Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 08/02/2025
(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ) -- The Middlesex County Jazz Festival will, for the third year in a row, present four free Jazz concerts in four Middlesex County towns, September 24-28, 2025. The producing organizations include the Borough of Carteret; the Metuchen Arts Council along with the Friends of Metuchen Arts; the New Brunswick Jazz Project; and Woodbridge Arts. This year’s offerings spotlight women in jazz as well as several of the towns excellent high school music programs. An important mission of MCJF is to promote music education.
Woodbridge Arts will open the MCJF Festival on Wednesday, September 24 at Parker Press Park starting at 7:00pm. 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 20th century jazz.
Moving to Friday, 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, Ms. 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 Saturday, 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 5:30pm with a collaborative performance featuring the Metuchen High School Jazz Combo and the Metuchen Dance Center followed by the Metuchen High School Jazz Collective and Orchestra directed by John Messenger. At 7:00pm 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 Sunday, September 29, 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 1:00pm 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.
All Middlesex County Jazz Festival concerts are free and accessible. For concert details and up-to-date weather and performance related announcements visit www.middlesexcountyjazzfestival.com.
Grant funding for the Festival has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
FULL CONCERT SCHEDULE
Woodbridge – Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at Parker Press Park, 400 Rahway Avenue in downtown Woodbridge
7:00pm – Woodbridge High School Jaz Choir
7:30pm – Brass Queens
8:30pm – Elizabeth Bougerol (of The Hot Sardines)
Carteret – Friday, September 26, 2025 at the Carteret Performing Arts Center, 46 Washington Street, Carteret
7:00pm – Lezlie Harrison
Metuchen – Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Metuchen High School, 400 Grove Avenue, Metuchen
5:30pm – Metuchen Dance Center + Metuchen High School Jazz Combo
6:00pm – Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra
7:00pm – AAPI Jazz Collective with Peter Lin
8:15pm – Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra
New Brunswick – Sunday, September 28, 2025 at Livingston Avenue in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center
1:00pm – 1:45pm – Mike Noordzy & the Rutgers Alumni Jazz Orchestra
2:15pm – 3:30pm – Antoinette Montague
4:00pm – 5:30pm – Conrad Herwig Latin Side All Stars
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