The festival also includes a morning jazz session for children on Wednesday, July 29 and a special noon-time concert at the Newark Museum in Newark on Friday, July 31.
All events are free and open to the public.
William Paterson has been on the forefront of jazz education for more than 20 years through its internationally known Jazz Studies Program, and its nationally acclaimed Jazz Room Series, which presents the entire spectrum of jazz music through concerts each fall and spring. The festival opens on Monday, July 27 with drummer John Riley and Friends. Riley, who performs regularly with the Vanguard Orchestra and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, is joined by pianist Jim McNeely, bassist Todd Coolman and saxophonist David Demsey. On Tuesday, July 28, pianist Pete Malinverni presents a dazzling program of traditional jazz compositions assisted by his veteran New York Trio and the captivating voice of Jody Sandhaus. Vivian Lord, pianist, singer and educator, brings her band to the Shea stage on Wednesday, July 29 for a morning workshop designed to introduce elementary school children to the world of jazz.