Free Jazz & Roots Music Festival Happens This Weekend

As I’ve mentioned in past posts, my love for Jazz started at Temple University when I began my radio career. Not only was I learning about radio and broadcasting, but I was also learning a lot about America’s only true art form, Jazz. I learned about it and I learned to truly love it just as much as my love for just about every other genre. That’s one of the reasons I appreciate Kean University’s Jazz & Roots Music Festival, and I'm glad to share that it’s returning to the University’s East Campus in Hillside this Saturday, September 21 at 3:30 pm. They're offering the public and Kean community a festive free, outdoor celebration of music. It will be headlined by reggae band Third World, (My brother and I had their record “Try Jah Love” back in the day.) The Jazz & Roots Music Festival will feature leading musicians in jazz, blues, reggae, fusion, and more in an evening of entertainment on The Lawn at Enlow Hall. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own food or enjoy the food trucks. Kean President Lamont O. Repollet shared, “The Jazz & Roots Music Festival is easily one of the most anticipated events on the Kean calendar, we take great pride in hosting the festival as part of the University’s role as a cultural hub and anchor institution for the region. We encourage everyone to come join us on our beautiful campus.” The festival is produced by Kean along with musician and producer Mike Griot who pointed out that the number of attendees has grown dramatically since the Jazz & Roots Music Festival began in 2021 with close to three thousand people attending. Mike added “With a marquee musical headliner like Third World and other terrific performers, the Jazz & Roots Music Festival has arrived. It will be a dynamic and fun festival experience, and I am honored to partner with Kean University in this extraordinary collaboration.” The Kean University Jazz & Roots Music Festival on The Lawn at Enlow Hall, on North Avenue in Hillside is ADA accessible and will open at 2:30 p.m. No tickets are required; the rain date is this Sunday, September 22. All guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Parking will be at Kean’s Main Campus at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union which is a short walk from the concert site. A shuttle bus service will also be available. Accessible parking will be available at the venue in Hillside for senior citizens and guests with disability parking privileges.  The Jazz & Roots Music Festival Lineup Third World – Celebrating 50 years as ambassadors of reggae, Third World is one of Jamaica's most consistently popular crossover acts. The nine-time Grammy-nominated band performs its signature genre of reggae fusion – mixing elements of R&B, funk, pop, rock, and rap – for audiences across the world. Stefon Harris & Blackout – The Los Angeles Times heralded Harris as “one of the most important young artists in jazz.” A vibraphonist-composer, Harris is developing what is expected to be a long and extraordinary career. Solomon Hicks – The 29-year-old guitar phenom from Harlem is a renowned guitarist, blues and jazz singer, songwriter, and composer who has performed in venues across the globe. Hicks took his first guitar lesson at age 6 and has been recording since he was 14. Prince Hakim – Influenced by music from the 80s to today, Hakim has traveled from New York to Tokyo sharing his passion and spreading his message to “celebrate life.” The son of Robert “Kool” Bell from Kool & The Gang, he has DJ’d at locations ranging from the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival to Carnegie Hall. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giPNLzPuaHw For more information on directions, parking, food vendors, and more, visit  kean.edu/jazz-roots.