Artists
Flemington's Line Up - Saturday, Sept. 13
Flemington Performance Schedule:
Historic Courthouse on Main Street Stage
- 5 pm: Seating Opens! Dining & Dancing / Beer / Wine / Cocktails
- 6:30 pm – Welcome from Sheila Anderson, Emcee, Author, and WBGO-FM host where she hosts Weekend Jazz Overnight.
- 6:30 pm – 7:50 pm: Annette Aguilar Quintet Performance
- Intermission: DJ & Dining & Dancing!
- 8:20 pm – 9:50 pm: Kersten Stevens Quintet Performance
6:30 - 7:50 PM
Annette A. Aguilar
Annette A. Aguilar (born June 28) is an American Nicaraguan percussionist, bandleader, and music educator. She is best known as the leader of the Latin jazz-Brazilian jazz band Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans, which has toured extensively in the United States and Africa. She is the founder of the annual Women in Latin Jazz Festival in New York City, and is also a Latin Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department.
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Early life and education
Born in San Francisco to Nicaraguan parents, Aguilar began playing the drums in sixth grade after seeing the Beatles on television. She started with drum set and hand percussion lessons at a summer workshop, and later took up the snare drum. In her teens, influenced by the San Francisco music scene, and especially Santana, she began to play Latin rock. By sixteen she was performing with well-known artists such as José Areas (formerly of Santana), Cal Tjader, and Sheila Escovedo (“Sheila E.”). While an undergraduate studying classical music at San Francisco State University, she played for both a Latin-Brazilian jazz group and the Bay Area Women’s Philharmonic. She earned a master’s degree in music from the Manhattan School of Music and a master’s degree in music education at the City University of New York.[3] She also studied Latin music with Louis Bauzo at Boys Harbor Conservatory, and with Jerry Gonzalez.
Career
In 1981 she joined Casselberry-DuPreé, an all-female reggae band consisting of Judith Casselberry, Jaqué DuPreé, and Toshi Reagon (daughter of Bernice Reagon). She moved with the band to New York City in 1985 and played on their album City Down, which was produced by Linda Tillery and won a NAIRD award for Best Reggae Album of 1986. The band toured Europe, where it was better known than in the U.S. She was also a founding member of the San Francisco-based band, Chevere. In 1992 she formed her own Latin and Brazilian jazz band, Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans, named for its use of string instruments, including violin and harp.[citation needed] The band is known for its distinctive blend of styles, drawing on Aguilar’s diverse influences. They soon became popular in New York’s Lower East Side and East Village. Since then the band has released three albums, and has played at the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and many other venues in the U.S. and abroad.[citation needed] They have been selected three times as Latin Jazz Ambassadors by the U.S. State Department as part of its “Rhythm Road” cultural exchange program, traveling to South Africa, Rwanda, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Madagascar. In Madagascar they played for the president, Marc Ravalomanana.Aguilar has played percussion with many notable artists including Tito Puente, Stevie Wonder, and The Grateful Dead. She has performed in Broadway shows including Streetcorner Symphony, The Capeman, and the Grammy-winning Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
In addition to performing, she teaches percussion at the Third Street Music School Settlement in New York.[8] In 2014 she organized the first annual Women in Latin Jazz Festival in Upper Manhattan.
8:20 - 9:50 PM
Kersten Stevens
Queen of the Violin—is a genre-defying artist and composer whose electrifying, luminous performances turn every stage into a sanctuary. A Yale alumna and six-time winner of Amateur Night and Showtime at The Apollo, she has shared the stage with Christian McBride, Faith Evans, Regina Carter, Kim Burrell, and Keyon Harrold. Her performances have moved icons like President Barack Obama, Dionne Warwick, Babyface, Usher, and Denzel Washington.
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Kersten’s journey began at just three years old, when she first picked up the violin and quickly excelled in the Suzuki method. By ten, she was exploring gospel, and at twelve, she discovered jazz—unlocking a lifelong passion for improvisation, storytelling, and genre-bending expression. Her early talent was recognized with top honors from the NAACP ACT-SO Awards and the International Hal Jackson’s Talented Teen competition, paving the way for her history-making wins at the world-famous Apollo Theater. A graduate of Yale University with a dual focus in Music and African American Studies, she went on to study under the legendary jazz violinist John Blake, Jr., honing a sound that is technically masterful, spiritually rooted, and creatively boundless.
