Hub City Jazz Festival, Inc. began in 2004 with modest goals. It was the brainchild of Allen McGriff, a local New Brunswick, NJ entrepreneur and Mason. Originally called the New Brunswick Jazz Festival, it was a fundraiser for the Progressive Temple Lodge. The festival was a two day weekend event featuring local artists including talented high school musicians. After 5 years, the festival outgrew its original venue and its mission’s expanded. The festival moved to downtown New Brunswick increasing its audience and diversifying the range of performers.
Now, after over ten years in existence the festival has grown into a 4 day destination event attracting jazz enthusiasts throughout the Northeast. During the first three days local and up-in-coming artists are still showcased at restaurant venues throughout downtown New Brunswick. The 4th day hosts the main event with a full day of entertainment provided by internationally-known jazz recording artists such as Boney James, Alex Bugnon, Nelson Rangell, Brian Culbertson, Roy Ayers, Hiroshima Euge Groove, Richard Elliott, Maysa and Jazz in Pink.
As of 2016 the festival is operating as Hub City Jazz Festival, Inc., a 501(c) 3 company. The festival has always maintained a charitable component donating monies to notable organizations such as Pop Warner and the Ronald McDonald House. However as a not-for-profit organization our charitable outreach is expanding with emphasis on promoting music education/exposure for the young. The festival is proud to promote jazz as an art form and to acknowledge its cultural relevance in the field of music as well as provide financial support to charitable and cultural initiatives. Our motto is “Connecting great music which is food for the soul, with a gift from the heart”.