Festival Overview

 THE ANNUAL
MORRISTOWN JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 14, 2024

The Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival on the Green on Saturday, September 14, 2024, is history and was a huge success. The free music began at noon and ran until about 9:30 and the crowd enjoyed every minute!

Thanks to Mayor Tim Dougherty and the many generous sponsors (see list), music fans of all ages enjoyed great music under gorgeous September weather.

Festival producer Don Jay Smith was recovering from a broken hip so spent the day running things from the side, but was there the entire time and was ecstatic with the Festival. “Today was overall a huge success and we had a large crowd for the entire time.”

As always, there were no vendors allowed so attendees brought picnics or patronized local establishments which were busy for the entire day! With the Hot Sardines opening at noon through Blues Star Joanne Shaw Taylor closing that night, everyone was treated to an exceptional day of music!

Artist Lineup

The Hot Sardines
12:00 – 1:30

Since forming in 2007 by singer Elizabeth Bougerol and pianist Evan Palazzo, The Hot Sardines have performed their light-hearted style of hot jazz, promoting the early jazz pioneers. Their music is influenced by Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Jelly Roll Morton and many others but they draw on an eclectic variety of sources which led Forbes magazine to praise then as “one of the best jazz bands in New York City today.” (Photo courtesy of Aiden Grant)

U.S. Navy Jazz Band The Commodores
2:00 – 3:30

Jazz is America’s music and the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, the Navy’s premier jazz ensemble, have been performing the very best big band jazz across the United States for more than 50 years! Formed in 1969, this 18-member group is comprised of some of the top musicians in the world. While this is their first appearance at the Festival, we are excited to have them. (Photo courtesy of Anastasia Bonotto)

LaBamba’s Rock ‘n R&B Big Band
4:00 – 5:30

LaBamba’s Rock’n R&B Big Band is a thunderous gathering of 18 instrumentalists with vocals and exciting soloists. LaBamba, who performed at the Festival several years ago, is a trombone playing Asbury Park legend that hails from Philly, known for his work with Southside Johnny, Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven, Bon Jovi and Diana Ross to name a few. His passion for orchestration is blended with a love to vocally entertain. Joining the band are his bandmate of 40 + years Mark “ The LuVman” Pender on trumpet, Mike Merritt on bass, and James “ the Worm” Wormworth on drums. The four celebrated 25 years together on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. As an added treat, harmonica/vocalist Rob Paparozzi will be a special guest. (Photo courtesy of John Cavanaugh)

Louis Prima Jr. & The Witnesses                      6:00 – 7:30

What can we say about this band except that they are sensational and a Festival favorite! Thanks to the Gia Maione Prima Foundation and the law firm of Sherman Atlas, they return to Morristown with their own exciting sound, paying tribute to Louis Prima Junior’s incomparable father who penned some of the world’s best known hits including “Sing Sing Sing,” “Jump Jive an’ Wail,” and “Just A Gigolo.” (Photo courtesy of Jeff Sovelove)

Joanne Shaw Taylor
8:00 – 9:30

Joanne Shaw Taylor has emerged as one of the top singer/guitarists in blues today. Discovered at the age of 16 by Dave Stewart of the Eurthymics, she has won accolades from some giants of the music world including Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox. Her seventh album, The Blues Album, released in 2021 on KTBA Records debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart which she followed with a live DVD which also was No. 1 on the charts! She has become one of the most influential forces in the blues-rock world. (Photo courtesy of Christine Goodman)

PLEASE NOTE:
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ARTIST OR VENDOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE FESTIVAL.
There will be no vendor allowed except for the few who already have a license.

In Memory of Linda Kiger Smith
Linda Kiger Smith died at home in Tewksbury in 2021 after a long battle with Metastatic Breast Cancer. She and her husband Don Jay Smith were residents of Morristown’s Historic District for many years before downsizing and moving to Hunterdon County. In addition to the two of them being co-founders of MPAC, known to long-time residents as The Community Theatre, they joined with Mayor Tim Dougherty in 2011 to start the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. Every year they produced what has become one of the most popular summer music festivals in the area with Linda being responsible for selecting and contracting the artists. Just like last year’s Festival, This year includes some of the talented artists she has worked with over the years. She is survived by her spouse, partner and best friend of 41 years and three children Rebecca, Allison and Charles.

In Memory of Michael Fabrizio
Michael Fabrizio passed away suddenly on June 2021. He became Executive Director for the Morristown Partnership in the mid-nineties and it was in 2011 that he worked with Linda and Don Jay Smith to create the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival with Mayor Tim Dougherty. The Morristown Partnership serves as the fiscal agent for the festival. When he left the Partnership to assume the role of ED for the Morristown Parking Authority, he continued to serve on the festival board. Michael is survived by Lisa his wife of 28 years and his three children Gabriella, Zachary and Matthew.