The Queen has moved audiences across the country and around the world—from concert halls and festivals to sanctuaries, vineyards, and village stages. Her sound—virtuosic, soulful, and spiritually resonant—has garnered acclaim from both legends and major outlets alike. She’s been featured in Vogue, WBGO, All About Jazz, and the Black Gospel Blog, and praised by greats like Christian McBride, Billy Kilson, and Regina Carter for her distinctive voice on the violin.
A six-time winner of Amateur Night and Showtime at The Apollo, Kersten is also a recipient of top honors from the NAACP ACT-SO Awards, the International Hal Jackson’s Talented Teen Competition, and was recognized for musical excellence by her alma mater, Yale University. She is a voting member of The Recording Academy.
Her recent single, “Faith’s Hymn (Amazing Grace Remix),” continues to resonate across platforms, following the critical success of INSPIRE ME, a collection of original and traditional gospel works that earned her the Independent Music Award for Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.
From Carnegie Hall to cultural festivals, masterclasses to meditation concerts, Kersten brings more than performance—she brings presence. Whether on stage, in studio, or in sacred spaces, her artistry invites listeners not just to hear, but to feel.
Kersten’s much-anticipated album, QUEEN RISING, is a bold declaration of voice, vision, and purpose. At its core is a magnetic collaboration with 9x GRAMMY-winning bassist Christian McBride, whose roles as co-producer, composer, and arranger elevate the project to new heights of creativity and soul. McBride performs on all eight tracks and co-wrote four original compositions with Kersten: “Queen Rising,” “Release the Grace,” “Beginnings and Endings,” and “You’ve Been Crowned.” The pair also reimagined three standout tracks—“Someday We’ll All Be Free,” “Fantasy,” and “Best Part”—with fresh perspective and emotional clarity.
The album features a star-studded ensemble of celebrated artists and engineers whose collective brilliance deepens every note:
- Kersten Stevens – Violin, Co-Producer
- Christian McBride – 9x GRAMMY-winning Bassist, Co-Producer
- Todd Whitelock – 10x GRAMMY-winning Engineer
- Eric Harland – GRAMMY-nominated Drummer
- Luisito Quintero – GRAMMY-winning Percussionist
- Ragan Whiteside – Billboard-charting Flutist
- Miki Hayama – Piano, Keys, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer
- Seth Johnson – Guitar
QUEEN RISING is not just an album—it’s a reclamation of power, a celebration of joy, and a sonic offering rooted in Black brilliance, improvisation, and emotional truth.
Sheila Anderson
In 1995 she joined the staff of WBGO, Newark, New Jersey where she hosts Weekend Jazz Overnight and Salon Sessions. She has authored four books: The Quotable Musician: From Bach to Tupac (2003), How to Grow as A Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed (2005) (both published by Allworth Press), The Little Red Book of Musicians Wisdom (Skyhorse Press, 2012) and the 2nd edition of How to Grow as A Musician will be published, (2019).
In addition to curating jazz at the Newark Museum of Art, Ms. Anderson is a (2017) Columbia University Community Scholar, an inaugural Dan Morgenstern Fellow by the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers-Newark (2020,) is a graduate of Baruch College and resides in Harlem, NYC.
The Central Jersey Jazz Festival Stage in Flemington Borough is produced and hosted by Flemington Community Partnership and Sheila E. Anderson, author and on-air personality of WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM
The Flemington Improvement District mission is to foster a thriving business community in the Borough of Flemington.
Somerville's Line Up - Sunday, Sept. 14
Main Stage:
1:30 - 2:40 PM
Greg Murphy “The Fusicians”
Greg Murphy (piano and keys,) (Mark Whitfield-guitar,) Obasi Akoto (bass,) Steve Johns (drums.)
Chicago native Greg Murphy has been a major contributor to the New York City jazz scene since the 1980s. After studying and living in New Orleans, Greg moved to New York and began what had become a long association with John Coltrane’s multidirectional drummer, Rashied Ali. Greg performed and recorded with Ali and his various groups throughout Europe, Canada and the US from 1987 until Rashied passed away in 2009.
