Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board recently announced the lineup of the third annual Montco Jazz Fest that will take place September 19-22 at venues across Montgomery County, including several in Conshohocken (see below). The schedule include concerts, brunches, workshops, and other community-focused events.
The 2024 edition of the festival “celebrates the living legacy of jazz by featuring artist collaborations and tribute concerts highlighting some of the great legends of the game.” For the second year, the festival is curated by internationally-acclaimed jazz vocalist, and Montco Jazz Fest Artistic Director Joanna Pascale.
“Our annual Montco Jazz Fest is a one-of-a-kind offering that truly highlights Montgomery County as an arts tourism destination,” notes Rachel Riley, vice president of marketing and communications. “We are thrilled to have the incredible Joanna Pascale return this year to curate a noteworthy series of events, which will truly elevate Montgomery County as a prime location for jazz and music lovers across the region.”
“The musicians and venues of Montgomery County are helping us shape a wonderful series of events for this year’s festival,” adds Pascale, who will be performing her own concert as part of the Fest at Valley Forge Casino Resort. “This celebration will take place in venues all over the county, featuring events that honor the legends of jazz, while cultivating the legends of tomorrow.”
This year, Valley Forge Tourism has partnered with Key of She Jazz, an organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging girls in jazz, from middle school through college and beyond. The founder, Olivia Hughart, is a Montgomery County native. In addition to providing monetary support to the organization, Valley Forge Tourism will offer opportunities for patrons of the Festival to support Key of She Jazz via donations.
The Festival is also an opportunity for patrons to experience the ArtsMontco Pass, a free, mobile-friendly program that takes guests on a self-guided journey to more than 30 arts and culture locations throughout Montgomery County, including galleries and museums, music and theater venues, artist workshops, and more. Guests simply check in at each location to earn points and win prizes.
The full schedule can be found here. The events in Conshohocken are outlined below:
Friday, September 20 | 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Victor North Quartet plays the music of John Coltrane
The Cigar Republic
$15 Cover
Saturday, September 21 | 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
King Jazz featuring vocalist Cindy King
Daniel’s Restaurant and Bar
No cover
Sunday, September 22 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Jazz Guitarist Dan Hanrahan
Southern Cross Kitchen
No cover
Sunday, September 22 | 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Women in Jazz Party hosted by Key of She
Hotel West & Main
Key of She Jazz, an organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging girls in jazz, from middle school through college and beyond, hosts this free event celebrating female jazz artists. Festivities include:
Deborah Smith Quartet | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Trombonist Deborah Smith hails from Bridgeport, Connecticut. She has graced stages from Philadelphia to New York. Her versatility shines through her roles in ensembles like the Grace Fox Big Band, and her leadership of the Deborah Smith Septet and Deborah Smith Quartet. Recognized with the Billy Strayhorn Jazz Education Award in 2023, she remains dedicated to inspiring others through her boundless love for music.
The Olivia Hughart Group | 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Olivia Hughart is a jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, advocate, and a recent graduate from New York University, with a major in Jazz Studies with a minor in Public Policy and Management. She is the founder and artistic director of Key of She. Hughart is a member of the NYChillharmonic, the Grace Fox Big Band, and the Andrew Neu Big Band, has subbed for Triad Brass, New Heights Brass Band and DIVA Jazz Orchestra. Hughart is a Presser Scholar, 2023 JEN Mary Jo Papich Women in Jazz Scholarship winner, 2020 Bruce Montgomery Foundation Springboard Grant Winner, and 2020 Pennsylvania Project Stream Grant winner.
Swing Dance Lesson | 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Chelsea Reed & the Fair Weather Band | 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Chelsea Reed is a jazz vocalist, arranger, composer, and bandleader living in Philadelphia.
With a penchant for 20th-century swing and blues music, Reed founded Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Band in October 2012. They have gone on to record four albums and tour around the world playing for swing and blues dancers. They’ve shared the stage and recorded with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, who is featured on their 2017 release Spreadin’ Rhythm Around. Their most recent album, Carolina Lullaby (2020), showcases original songs steeped in jazz, blues, and folk traditions where Reed’s vocals and swing musicality shine. Reed currently teaches jazz history and performance at Temple University.