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12th Annual Jersey City Jazz Festival - May 30-31

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 05/05/2025

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Exchange Place Alliance presents the 12th Annual Jersey City Jazz Festival May 30-31, 2025. A two-day celebration of music takes place on the Hudson River waterfront and features three stages, a community zone, food trucks, bars, a VIP experience, and even a parade.

Events will take place throughout Jersey City leading up to the event (Tuesday, May 27 - Thursday, May 29). Come see why thousands of attendees (and many musicians) call this their favorite event of the year!

Tuesday, May 27th - Champian Fulton will perform at The Junto: Attic Bar from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.  John Hébert will perform with Brandon Seabrook and Ches Smith at Pet Shop from 8:00pm to 11:00pm.

Wednesday, May 28th - Groove on Grove will take place from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Lezlie Harrison will perform at The Junto: Attic Bar from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Go Bailers will perform at The Archer from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Tim Berne will perform with Gregg Belisle-Chi, Tim Angulo and John Hébert at Pet Shop from 8:00pm to 11:00pm.

Thursday, May 29th - James Austin Jr. will perform Songs in the Key of Wonder at Brennan Court House (Danny Raycraft will open) from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Milkman & Sons will perform at The Archer from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Kali Rodriquez Peña will perform at The Statuary from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Riverview Jazz All-Stars will perform at The Rooftop on Pacific (902 Brewery) from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.




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2025 Jersey City Jazz Festival

Friday, May 30th - RWJBarnabas Health Plaza Stage
6:00pm - Winard Harper and Jeli Posse
7:00pm - DJ Set by Niko & Bad Habits
8:00pm - The Rumble featuring Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux, Jr.

9:00pm - Official JCJF Jam Session featuring Charlie Sigler on the Terrace at Hyatt House


Saturday, May 31st - The Clubhouse by Ford's Gin
1:00pm - WBGO Next Gen Collective featuring: Kevin Oliver Jr., Rodrigo Romero, Caili O’Doherty, Solomon Gottfried, Gary Jones III, and special guest vocalist: Larissa Jones
3:00pm - Artemis featuring Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen,
Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda & Allison Miller
5:00pm - Hébert-Hersch-Wallace-Drummond Bridge & Tunnel
7:00pm - Tyreek McDole


Saturday, May 31st - RWJBarnabas Health Plaza Stage
Noon - Riverview Jazz All-Stars
2:00 - Sam Barsh
3:00pm - Honk Family Band (parading to the Pier Stage) 
4:00 - Sounds of April & Randall
6:00 - Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra featuring Catherine Russell
8:00pm - Astoria Salsa Company


Exchange Place Alliance Pier Stage
1:30pm - United Children's Music Project Latin Ensemble
3:45pm - New Jersey City University Jazz Ensemble
4:30pm - Swing Dance Lesson
5:00pm - Robert Edwards Big Band
7:00pm - Salsa/Mambo Dance Lesson with Salsa Fever On2


Jersey City Free Public Library Community Zone
Events, arts and crafts for children and families




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Hyatt House After Party
9:00pm-1:00am - Official After Party on the Terrace


POST-FESTIVAL - SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2025 
Closing Party at Moore's Lounge
Featuring Winard Harper and special guests
Starting at 7:00pm at 189 Monticello Avenue, Jersey City

Riverview Jazz began in 2013 as a community concert at the Riverview Farmers Market in Jersey City Heights. In a few short years, Riverview Jazz was producing up to 100 events a year free-to-the-public. In 2019, the Riverview Jazz Festival rebranded as the Jersey City Jazz Festival and drew a crowd of 30,000 attendees, making it one of the largest jazz festivals in the NYC-tristate area.

In addition to the Jersey City Jazz Festival and the Jersey City Latin Jazz Festival, Riverview Jazz produces or partners on events year-round throughout Hudson County. The vast majority of these are free to the community and feature some of the best musical talent in the area.


EVENT PREVIEWS

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels on October 30, 2026 at 8:00pm (doors at 7:00pm). The concert will take place at the First Congregational Church (40 South Fullerton Avenue) in Montclair.

CarteretPAC presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips in Benefit Concert for Toni's Kitchen on November 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
 

FEATURED EVENTS



Bernard Purdie With The Keyes-Bergson Hooks Band

Saturday, October 24, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


Magical Mystery Doors

Saturday, October 24, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ


Catholic Charities 9th Annual Benefit Concert For the Homeless with That Motown Band

Saturday, October 24, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ


America250-Harmony Across Cultures New Jersey Youth Symphony & Special Guests

Sunday, October 25, 2026 @ 3:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ


America 250-Harmony Across Cultures Plainfield Symphony Orchestra Joined by NJYS Youth Orchestra

Sunday, October 25, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