Press

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Press

2023 is our 17th season of Free community concerts, and making funds available for music education programs throughout the North Shore.  Check out the SJSF PRESS.


North Shore Jazz Project All Stars Alumni Nominated for Best New Artist!

A former North Shore Jazz Project All Stars member is in the running to win an award as one of New England’s Emerging Artists along with his band mates in Makutu.

August 28, 2016 – Salem, MA – Bassist Ryder Hambley of Rowley, 22, a member of the NSJP All Stars while a student at Ipswich High School, recently graduated from Berklee College of Music. His band, Makutu, is up for the award from “The Deli,” an online magazine focusing on the music scene in major cities known for music. Read the entire press release here. VOTING Ends 8/31/16 VOTE NOW.


10th annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival takes place at Salem Willows, Aug. 20-21

The nonprofit Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will cap its 10th season with a two-day music festival at the Salem Willows, Aug. 20-21.
August 2, 2016 – Salem, MA – The free festival will feature 10 bands, a MusicKidz tent, Salem Five Community Foundation Music-Education Tent, artisan fair and 21-plus Notch Brewing beer pavilion. The festival will offer all styles of music over two days: Big band jazz, Latin, funk, soul, blues, zydeco and more. Bands hail from the North Shore, Boston, New York and Louisiana. Read the entire press release here.


RickExpress closes SJSF/Berklee Summer Series before Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

RickExpress a Berklee College of Music student, will play the last SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2016 with his band in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, Aug. 13

July 24, 2016 Salem, MA – The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience. Rain location is Koto Japanese Grill. 90 Washington St., Salem. In a Pig’s Eye restaurant will sponsor the performance, which marks the festival’s last show before the main festival, Aug. 20-21. Read the entire press release.


Selah Poitier Performing at SJSF/Berklee Summer Series, July 9 Derby Square

Selah Poitier, a recent Berklee College of Music graduate, will play the third SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2016 with her band in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, July 9.

July 5, 2016 Salem MA – 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 will sponsor the performance, which marks the festival’s third outdoor show of its 10th season.  Read the entire press release here.


Maddie Jay & the pH Collective Perform at SJSF/Berklee Summer Series June 11 in Derby Square

Maddie Jay & the pH Collective, a band consisting of students from the Berklee College of Music, will play the second SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2016 in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, June 11.

June 6, 2016 Salem, MA – 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 will sponsor the performance, which marks the festival’s second outdoor show of its 10th season. Read the entire press release.


MIXLA featuring Zahili Gonzalez Zamora will perform at SJSF/Berklee Summer Series on May 14 in Derby Square

MIXLA featuring Zahili Gonzalez Zamora, a trio consisting of students from the Berklee College of Music, will play the first SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2016 in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, May 14.

April 18, 2016 Salem, MA – The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience.
Howling Wolf Taqueria will sponsor the performance, which marks the festival’s first outdoor show of its 10th season. Read the entire press release.


SJSF’s MusicKidz relocates to Salem’s Point neighborhood

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s popular MusicKidz program has relocated to Salem’s Point neighborhood.
February 5, 2016 Salem, MA -The MusicKidz program is a workshop for children in grades K-5 and takes place the second Saturday of every month, beginning Feb. 13, in the Community Room of 135 Lafayette Apartments. It runs from 10 to 11 a.m. and parental supervision is required.
Classes cover such subjects as creative movement, rhythm and world music. The class is taught by Justine Pasquale, a Salem State University graduate and teacher in Malden public schools Read the entire press release.


North Shore Jazz Project merges with Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

January 27, 2016 Salem, MA – Two North Shore music nonprofits with similar missions have merged. The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival (SJSF) and North Shore Jazz Project (NSJP) filed merger paperwork with Massachusetts’ Attorney General in late 2015 and will retain the name Salem Jazz and Soul Festival.
Founded in 2009 to “create an environment on the North Shore where jazz education, performance and appreciation can flourish,” NSJP produced world-class concerts featuring artists such as Joe Lovano, Danilo Perez, Anat Cohen, Roomful of Blues and J Geils, among others. Read the entire press release.


Salem Jazz and Soul Festival continues monthly concert series with the Marika Galea Quartet

May 28, 2015 Salem, MA – The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will continue its 2015 SJSF/Berklee Summer Series in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, June 13 with a concert featuring jazz bassist Marika Galea, and her quartet. This free show takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience…Read the entire press release.


