Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival

The Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival returns to the Morristown Green on Saturday with a fantastic lineup. The music starts at noon and runs until 10:00 PM and it is absolutely free.

Thanks to Mayor Tim Dougherty and the Town of Morristown, music fans of all ages will enjoy great music on The Morristown Green.

Artist Lineup

12:00 - 1:30: The Hot Sardines

Since forming in 2007 by singer Elizabeth Bougerol and pianist Evan Palazzo, The Hot Sardines have performed their light-hearted style of hot jazz, promoting the early jazz pioneers. Their music is influenced by Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Jelly Roll Morton and many others but they draw on an eclectic variety of sources which led Forbes magazine to praise then as “one of the best jazz bands in New York City today.” (Photo courtesy of Aiden Grant)

2:00 - 3:30: U.S. Navy Jazz Band The Commodores

Jazz is America’s music and the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, the Navy’s premier jazz ensemble, have been performing the very best big band jazz across the United States for more than 50 years! Formed in 1969, this 18-member group is comprised of some of the top musicians in the world. While this is their first appearance at the Festival, we are excited to have them. (Photo courtesy of Anastasia Bonotto)

4:00 - 5:30: LaBamba’s Rock ‘n R&B Big Band

LaBamba’s Rock’n R&B Big Band is a thunderous gathering of 18 instrumentalists with vocals and exciting soloists. LaBamba, who performed at the Festival several years ago, is a trombone playing Asbury Park legend that hails from Philly, known for his work with Southside Johnny, Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven, Bon Jovi and Diana Ross to name a few. His passion for orchestration is blended with a love to vocally entertain. Joining the band are his bandmate of 40 + years Mark “ The LuVman” Pender on trumpet, Mike Merritt on bass, and James “ the Worm” Wormworth on drums. The four celebrated 25 years together on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. As an added treat, harmonica/vocalist Rob Paparozzi will be a special guest. (Photo courtesy of John Cavanaugh)

6:00 - 7:30: Louis Prima Jr. & The Witnesses

What can we say about this band except that they are sensational and a Festival favorite! Thanks to the Gia Maione Prima Foundation and the law firm of Sherman Atlas, they return to Morristown with their own exciting sound, paying tribute to Louis Prima Junior’s incomparable father who penned some of the world’s best known hits including “Sing Sing Sing,” “Jump Jive an’ Wail,” and “Just A Gigolo.” (Photo courtesy of Jeff Sovelove)

8:00 - 9:30: Joanne Shaw Taylor

Joanne Shaw Taylor has emerged as one of the top singer/guitarists in blues today. Discovered at the age of 16 by Dave Stewart of the Eurthymics, she has won accolades from some giants of the music world including Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox. Her seventh album, The Blues Album, released in 2021 on KTBA Records debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart which she followed with a live DVD which also was No. 1 on the charts! She has become one of the most influential forces in the blues-rock world. (Photo courtesy of Christine Goodman)