Now Celebrating 21 Years of Impact and Inspiration
Hub City Jazz Festival, Inc. began in 2004 with modest goals and a bold vision. Founded by Allen McGriff, a trailblazing New Brunswick entrepreneur and Mason, the festival—originally named the New Brunswick Jazz Festival—started as a local fundraiser for the Progressive Temple Lodge. It featured a weekend of performances by local talent, including gifted high school musicians. Within just five years, the festival outgrew its original venue and expanded both its mission and its reach, moving to downtown New Brunswick and embracing a broader and more diverse range of jazz artists.
Now in its 21st year, the Hub City Jazz Festival has grown into a dynamic four-day destination event that draws jazz enthusiasts from across the country. The celebration kicks off with performances by local and emerging artists at restaurants and venues throughout downtown New Brunswick, leading up to a marquee mainstage concert featuring internationally renowned jazz stars such as Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Roy Ayers, Maysa, and many more.
Since becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2016, Hub City Jazz Festival, Inc. has deepened its commitment to community impact—particularly through youth music education. In partnership with the New Brunswick Public School System, the festival now provides hundreds of hours of beyond-the-classroom professional development training and live performance opportunities for NBPS students. This transformative initiative supports students’ artistic growth, builds confidence, and fosters a lifelong appreciation for jazz as an important cultural art form.
As we reflect on two decades of soulful performances and meaningful outreach, our mission continues: to connect great music—which is food for the soul—with a gift from the heart. Hub City Jazz Festival is more than a concert series; it is a cultural movement dedicated to education, community, and the enduring power of jazz.