival—a unique collaboration between two of New Jersey’s vibrant county seats: Flemington and Somerville. This partnership brings together the heart and soul of jazz to create one of the largest outdoor musical events in the region.
Originally founded in 2013, the festival has grown into a beloved multi-day experience, now representing Hunterdon and Somerset counties. This free, two-day concert series draws thousands of visitors from across the tri-state and midAtlantic regions. The festival has become a destination event that showcases the best of Central Jersey, featuring top-tier musicians across the jazz spectrum.
From the intimate charm of Flemington’s small-town atmosphere to Somerville’s diverse and eclectic downtown, the Central Jersey Jazz Festival offers a full immersion in local culture alongside world-class performances.
We’re proud to present this festival in partnership with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, along with Flemington Community Partnership, Downtown Somerville Alliance, and Sheila E. Anderson.
Let’s celebrate the magic of jazz and the communities that make it thrive!
Thank you to our Sponsors
We are thrilled you can join us for tonight's performances featuring world-renowned contemporary jazz artists in the newly designated Stangl Arts and Cultural District.
We are grateful for our event sponsors and our continuing partnership in producing the Central Jersey Jazz Festival with Somerville, the County Seat of Somerset.
We invite you to the Historic Borough of Flemington for Jazz this weekend and all year round to explore our three distinct business districts – Historic Main Street District, Stangl Arts & Cultural District, and Circle Shopping District.
Please join us year-round for award-winning farm-to-table restaurants, bakeries, coffee houses, and Saturday Farmer’s Market. Flemington is surrounded by over 1600 area farms and their positive influence is felt in every corner of our Borough. We have over 400 businesses in the borough including galleries, antiques, books, and boutique shops. As one travel writer summed it up: "Whether it is the buttery flavor of a great croissant or the toe-tapping thrill of live jazz, Flemington's flair for Americana will have you coming back for more." We invite you to take a ride on the scenic Black River & Western Railroad, pop into a “throw and go” at Flemington Pottery, or enjoy one of our yoga classes or personal care services – we have over 95 health and wellness businesses in the borough!
If you love history, plan to be wowed by our self-guided Historic Walking Tour featuring 30 stops in a short walk representing many unique examples from numerous architectural periods as 65% of our borough is on the National Register of Historic Places. Flemington Borough is one of New Jersey's most historic square miles! Visit the newly restored Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse on Main Street where the Lindbergh Trial took place for lectures, galleries, original jail, and local flavor.
Flemington celebrates the change of seasons and holidays with a grand weekend-long Halloween Celebration, A Turkey Trot that brings thousands and produces a grand Hunterdon County-wide Holiday Parade on our Main Street. We host a variety of weekly events in our 1 square mile borough and there is always something to do in Flemington Borough.
The Flemington Improvement District is dedicated to fostering a thriving business community for all to enjoy. To learn more about Flemington’s happenings, events, and businesses visit: loveflemington.com and follow us @loveflemington on Facebook & Instagram.
Thank you to our Sponsors
Welcome to the Central Jersey Jazz Festival in Somerville! We are delighted to have you join us for performances Sunday afternoon, featuring some of the
most acclaimed contemporary jazz artists in the world. This free outdoor event on Somerset County’s great lawn promises an unforgettable set of live jazz and community celebration in the heart of Somerset County.
Somerville’s vibrant downtown is known for its eclectic mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment, and we invite you to explore everything our town has to offer. Whether you’re savoring delicious cuisine at one of our many restaurants, discovering unique finds at our local boutiques, or simply enjoying the atmosphere, Somerville has something for everyone.
While you’re here, take a stroll along Division Street, a pedestrianonly plaza that serves as a hub for community events and activities throughout the year. From outdoor concerts and festivals to popup markets and seasonal celebrations, there’s always something happening in Downtown Somerville. Mark your calendars for upcoming events, including our Headless Horseman Storybook Walking Tour on October 12 and the annual Holiday Jubliee on December 6.
Somerville is a town with deep roots and a rich history, yet we continue to evolve as a thriving destination for arts, culture, and innovation. We are proud to be part of the Central Jersey Jazz Festival, a partnership that highlights the best of our region’s creative and collaborative spirit. The DSA is committed to supporting local businesses and enhancing the downtown experience for residents and visitors alike. We hope that tonight’s event will be just the beginning of many future visits to our beloved town.
