Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2024: A Celebration of Music, Community, and Culture

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s 18th annual event, held on August 17, 2024, at Salem Willows, was a resounding success that once again brought together music lovers, families, and community members for a day of exceptional performances, education, and community spirit.

A Day of Unforgettable Performances

The festival kicked off with the talented Salem High School Jazz Band, showcasing the bright future of jazz in our community. Their performance set the tone for a day filled with diverse and captivating music.

Barrence Whitfield and Four Piece Suit electrified the crowd with their high-energy fusion of soul and eclectic instrumentals. At the same time, The Jambalaya Horns Orchestra transported attendees to the streets of New Orleans with their vibrant brass sound.

Yahuba Garcia’s Boogaloo Collective celebrated the merger of Salsa and R&B, getting everyone on their feet. Sonya Rae Taylor closed out the night with her unique blend of blues, jazz, funk, and soul, leaving the audience in awe.

DJ Skot Void kept the energy high between sets with his carefully curated mix of northern soul, rare funk, and deep disco vinyl.

Education and Community Engagement

The festival’s commitment to music education was evident in the interactive education tent, where attendees of all ages could learn about various instruments, music theory, and the rich history of jazz and soul music. The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival organizers were thrilled to see so many young faces light up with excitement as they discovered the joy of making music.

A Testament to Community Support

This free event would not have been possible without our sponsors’ generous support and our volunteers’ dedication. The beer garden, featuring Back Beat Brewing, was a popular spot for attendees to relax and enjoy refreshments while listening to the music.

Festival director Larry Claflin Jr. expressed his gratitude: “We are overwhelmed by the support from our community, sponsors, and volunteers. Their dedication to keeping this festival free and accessible to all is what makes Salem Jazz and Soul Festival a true community event.”

Looking Ahead

As the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival continues to grow and evolve, the organizers remain committed to their mission of celebrating Salem’s rich musical heritage, supporting music education, and bringing the community together through the universal language of music.

The success of this year’s event has already sparked excitement for next year’s festival. While the date for the 2025 event has yet to be announced, music lovers can rest assured that the tradition of free, high-quality music in Salem will continue.

Thank You to Our Community

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival organizers would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, or sponsored this year’s event. Your support and enthusiasm are what make this festival a cornerstone of Salem’s cultural calendar.

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for updates on future events and ways to get involved. Together, we’ll keep the music playing in Salem for years to come.

Photos by Creative Collective

THE SALEM JAZZ AND SOUL FESTIVAL RETURNS TO SALEM WILLOWS FOR ITS 18TH SEASON ON AUGUST 17, 2024

FREE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES SALEM’S RICH HISTORIC CONNECTION TO JAZZ AND SOUL MUSIC AND BENEFITS LOCAL MUSIC EDUCATION

You may know Salem for being spooky in October, but it’s groovy and soulful in summer, Daddio!  Don’t miss the return of the nonprofit Salem Jazz and Soul Festival for their 18th season event on August 17, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Salem Willows Park at 165 Fort Avenue in Salem, Mass.  

Plan for a beautiful oceanfront day at the Willows Bandshell. Get down to a showcase of fantastic bands providing soulful melodies and jazz rhythms, enjoy music education clinics for the community, craft booths, artisan vendors, merchandise tents, and a refreshing beer garden, and enjoy great music for a greater cause! All funds raised go towards supporting music education initiatives throughout Boston’s North Shore. Great music for a greater cause! 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

11 a.m. – Noon – Salem High School Jazz Band

Kicking off our day is the talented Salem High School Jazz Band. These young musicians have earned outstanding ratings at national festivals and even performed at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans! Led by the accomplished Cyndi Napierkowski, this ensemble represents the bright future of jazz and the excellence of Salem’s music education.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Barrence Whitfield and Four Piece Suit 

Get ready for a high-energy performance as Barrence Whitfield joins forces with Four Piece Suit. Whitfield, known for his incredible vocals and boundless energy, brings the spirit of classic soul screamers to the stage. Four Piece Suit, with their eclectic instrumental style, provides the perfect backdrop for Whitfield’s powerful delivery. Expect a set that will get you up and moving!

2 p.m.  – 3 p.m. – The Jambalaya Horns Orchestra

Transport yourself to the streets of New Orleans with The Jambalaya Horns Orchestra. This 14-piece ensemble, led by Carlos Menezes Jr., delivers a vibrant mix of funk, soul, and brassy second-line rhythms. With a rotating cast of the North Shore’s top horn players, they’ll bring the Big Easy right to Salem Willows.