Salem Jazz and Soul Festival kicks off their SJSF/Berklee Summer Series at Derby Square, Salem

April 29, 2015 Salem, MA – The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will begin its 2015 SJSF/Berklee Summer Series in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, May 9, with a concert featuring The Yellowjackets, a band made up of current Berklee College of Music students. The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience… Read the entire press release.


Swing, rock, and groove with the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival at the annual Spring Fundraiser at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre.

April 9, 2015 Salem, MA – The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is throwing a benefit concert April 26 featuring the Cape Ann Big Band, a 17-piece swing band out of Gloucester and the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars, an elite youth jazz ensemble, comprised of local high school students. All proceeds will benefit the festival, a volunteer-run nonprofit celebrating its ninth season…. Read the entire press release.


Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, city, to host 6th annual Jazz Appreciation Day concert

March 15, 2015 Salem, MA – 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 at 210 Essex Street on the Walking Mall, Saturday, April 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. Performing this year will be the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars conducted by local favorite, Mike Tucker… Read the entire press release.


The Salem YMCA in Partnership with the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is Pleased to Offer MusicKidz Starting This Month

January 8, 2015 The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is relocating its long–‐running MusicKidz to the Salem Y, bringing more music to more kids.
Salem, MA – Beginning this month, the Salem YMCA will offer MusicKidz, the popular music enrichment program developed and presented by the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival. MusicKidz offers a range of music concepts and topics to introduce children to the joys of music at an early age. This fun-filled class, geared toward children kindergarten through 5th grade and their parents, will be held in the Music Studio in the Teen Arts Center at the Salem YMCA. Read the entire press release.


More Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Press below.

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

March 19, 2014 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. Read the entire press release.


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Salem Jazz and Soul Festival kicks off monthly concert series with Berklee Bob Marley, May 11

May 6, 2013  Press Release


North Shore 104.9 ‘Curtain Up’ with Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

April 21, 2013  SJSF Executive Director, Larry Claflin, talks about  SJSF mission, accomplishments and 2013 season.


Jesse Dee to headline Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s spring fundraiser, April 27
April 7, 2013  Press Release


Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, city, to put on 4th-annual Jazz Appreciation Day concert
March 22, 2013  Press Release


Salem Jazz and Soul Festival starts education program at Salem library
February 23, 2013  Press Release


Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Awarded Coveted ‘GOLD STAR AWARD’ from Massachusetts Cultural Council
January 16, 2013  Press Release


More Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Press below.
Cultural grants distributed
January 29, 2012  Boston Globe


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A drop in the Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket
November 25, 2011  Wicked Local


Big Easy in the Witch City
August 13, 2011  The Salem News


Street Guide: Musical Notes
August 2011  North Shore Art Throb


Summertime and finding a festival is easy
June 10, 2011  Boston Herald


Jazz Appreciation Day declared in Salem
March 29, 2011  Salem News


More Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Press below.
Jazz and Soul Fest tunes up for fall event
September 28, 2010  The Salem  News


Jazz and Soul Festival organizers thank supporters
August 26, 2010  Wicked Local


Music festival draws more than 1,000
August 23, 2010  The Salem  News


Jam sessions: Salem hosts annual jazz and soul festival
August 22, 2010  Wicked Local


Soul comes to Salem
August 30, 2010  The Salem News


Getting in a jam: Blues and jazz are alive and well in Salem
March 11, 2010  William Routhier, Salem News


More Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Press below.
Soul of the city; Salem festival jazzes up summer with weekend of free concerts
August 13, 2009  Amanda Gregor, Newburyport News


Henley Douglas Jr. gives the low down on upcoming Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
August 3, 2009  J.C. Lockwood, North Shore Art Throb


Ready to get jazzed up
May 7, 2009  Amanda McGregor, Salem News


Letter: Lineup set for 2009 Salem Jazz and Soul Fest
April 29, 2009  The Salem News


Group warms up to sing about Bay State as jazz mecca
April 20, 2009  Donna Goodison, Boston Herald


More Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Press below.
Heart and Soul
August 14, 2008 J.C. Lockwood, North Shore Sunday


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Parties provide venues to try on identity in Salem
October 18, 2007 Rebecca Shoonmaker, Salem Evening News


Burning up the Willows
August 23, 2007  Kristin D’Agostino, North Shore Sunday


Hold onto your horns
August 17, 2007  J.C. Lockwood, North Shore Sunday


All about soul: Music festival infuses Salem with jazz, blues and gospel this weekend
August 16, 2007  Newburyport News


Salem music community comes together to help one of their own
June 14, 2007  Salem Gazette


A soul lot of jazz:  festival fundraiser is a hit
April 26, 2007  Salem Gazette