Event

Melrose JazzFest

Melrose JazzFest is in its fourth year of presenting professional jazz concerts in the beautiful setting of historic Memorial Hall in Melrose, all for the low, low ticket price of $15 for adults and $7 for seniors, kids, and students.

The event grew from the fact that there is a cluster of jazz musicians who live in Melrose, many of whom are associated with Berklee College of Music in Boston. It seemed wrong not to gather these musicians together and get them on stage, doing what they love to do -- perform!

They, in turn, invited their friends from the Boston area to join them and -- voila! -- a great jazz festival was born.

MJF traditionally includes a presentation designed to introduce children to jazz. This year, Ricardo Monzon and Stan Strickland return with their terrific Jazz4Kids, beginning at 2:00 PM. Their interactive extravaganza guarantees that all the kids in the audience will jiving to the music.

Anchoring the production and performing at 3:30 PM is the Melrose JazzCollective: Bruce Gertz on bass; Joe Mulholland on piano; Ken Cervenka on trumpet; Bill Reynolds on drums; Tim Miller on guitar; Joining them will be Donna McElroy offering the power and passion of her unique vocal styling.

Headliner for JazzFest 2010, at 5:30 PM, will be the Kenny Hadley Big Band, known as a powerful 16-piece band that delivers choice material from the American Songbook. Joining them will be vocalist Amanda Carr, hailed by noted jazz critic Nat Hentoff as "a true jazz singer in a time of wannabes."

There will be a dance floor available and professionals on hand to help novice dancers get the hang of it.

All THREE concerts are yours for ONE ticket price: $15 for adults and $8 for seniors, kids, and students. Come for one, two, or all three concerts.