3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Yahuba Garcia’s Boogaloo Collective

Yahuba Garcia-Torres brings us the Boogaloo Collective, a project celebrating the merger of Salsa and R&B from 1960s-70s New York City. With an all-star lineup of New England musicians, including special guests, this performance promises to be a journey through a pivotal era of music history. Get ready to dance to the infectious rhythms of boogaloo!

5:30 p.m.  – 7 p.m.: Sonya Rae Taylor

Closing out our festival is the dynamic Sonya Rae Taylor. Known for her soaring vocals and masterful guitar work, Taylor, along with her husband Ryan Taylor and a stellar band, delivers a sound that’s deeply rooted in blues, jazz, funk, and soul, yet uniquely modern. With catchy hooks and captivating songcraft, Sonya Rae Taylor is the perfect act to cap off an incredible day of music.

Between All Live Music Sets – DJ Skot Void 

DJ Skot Void has been in and around Salem and the North Shore for the past 15 years. A record collector and DJ first, Skot plans on spinning a set of northern soul, rare funk, and deep disco jukebox 45s from his expansive vinyl collection. 

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The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is recreating and renewing the vibrant jazz scene that began at the Salem Willows in the early 20th century, when the leaders of the Big Band era played at the seaside park’s ballroom.. The festival builds on this rich jazz history — adding soul, blues, and funk to the mix — by offering a series of annual free concerts to the public, concluding with our annual main festival.

It’s an opportunity to bring our community together over a shared love of jazz and soul entertainment and appreciation of art and education at a historic place where you can still hear echoes of Duke Ellington resonating from his first stint here almost 100 years ago,” said Festival president Larry Claflin Jr.  “We aim to amplify those good vibes with the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival and with our giving initiatives in the community, as well as a lot more evenings of entertainment throughout the year.”

The Salem Willows of the 1920’s featured the Charleshurst Ballroom at the location that now houses the Willows Casino.  Due in part to the convenience of its location on the east coast circuit’s coastline pathway, the nightspot attracted big bands from around the country.  Owner Charlie Shribman facilitated appearances of many of the greats in the Salem area: Count Basie, Guy Lombardo, Glen Miller, and perhaps most notably Duke Ellington for a run of shows in the summer of 1927, shortly after Bostonians Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney joined Ellington’s line up on alto and baritone sax, respectively.  Reviews of the day confirmed that Ellington’s appearances “…set New England ‘dance crazy’,” and the Jazz And Soul Festival is here to keep it that way!

ABOUT SALEM JAZZ AND SOUL FESTIVAL

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival began in the early aught when a group of imaginative residents of Salem – a city teeming with gifted musicians – proposed starting a music festival celebrating the rich history of jazz and soul music in the area.  Set with a goal to bring the diverse community together with a plan to use the festival as an engine for music education, the group grew into a team, adding musicians, actors, writers, promoters, and businesspeople from the North Shore until the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival was fully formed with a dedicated board of directors. The festival’s inaugural fundraiser, a sold-out event, occurred on April 21, 2007.

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival draws thousands of visitors yearly to enjoy a free day-long concert at the Salem Willows and several concerts and events.  So far, the festival board has hosted over 100 free concerts and raised over $70,000  to support music education efforts throughout the North Shore. 

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces free concerts and supports music-education causes on Massachusetts’ North Shore.  The festival is passionately dedicated to enriching the North Shore’s cultural landscape. It orchestrates a spectacular array of free concerts that showcase a vibrant mix of jazz and soul music and other genres. Moreover, the organization actively fundraises to provide vital financial support to music education initiatives throughout the North Shore region, fostering the next generation of musical talent.

Salem Jazz And Soul Festival Website

Facebook Festival Page   

Facebook Event Page  

Instagram Page   

GIVING INITIATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

  • Made grants to area group homes and after-school music programs
  • Initiated music education program at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem
  • Donated money and new equipment to North Shore high school jazz bands
  • Produced more than 100 free concerts
  • Developed an intern program in which local students can learn audio production
  • Running an annual music-related art contest for children in elementary school
  • Funded an 8-week interactive workshop for children in the neurodivergent spectrum
  • Disbursed scholarships for students to attend regional music camps
  • Created a monthly music series for grade-schoolers at Salem Public Library and homeless families at a North Shore hotel
  • Won Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Gold Star Award in 2013

2024 FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Eighth-annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival set for weekend of Aug.16-17

The 2014 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will take place the weekend of Aug. 16-17 at the Salem Willows. The two day concert will feature performances by 10 bands from around New England and New York.

