 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Our Story
The idea for the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival was hatched in 2003, when a group of musicians, actors and
business people gathered at In a Pig’s Eye restaurant to discuss starting a music festival in Salem. Out of
that meeting, a core group -- Henley Douglas Jr., saxophone player for the Boston Horns, and Jennifer and
Jonathan Reardon, The Pig’s owners -- continued to brainstorm about the event regularly.
Patrons and employees, all friends, added their ideas as the three developed a plan to put on a music
festival in Salem, home to dozens of talented musicians. The idea grew and soon a plan was formed to
have the concert be a catalyst for educating the city’s young musicians. Together the three fostered a
dream of constructing a performance space and music education center
In the coming years, they continued to meet intermittently, but never made progress with the idea. Then in
2006, at a late-night New Years party in Beverly Farms, Douglas told a group of friends about the dormant
jazz festival idea. His presentation was passionate and the group encouraged him to follow the dream, even
offering to lend their expertise.
In the next few weeks, more volunteers joined the group. Each Monday, another talented person would be
invited until the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival was built into a board of directors made up of North Shore
musicians, actors, writers, concert promoters and business people.
Within just 10 weeks, the show was on track. On April 21st, the inaugural Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
fundraiser took place. The 2007 series ran all summer, and culminated in a festival at the Salem Willows.
The 2008 Festival followed, building upon our successful inaugural season. Planning for the 2009 Festival
is now in progress.
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is expected to grow into the premier music festival on the North Shore,
adding to the region’s creative economy through tourism, music and education.
Meet the Team...
The idea for the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival was hatched in 2003, when a group of musicians, actors and
business people gathered at In a Pig’s Eye restaurant to discuss starting a music festival in Salem. Out of
that meeting, a core group -- Henley Douglas Jr., saxophone player for the Boston Horns, and Jennifer and
Jonathan Reardon, The Pig’s owners -- continued to brainstorm about the event regularly.
Patrons and employees, all friends, added their ideas as the three developed a plan to put on a music
festival in Salem, home to dozens of talented musicians. The idea grew and soon a plan was formed to
have the concert be a catalyst for educating the city’s young musicians. Together the three fostered a
dream of constructing a performance space and music education center
In the coming years, they continued to meet intermittently, but never made progress with the idea. Then in
2006, at a late-night New Years party in Beverly Farms, Douglas told a group of friends about the dormant
jazz festival idea. His presentation was passionate and the group encouraged him to follow the dream, even
offering to lend their expertise.
In the next few weeks, more volunteers joined the group. Each Monday, another talented person would be
invited until the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival was built into a board of directors made up of North Shore
musicians, actors, writers, concert promoters and business people.
Within just 10 weeks, the show was on track. On April 21st, the inaugural Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
fundraiser took place. The 2007 series ran all summer, and culminated in a festival at the Salem Willows.
The 2008 Festival followed, building upon our successful inaugural season. Planning for the 2009 Festival
is now in progress.
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is expected to grow into the premier music festival on the North Shore,
adding to the region’s creative economy through tourism, music and education.
Meet the Team...
 |
