(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- The producers of the Jersey City Jazz Festival are back with the highly anticipated return of PierFest, a Friday night Latin Jazz series at the J.Owen Grundy Pier at Exchange Place in Jersey City. Riverview Jazz and Exchange Place Alliance have once again partnered to produce this free-to-the-public weekly event featuring world-class music acts, food trucks, and cold beer with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. Each event will begin at 6:00pm and feature two bands. Performances run from September 13 through October 4.
“We were very excited to partner again on this great series. PierFest is an opportunity to feature some really incredible music that will get people up and dancing,” says Riverview Jazz Executive Director Bryan Beninghove. “You have an unparalleled location, bands that I only wish I could have heard live growing up, and it’s free! The event is family friendly and I really can’t think of a better way to spend your Friday night.”
PierFest begins Friday, September 13 with the legendary drummer, multi-Grammy nominated artist, and host of WBGO’s Latin Jazz Cruise show, Bobby Sanabria. He will bring his powerhouse ensemble Sexteto Ibiano. Opening that night is Telavana, a hybrid group that combines the sounds of Salsa, the Middle East, and the Carribean.
On September 20, the Grammy-nominated flautist Itai Kriss leads the Cubana Special for a night of dancing, with Cuban drumming virtuoso Enildo Rasau “The Third Hand” opening. Friday, September 27 will spotlight the Brooklyn-based Boogaloo outfit Spanglish Fly at 7:30, with world-renowned flautist and Jersey City resident Andrea Brachfeld and Phoenix Rising performing at 6pm. The finale on October 4 will feature Yellow House Orchestra, a potent ensemble that fuses pop and rock with Salsa and Latin jazz. Pianist Victor Santos y Ocho con Clave will get the party started.
Admission is free and the events are rain or shine. In case of rain, the event will take place at the Harborside Atrium (210 Hudson St.) courtesy of Mack-Cali. Public transportation is available via the PATH, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, NY Waterway ferries, and NJ Transit bus. For more information go to www.RiverviewJazz.Org and www.ExchangePlaceAlliance.com.
PierFest is sponsored by Exchange Place Alliance, a not-for-profit Special Improvement District. PierFest is also made possible in part by Mayor Steven M. Fulop, the Jersey City Municipal Council, and the Office of Cultural Affairs. RiverviewJazz.Org is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
September 13: Bobby Sanabria and Sexteto Ibiano 7:30pm; Telavana 6:00pm
September 20: Itai Kriss and the Cubana Special 7:30pm; Enildo Rasua “The Third Hand” 6:00pm
September 27: Spanglish Fly 7:30pm; Andrea Brachfeld and Phoenix Rising 6:00pm
October 4: Yellow House Orchestra 7:30pm; Victor Santos y Ocho con Clave 6:00pm
