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Kean University

2024 Jazz & Roots Music Festival

Fast becoming a tradition in Union County and beyond, the Jazz & Roots Music Festival, produced by Kean and internationally acclaimed bassist/producer Mike Griot, offers professional jazz, blues and reggae in a beautiful outdoor setting on The Lawn at Enlow Hall, on Kean’s East Campus in Hillside. Join us on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

A saxophone with colorful swirls around it. The title Jazz & Roots Music Festival in a script and sans font
Seven men dressed in black and white garments. The majority is wearing dark glasses

Third World

Third World is one of the longest-lived Reggae bands of all time and one of Jamaica's most consistently popular crossover acts among international audiences. Mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, and rock and, later on, dancehall and rap, Third World’s style has been described as "reggae-fusion."

The group has 9 Grammy nominations and a catalog of charted smash hits, including (Now That We Found Love, 96 Degrees in the Shade and Try Jah Love), spanning over four decades, sold-out tours, a vibrant and loyal fan base and inspirational messages. We invite you to the sites and sounds of the legendary Reggae Ambassadors, Third World!

Stefon Harris

Stefon Harris & Blackout

Educator, vibraphonist and composer Stefon Harris has been heralded as “one of the most important young artists in jazz” by The Los Angeles Times. A four-time GRAMMY™ nominee, he is a seven-time Best Mallet player by the Jazz Journalist Association, the recipient of Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award, Downbeat Critics Poll Winner for Vibraphone (2015, 2013) and 2014 Expanded Critic’s Poll for Vibes from Jazz Times. He won a 2014 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album for Wonder: The Songs of Stevie Wonder as a member of the SFJazz Collective.

stefonharris.com

King Solomon Hicks

Solomon Hicks

Solomon Hicks, aka King Solomon Hicks, the 28-year-old guitar phenom from Harlem, New York City [guitarist, vocalist, and composer] invested in music from a very young age and started playing guitar at six years old. Solomon won the 2021 Blues Music Awards for Best Emerging Artist for his 2020 CD release, Harlem on Provogue Records. The set, produced/recorded by multiple Grammy Award winner Kirk Yano (Miles Davis, Public Enemy, Mariah Carey), showcases Hicks as a writer, player and interpreter.

kingsolomonhicks.com

Prince Hakim

DJ Prince Hakim

Influenced by the sound of the '80s and today, Prince Hakim, son of Robert "Kool" Bell of "Kool & The Gang" has grown up around music and funk all his life. As a kid, Hakim would spend summers with music mogul Jermaine Dupri, who DJ’d in his garage, selling tickets for a dollar a pop. Prince Hakim has traveled from New York to Tokyo sharing his passion, and spreading his message to "Celebrate Life.” Hakim has DJ’d at a number of events including, the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Art Basel in Miami and some of the hottest clubs in New York.

djprincehakim.com

A group of people in line, in front of a food truck titled Rolling Yatai

Festival Vendors

Meet the participating vendors for the Jazz and Roots Festival.

FOOD VENDORS

Cool Runnings Cuisine

Hadez Food Truck

BelleJohns Soul Food LLC

Cold Stone Creamery

Big John's Gourmet Burgers LLC Owner

SERVICES VENDORS

Hollywood Jewels

Cathy Sweethavens


VENDORS APPLICATION

Apply to be part of the festival and have your product/services seen by a large audience!

2024 Vendor Application

A banner that spells The Lawn at Enlow Hall with a view of the East Campus at Kean

The Lawn at Enlow Hall

215 NORTH AVENUE, HILLSIDE, NJ 07205

The Lawn at Enlow Hall is located on the East Campus of Kean University, behind the Nathan Weiss Graduate College building.