Annual Jazz & Blues Festival Comes to Morristown

Mayor Dim Dougherty is inviting the entire community for a fun, musical event this Saturday. The Third Annual Morristown Mayor’s Jazz & Blues Festival will kick off at noon and continue uninterrupted until 10 p.m.

The event is free and all acts will be on a stage located on the west side of the Morristown Green. The festival features jazz and blues artists in a family-friendly setting. Thousands of people attended last year, according to the town. Remember to bring your chairs and blankets.

Schedule of Performers

• 12:00 – 1:45 Jazz Lobsters Big Band: The Jazz Lobsters Big Band will open the festival with a hard swinging ensemble playing the music of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Quincy Jones and more. This hot big band plays everything from 40s Swing to hot Latin salsa. 
• 2:00 – 3:45 Guitar Summit: Led by the legendary Bucky Pizzarelli, this guitar trio features Frank Vignola and Ed Laub. An original member of the Tonight Show Band, Bucky has played with a long list of greats including Les Paul, Benny Goodman, Stephane Grappelli, and even Paul McCartney. Frank Vignola’s stunning virtuosity has made him guitarist of choice for some of the biggest artists in the world including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis and Les Paul. Ed Laub has been Bucky’s guitar partner for many years.
• 4:00 – 5:45 Rob Paparozzi & the Hudson River Rats: Grammy-nominated singer and harmonica virtuoso Rob Paparozzi will provide a smooth transition from an afternoon of jazz to an evening of blues. For years, Rob was the front man for the legendary Blood, Sweat and Tears and returns with his all-star band the Hudson River Rats. He was a member of the original Blues Brothers Band and has recorded with BB King, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Cropper and Phoebe Snow among many top artists.
• 6:00 – 7:45 Quinn Sullivan Band: Fourteen-year-old Quinn Sullivan drew two standing ovations at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in April and has been receiving rave reviews on tour with his mentor Buddy Guy. He has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen, Oprah and the Today Show and is the youngest artist to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival.  His debut album will be released in mid-June.
• 8:00 – 10:00 Johnny A: Critics place Johnny A in the same category as Wes Montgomery, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix and this virtuoso musician is everyone’s favorite. A guitarist’s guitar player, Johnny A’s distinctive sound moved the folks at Gibson Guitars to produce a Johnny A signature model and got Eric Clapton to include him in the prestigious Crossroads festival.

For more information on the performers go here and for a look at the sponsors, go here.