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Throughout his career, Greg has performed extensively in the US, France, Ireland, Japan, China, The Philippines and beyond with his own trio and other groups. He’s also worked in New York with Ornette Coleman and in France with Carlos Santana and Archie Shepp. In 2012, Greg recorded the theme song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” for the HBO documentary Redemption, which received a 2013 Academy Award nomination for best documentary short. Bright Idea, his critically acclaimed CD (featuring Jeff “Tain” Watts) was #1 on the JazzWeek charts in February and March of 2019.
Performing with Greg Murphy (piano): Mark Whitfield, guitar; Obasi Akoto, bass; Steve Johns, drums.
3:00 - 4:10 PM
Abena Koonson-Davis Quintet featuring Steve Davis
Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today’s leading voices on the trombone. Davis has worked with numerous jazz luminaries such as Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Jackie McLean, Horace Silver, Roy Hargrove, and Chick Corea with whom he won a Grammy Award for the album “Antidote” as a member of Chick Corea’s Spanish Heart Band. Steve’s many notable performances include The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon with Stevie Wonder and The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). In addition to over 20 recordings as a leader, Steve has been a stalwart member of several critically acclaimed ensembles including Benny Golson’s New Jazztet, the collectively led New York-based sextet One for All, the Larry Willis Quintet, to name a few. Steve has been a steady member of big bands led by Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter, John Lee & The Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, and Christian McBride. Steve’s original composition, “Optimism” appears on the McBride Big Band’s Grammy Award winning release “Bringin’ It.” His most recent release “We See” (Smoke Sessions 2024) features Davis in a live setting with a stellar lineup that includes Eddie Henderson, Ralph Moore, Renee Rosnes, Essiet Essiet and Lewis Nash. The album has received extensive critical acclaim. A highly regarded educator, Steve has guided generations of emerging musicians including a 31-year tenure at The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute, University of Hartford, CT where he was honored with the 2023 Alumni of the Year Award. He currently serves as Professor of Trombone at Berklee College of Music.
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Abena Koomson-Davisis a performer, educator, & wordsmith. An original cast member of Broadway’s FELA! she originated the role of Fela’s mother Off-Broadway. She has performed alongside Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, Angelique Kidjo and many other luminaries. Abena can be heard on Natalie Merchant’s most recent album ‘Keep Your Courage’ where she is featured on two duets. For over 15 years, Abena has been the lead vocalist of the funk rock band Van Davis. She is musical director for the Resistance Revival Chorus, and her song “Joy in Resistance” is featured on their debut album, “This Joy.” Abena’s debut jazz album, entitled “Where is Love” (WJ3 Records, 2024) features time-honored standards and original compositions co-written with her husband, acclaimed jazz trombonist Steve Davis. She is a member and featured collaborator of Scapegoat Garden, a New England based creative engine. Abena currently serves as Ethics Chair of the middle school division at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, where she teaches ethics and social justice to middle & upper school students. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where she earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts, and of Teachers College, Columbia University where she earned a master’s in education leadership.
4:30 - 5:45 PM
Jon Faddis Next Gen Quartet
Jon Faddis is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator, renowned for both his playing and for his expertise in the field of music education. Upon his first appearance on the scene, he became known for his ability to closely mirror the sound of trumpet icon Dizzy Gillespie, who was his mentor along with pianist Stan Kenton and trumpeter Bill Catalano.
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Abena Koomson-Davisis a performer, educator, & wordsmith. An original cast member of Broadway’s FELA! she originated the role of Fela’s mother Off-Broadway. She has performed alongside Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, Angelique Kidjo and many other luminaries. Abena can be heard on Natalie Merchant’s most recent album ‘Keep Your Courage’ where she is featured on two duets. For over 15 years, Abena has been the lead vocalist of the funk rock band Van Davis. She is musical director for the Resistance Revival Chorus, and her song “Joy in Resistance” is featured on their debut album, “This Joy.” Abena’s debut jazz album, entitled “Where is Love” (WJ3 Records, 2024) features time-honored standards and original compositions co-written with her husband, acclaimed jazz trombonist Steve Davis. She is a member and featured collaborator of Scapegoat Garden, a New England based creative engine. Abena currently serves as Ethics Chair of the middle school division at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, where she teaches ethics and social justice to middle & upper school students. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where she earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts, and of Teachers College, Columbia University where she earned a master’s in education leadership.