The free festival will also include a music-education tent, a family tent, a 21-plus beer pavilion and more than 30 local artisans selling hand-crafted goods. It will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.

The Salem High School Jazz band will open Saturday’s concert, followed by Pocket Money Orchestra, Amadee Castenell, and Moon Hooch. Delta Generators will headline Saturday.

Sunday will open with the North Shore Jazz Project All-Stars, followed by Cape Ann Big Band, Liquid Revolution, and the Frotations. Alissia Benveniste and the Funketeers, a 15-person funk band made up of Berklee College of Music students, will headline Sunday.

DJ Radio Scotvoid will spin between sets and Aurelia Nelson of North Shore 104.9 will emcee along with festival co-founder, Henley Douglas Jr.

Salem Trolley will offer an inexpensive shuttle to the festival, which will stop regularly at the National Parks Service Visitors Center on Essex Street, the Salem Ferry Landing on Blaney Street and the Bentley School, 25 Memorial Drive, where there will be additional parking.

Also, Mahi Mahi Cruises and Charters will ferry audience members from Pickering Wharf to the Willows all day, for a reasonable fee.

The festival encourages audience members to walk, ride bicycles or take the trolley to the Salem Willows, as parking will be limited.

The festival is a a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to producing free concerts and supporting music-education causes on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Band bios can be found at www.salemjazzsoul.org and photos are available upon request.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore.

Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information.

Contact: Judy Parisella
Phone: ***-***-7444
Email: jparisella@salemjazzsoul.com

Sarah McKenzie performing at SJSF/Berklee Summer Series on Aug. 9

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Parisella
Phone: 978-491-7444
Email: jparisella@salemjazzsoul.com

Sarah McKenzieLeading up to the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s main event, Aug. 16-17, Sarah McKenzie, an Australian student attending Berklee College of Music, will play the final SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2014 in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, Aug. 9.

The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience.

Be Driven will sponsor the performance.

McKenzie is a pianist, vocalist, and composer who attends Berklee on a full scholarship. Her second album, “Close Your Eyes,” won the ARIA award for Best Jazz Album 2012.

McKenzie was mentored by legends like Graeme Lyall, Jamie Oehlers, James Morrison, and, most recently, JoAnne Brackeen, the first and only female member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. In 2010, she won the James Morrison Scholarship (Vocal) and was the only finalist to be nominated in both vocal and instrumental sections. McKenzie also sang backing vocals for Michael Bublé on the multiplatinum artist’s Call Me Irresponsible tour and was the opening act for five-time Grammy nominee Chris Botti in 2011.

The eighth-annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will follow during the weekend of Aug. 16-17, featuring 10 bands, a family tent, music-education tent, artisan fair and 21-plus beer pavilion. The two-day concert is free.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore.

Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos provided upon request.

The Frotations will perform at SJSF/Berklee Summer Series on July 12 in Derby Square

The Frotations
The Frotations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Frotations, a band made up of students from the Berklee College of Music, will play the third SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2014 in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, July 12.

The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience.

Creative Salem and Social Palates will sponsor the performance.

Forged in 2011 by singer-songwriter Chris Kazarian and bass player Pedro Ribiero (Pedro Zappa), the Frotations were originally called K.A.Z. — A musical experiment centered around the up-and-coming singer songwriter aimed at bringing all of the world’s people together under one sound. Today the Frotations are a concrete blend of Neo-Soul and Rock ’n’ Roll with a little drop of Hip-Hop.  Check out this video from The Frotations.

One more SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concerts will take place this year: Sarah McKenzie on Aug. 9.

The eighth-annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will follow during the weekend of Aug. 16-17, featuring 10 bands, a kids’ tent, music-education tent, artisan fair and 21-plus beer pavilion. The two-day concert is free.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore.

Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos provided upon request.

Contact: Judy Parisella
Phone: ***-***-7444
Email: jparisella@salemjazzsoul.com

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival kicks off monthly concert series with Latimbop

5/1/14 The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will begin its 2014 SJSF/Berklee Summer Series in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, May 10, with a concert featuring Latimbop, a band made up of current Berklee College of Music students and recent graduates

The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience.

