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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 21, 2007, the inaugural Salem Jazz and Soul Festival fundraiser took place, and
we are now entering our fifth year in operation.
A federally recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, 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...
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 21, 2007, the inaugural Salem Jazz and Soul Festival fundraiser took place, and
we are now entering our fifth year in operation.
A federally recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, 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 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that produces free concerts for the public and raises money to support music education programs. Building on Salem’s Music History The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is recreating and renewing the vibrant jazz scene that began at the Salem Willows in the 1920s, when Duke Ellington and other musicians from the Big Band era played at the seaside park in Massachusetts. 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 has already attracted thousands of music fans and extensive media coverage during its first four years of operation. Supporting Music Education Programs In addition to allowing us to produce free music events for the public, proceeds from the festival benefit music education programs on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Since our inception, we've raised $25,000 for local music education programs, student scholarships and more. Learn more about our Education initiatives: More info |
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| from MA Cultural Council |