Division Street
2:30 - 3:45 PM
Kahlil Kwame Bell and Friends
Kahlil Kwame Bell, a remarkable percussionist, composer, arranger, and producer, has left an indelible mark on the music industry. His musical output varies from jazz to rock to hip hop; from European classical to world music; from spirituals to spoken word accompaniments. His layering of sounds and instruments, blended with unique rhythms, reflects his view of the unity of cultures through music. His work for other musicians, as well as his own compositions, can be heard almost daily on jazz and world music radio programs worldwide.
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His extensive career spans with collaborations with Abbey Lincoln, Roberta Flack, Erykah Badu, The Artist formerly known as Prince, Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson, James Ingram, Ashford and Simpson, Twinkie Clark of the Clark Sisters, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Tess Marsalis, James Carter, Bradford Hayes, Don Braden and Stefon Harris. He has also worked with Rick Ross, Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band, Rakim, Common, Bilal, Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets) Norah Jones, Roy Hargrove, Baba Olatunji, Eric Reed, TC Carson, and Patrice Rushen.
To date, Kahlil has traveled the world extensively doing what he loves and does best. He is recorded on over 150 CD’s released from 1989-2024; eight of which he released under his own label (KKB Records) and is credited for composing all of the music for them including Gift of Forgiveness, which was released in February 2001 and Homeland, September 2018. He is featured on Jazzmeia Horn’s 2022 Grammy Award nominated CD, Dear Love, and Don Braden’s Grammy Award nominated Earth, Wind and Wonder, and Earth, Wind and Wonder Volume 2, 2023.
4:15- 5:30 PM
Dom Palombi’s Game Night
Since Jan 2021, Professional Drummer, Composer/Arranger, Accompanist, Educator, and Twitch Streamer, has been thriving the musical journey for 17 years. Most recently he has been working countless days and hours behind the scenes putting his “Game Night” this project together that he truly believes is one of his best works to date! Dom says, “I really wanted to capture the essence of game nights musically, as they are one of my favorite things to do with friends (outside of playing music), and I hope you will be as excited as I am when you hear the finished product!” He’d bring his Funk-Fusion Video Game Music Band “Dom Palombi’s Game Night!” as this group has been his newest of passions, where they celebrate the essence of comradery through performing his arrangements of video game music covers and original compositions inspired by unique gaming concepts. Dom is very excited to share that he’s been working on his 2nd album entitled “Game Night.” a Video Game Music focused collection of Covers and Originals featuring a Super Group of the best musicians in the Video Game Music Community!
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Dom got his start in Somerville New Jersey at the age of 10 when he began learning how to play drums. After finishing his bachelor’s degree in jazz performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, Dom has been fortunate to perform, educate, and explore a multitude of opportunities as a full-time musician. Since 2017 he has been helping with the Central Jersey Jazz Festival so it’s a dream of his to get the opportunity to lead his band this year.
Sheila Anderson
In 1995 she joined the staff of WBGO, Newark, New Jersey where she hosts Weekend Jazz Overnight and Salon Sessions. She has authored four books: The Quotable Musician: From Bach to Tupac (2003), How to Grow as A Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed (2005) (both published by Allworth Press), The Little Red Book of Musicians Wisdom (Skyhorse Press, 2012) and the 2nd edition of How to Grow as A Musician will be published, (2019).
In addition to curating jazz at the Newark Museum of Art, Ms. Anderson is a (2017) Columbia University Community Scholar, an inaugural Dan Morgenstern Fellow by the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers-Newark (2020,) is a graduate of Baruch College and resides in Harlem, NYC.
The Central Jersey Jazz Festival Stage in Somerville is produced and hosted by Flemington Community Partnership and Sheila E. Anderson, author and on-air personality of WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM
Plan Your Weekend
Come for the music, stay to explore our main streets. Great “farm to table” eats, shopping, attractions, and natural beauty. Support the local businesses in our area.
