Welcome to 2026 Jazz, Health and Food Truck Festival
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Lineup – 2026 Jazz, Health and Food Truck Festival
This year’s program, from morning to evening, you will be graced by a dynamic mix of stellar, distinguished professionals—each bringing their own brand of power and soul. Check out this lineup.
Lineup 2026
BRADFORD HAYES
Tenor saxophonist Bradford Hayes leads his quartet with a warm, commanding sound rooted in the straight‑ahead jazz tradition. A seasoned performer with decades on the New York and New Jersey scene, Hayes blends sophistication, swing, and expressive improvisation into a style that feels both classic and freshly alive. His tone carries the richness of the great tenor lineage while his phrasing reflects a modern, personal voice shaped by years of performing, recording, and collaborating with respected musicians across the region. Whether delivering a soulful ballad or driving a hard‑swinging tune, Bradford Hayes brings clarity, heart, and deep musical purpose to every stage he steps onto. His quartet’s set promises a polished, uplifting experience that embodies the spirit of jazz at its most engaging. Click Bradford Hayes Quartet for artist details.
Organist and pianist Radam Schwartz stands as one of New Jersey’s most respected jazz voices, celebrated for his deep swing, soulful touch, and mastery of the Hammond B‑3. A fixture on the regional and national jazz scene for decades, Schwartz brings a sound rooted in classic organ tradition yet shaped by modern harmonic sophistication. His performances blend blues feeling, gospel warmth, and straight‑ahead fire, creating a musical presence that is both commanding and deeply inviting.
Radam’s artistry has been sharpened through collaborations with notable jazz figures including David “Fathead” Newman, Jimmy Ford, Bill Saxton, Cecil Brooks III, Don Braden, and Melba Moore, earning him a reputation as a first‑call musician with a rich, expressive voice. He has graced respected stages such as The Blue Note, Birdland, Trumpets Jazz Club, Bethany Baptist Jazz Vespers, Zinc Bar, and festival platforms across the tri‑state area. Whether leading a hard‑swinging quartet or delivering a soulful ballad, Radam Schwartz brings depth, experience, and unmistakable musical spirit to every performance — the mark of a true headliner.
JAMES GIBBS
Trumpeter James Gibbs leads a dynamic trio that blends jazz, funk, and modern groove with high‑level musicianship and infectious energy. His performance brings both technical brilliance and crowd‑moving excitement. Click James Gibbs Trio for artist details.
GEMINII DRAGON
The Geminii Dragon Duo brings raw New Orleans fire with a blend of blues, roots, and fierce vocal storytelling. Their sound is gritty, emotional, and electrifying—an unforgettable burst of southern soul. Click GeminiiDRAGON Duo for artist details.
CHARLIE APICELLA
Guitarist Charlie Apicella and vocalist Pat Tandy deliver a soulful, blues‑infused jazz set filled with swing, style, and classic club‑room energy. Their collaboration brings deep musicianship and timeless charm to the festival stage. Click Charlie Apicella ft. Pat Tandy for artist details.
Madame Pat Tandy brings to the stage the commanding elegance of a vocalist whose voice has defined New Jersey jazz for decades. With a style rooted in classic swing, blues feeling, and heartfelt storytelling, she delivers every song with warmth, polish, and emotional depth. Her career includes collaborations with respected jazz figures such as Houston Person, Etta Jones, Don Braden, Gene Ghee, and Charlie Apicella, artists who value her ability to elevate a band with both power and grace.
Her voice has resonated in some of the region’s and nation’s most notable venues, including The Blue Note, Birdland, Trumpets Jazz Club, Shanghai Jazz, Bethany Baptist Jazz Vespers, and festival stages throughout the tri‑state area. Whether fronting a swinging quartet or delivering a soulful ballad, Madame Pat Tandy commands the room with the presence of a seasoned headliner — a vocalist whose artistry continues to inspire audiences and musicians alike.
MATT CHERKOFF feat CRAIG HANDY
Matt Chertkoff steps into the spotlight with the refined authority of a guitarist whose sound blends deep jazz tradition with modern sophistication. His playing is warm, lyrical, and harmonically rich — the kind of voice that draws listeners in and anchors a band with quiet power. Sharing the stage with him is the incomparable Craig Handy, a saxophonist celebrated for his commanding tone, fearless improvisation, and decades of work at the highest levels of the jazz world. Together, they create a dynamic, elegant, and deeply musical experience shaped by careers that include collaborations with icons such as Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Cassandra Wilson, Betty Carter, and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Their artistry has resonated in some of the most respected rooms in jazz, from The Blue Note, Village Vanguard, and Birdland, to major festival stages including Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. As they take the stage here, Matt Chertkoff and Craig Handy deliver the full weight of that legacy — a headlining performance marked by mastery, nuance, and the unmistakable electricity of two world‑class musicians at the height of their craft.
Craig Handy is one of the most commanding saxophonists of his generation, known for his bold tone, fearless improvisation, and versatility across straight‑ahead jazz, big band, and modern creative music. He’s recorded and toured with some of the music’s most influential voices, including Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Roy Haynes, Cassandra Wilson, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, earning a reputation as a first‑call musician at the highest level. His career has taken him to premier stages such as The Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and major festivals worldwide, where his presence consistently elevates every ensemble he joins.
ALEXIS MORRAST
Alexis Morrast, the young vocal phenom with a mature, soulful presence, leads her quartet through a set filled with warmth, swing, and emotional depth. Her voice embodies the next generation of jazz excellence while honoring the tradition. Click Alexis Morrast Quartet for artist details.
WINARD HARPER JAMS
Winard Harper steps into the headliner role with the authority of a drummer who has shaped stages across the world. A master of swing, spiritual uplift, and percussive storytelling, he brings an energy that surges through every ensemble he leads — explosive when the music calls for fire, deeply soulful when the moment leans toward reflection. His artistry has been sharpened alongside giants such as Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Dr. Billy Taylor, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, and Dakota Staton, musicians who trusted him to elevate the music night after night.
He’s carried that same power into some of the most respected venues in jazz, from The Blue Note, Village Vanguard, and Birdland, to international stages like Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Each performance adds to a legacy built on mastery, passion, and an unmistakable rhythmic voice. As he takes the stage here, Winard delivers the full weight of that journey — transforming the moment into a headlining experience that reminds audiences why he stands among the most electrifying drummers of his generation.
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