Arts & Culture
“ For the past decade, Middlesex County has prioritized investments in arts, culture, and history — supporting the work of artists and bringing the community together to enjoy wonderful live cultural events like these." County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum
After a successful debut last fall, the County’s Roaring 20s Jazz Party returned to East Jersey Old Town Village on September 14. The Village became a vibrant scene of the 1920s, featuring Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra performing popular jazz music of the time. Vocalist Risa Branch also performed, and the Canarsie Wobblers offered lessons in dancing the Charleston and other popular dances from the ‘20s. The Roaring 20s Jazz Party honored African American musician James P. Johnson, a New Brunswick native and leading Jazz Age composer and pianist who composed “The Charleston.”
This year, Middlesex County launched FolkLIVE, a series of live musical performances focusing on different cultural communities. The inaugural FolkLIVE performance took place in June when New Brunswick’s Monument Square Park burst to life with a Gospel Music Festival featuring award-winning gospel music icon Hezekiah Walker, rising star Jekalyn Carr, and other leading talent in the genre. This initial FolkLIVE event celebrated the rich history of gospel music and African American culture, highlighting the diverse histories, traditions, and stories that make the Middlesex County community so special.
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8 Your Middlesex | 2024 Issue 3
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