The Lobster Shanty restaurant will sponsor the performance.

LatimbopLatimbop is an explosive contemporary Cuban dance group led by talented young Cuban pianist, Issac Delgado Jr., (son of famous Cuban musician Issac Delgado) and Colombian bassist Esther Rojas. Latimbop is made up of Berklee students with lots of experience in various genres of Latin American and Cuban music. Its roots come from timba mixed with jazz, funk, and Latin music.

Three more SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concerts will take place this year: Bobby Wesley on June 14; The Frotations on July 12; and Sarah McKenzie on Aug. 9.

The eighth-annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will follow during the weekend of Aug. 16-17, featuring 10 bands, a kids’ tent, music-education tent, artisan fair and 21-plus beer pavilion. The two-day concert is free.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore.

Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos provided upon request…

Press Release: Funky, Latin dance party planned for Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s Spring Fundraiser at refurbished Ames Hall

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will throw a dance party in April featuring the band Combo Sabroso, a Latin band with reggae influences out of Boston. All proceeds will benefit the festival, a volunteer-run nonprofit celebrating its eighth season.

The fundraiser will take place at the recently refurbished Ames Hall — in the Salem YMCA — on Saturday, April 26 from 8 to 10:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.). It’s sponsored by Howling Wolf Taqueria, Ruby Wines and Salem Cycle.

The night will feature auctions and raffles featuring items donated by generous North Shore businesses and Combo Sabrosoartists.

Tickets (available at salemjazzsoul.org, and Pamplemousse, In a Pig’s Eye, both in Salem) are $25 and proceeds will fund the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s non-profit mission of producing free concerts and supporting music education causes on the North Shore. This is SJSF’s only ticketed show of the year.

About Combo Sabroso: Combo Sabroso (tasty combo) presents soul cleansing Latin dance music and reggae. Lead by pianist Matt Jenson, the group is committed to the hard hitting “salsa dura” sound of the 1970s, playing hits from the likes of Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Oscar D’leon and Sonora Poncena. The band also does salsa arrangements of American R&B hits from the likes of Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Santana. The group can turn on a dime and hit you with reggae versions of massive pop hits by artists such as Elton John, Steve Miller and The Police. The band’s members are from Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Saint Maarten, Venezuela and the United States.

In the coming months, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a volunteer-run nonprofit, will put on:

    The SJSF/Berklee Summer Series at Derby Square, Salem, with Berklee College of Music student bands, on May 10, June 14, July 12 and Aug. 9
    The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a two-day concert at the Salem Willows, with 10 bands, a music-education tent, kids tent, 21-plus beer garden and artisans selling hand-made goods, Aug. 16-17

Please go to salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos available upon request.

Press Release: Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, city, to put on 5th-annual Jazz Appreciation Day concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, city, to put on 5th-annual Jazz Appreciation Day concert

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will produce its 5th-annual City of Salem Jazz Appreciation Day concert in early April in downtown Salem.

The event kicks off Jazz Appreciation month, April, and is put on in partnership with the City of Salem. Salem Five, a major festival sponsor, has donated the room and the concert is free to the public.

The free show will take place in the Salem Five Community Room on the Essex Street Walking Mall, on Saturday, April 5, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Performing this year will be the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars, a big band made up of the North Shore’s premier high-school jazz musicians, directed by professional saxophonist Mike Tucker..

“The NSJP All Stars play our main festival each year, and the crowd is always blown away by their talent, so we thought we’d invite them to perform at Jazz Appreciation Day,” said Larry Claflin Jr., the festival’s executive director. “Having these young musicians on-stage is represent a part of what we’re trying to do – providing students with an opportunity to perform at no cost to the public.”

This show will open the festival’s eighth season of producing free concerts and supporting music-education causes on the North Shore.

In the coming months, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a volunteer-run nonprofit, will put on:

    A fundraiser at the recently refurbished Ames Hall inside the Salem YMCA, featuring Boston-based Combo Sabroso, a Latin band with reggae influences, on April 26
    The SJSF/Berklee Summer Series at Derby Square, Salem, with Berklee College of Music student bands, on May 10, June 14, July 12 and Aug. 9
    The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a two-day concert at the Salem Willows, with 10 bands, a music-education tent, kids tent, 21-plus beer garden and artisans selling hand-made goods, Aug. 16-17

Please go to salemjazzsoul.org for more information.

Contact: Judy Parisella
Phone: ***-***-7444
Email: jparisella@salemjazzsoul.com