Thank you for being part of the Central Jersey Jazz Festival, and we hope you enjoy the performances as much as we enjoy hosting them. Don’t forget to explore our charming downtown and share your experience @DowntownSomerville!
For more information on upcoming events and businesses in Somerville, visit DowntownSomerville.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @downtownsomerville.
Enjoy the show and welcome to Somerville!
Flemington
Saturday, Sepetember 14
The event is free to the public. Visitors to the Central Jersey Jazz Festival - Flemington may begin seating on Stangle Road starting at 5:00 pm. Performances will begin at 6:00 pm.
5:00 6:00 - 6:30
6:30 - 7:50
7:50 - 8:20
8:20 - 9:40
Seating Opens. Enjoy DJ Lawless
Welcome from Sheila Anderson
Maucha Adnet Performance
Intermission with DJ Lawless
Akiko Tsuruga Performance
CD Sales and signing of CDs by the musicians will follow the musician’s performance.
MAUCHA ADNET
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Maucha Adnet started singing professionally at age 15 as part of vocal group Céu da Boca, from 1978 to 1984. With Céu da Boca, Maucha toured around Brazil and recorded two albums released by Polygram.
From 1984 until 1994, Maucha performed all over the world with legendary composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and that’s how she ended up in New York, where she has been living since 1987.
AKIKO TSURUGA
She’s “Sweet and Funky,” she’s “Cute and Bad”. A Composer. A Performer extraordinaire. The legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith describes her this way: “Akiko’s playing is like watching a flower blooming, a bird spreading her wings in the music world. Akiko is here to stay.”
Raised in Osaka, Japan, this talented musician began studying the organ at the age of three, at the famed Yamaha Music School. After discovering her passion for jazz very early on in her musical journey, Akiko launched her career immediately after graduating from the Osaka College of Music. While living and playing in Osaka, she had many opportunities to perform with world-renowned jazz musicians from the United States. Meeting Grady Tate, in particular, was a life-changing event for Akiko.
Somerville Sunday, September 15
The event is free to the public. Visitors to the Central Jersey Jazz Festival - Somerville may begin seating on the Somerset County Courthouse Lawn and Main Street starting at 12:00 pm. Performances will begin at 1:00 pm.
12:00 1:00 - 1:20
Seating Opens. Enjoy Vendors & the Jazz Fest Sidewalk Cafe
Welcome from DSA Director, Olivia Manning, Mayor Brian Gallagher, RWJUH Somerset CAO Deirdre Blaus & Shiela Anderson, Emcee
1:20 - 2:40
3:00 - 4:10
4:30 - 5:40
Joe Locke Trio
Cynthia Scott
Alvester Garnett’s ArtWorks Ensemble
CD Sales and signing of CDs by the musicians will follow the musician’s performance.
JOE LOCKE TRIO
Joe Locke Trio with Pat Bianchi (organ), Byron Landham (drums)
Joe Locke is widely considered to be one of the major voices of his instrument. He has performed and recorded with a diverse range of notable musicians, including Grover Washington Jr, Raul Midón, Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Eddie Palmieri, Ron Carter, The Beastie Boys, the Münster Symphony Orchestra, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna and the Lincoln, Nebraska Symphony.
CYNTHIA SCOTT
Cynthia Scott with Jeb Patton (Piano), Paul Beaudry (Bass), Dwayne “Cook” Broadnax (Drums), Patience Higgins (saxophone)
Cynthia Scott, an Arkansas-born vocalist, has spent three decades mesmerizing audiences worldwide with her versatile vocal artistry spanning jazz, blues, and beyond. Growing up as the daughter of a minister, she developed a keen ear for a good sermon, a quality that deeply informs her emotive singing style.
ALVESTER GARNETT’S ARTWORKS ENSEMBLE
“Joy and spirited musical communication” are what characterize the artistry of Alvester Garnett’s drumming. Singers such as late great legends Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter, to instrumentalists Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, Regina Carter, and Cyrus Chestnut have all called on Mr. Garnett for the energy and fire that he brings to the bandstand.
His first formal studies in the performing arts came at the age of four with tap dance lessons and from age 5 to 9 with the study of piano. Throughout middle school and into high school his most prominent musical studies came through his participation in various chamber choirs, madrigals and a show choir. He figured out the basic coordination of playing the drums from watching a music video of the pop band “The Police”, in which the drummer Stewart Copeland played a simple beat. After this, his mother heeded his requests to study percussion. At age 14, Mr. Garnett began the formal study of percussion.
Understanding
Richard
Marcus
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