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The Friends of Boudinot-Southard-Ross Estate

The Friends of Boudinot-Southard-Ross Estate

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2nd Annual Ross Farm Jazz Fest

by | Mar 27, 2026

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Featuring elite college & youth ensembles + Dave Stryker Quartet with Eric Alexander, two of today’s most-respected jazz voices.

Stay all day or swing by for a few sets at the historic Ross Farm for our 2nd Annual Ross Farm Jazz Fest! Enjoy a full afternoon and evening of standout live jazz in a relaxed, open-air setting, with a lineup that blends rising artists and seasoned performers. The festival wraps with a headlining set by the Dave Stryker Quartet with Eric Alexander, two of today’s most-respected jazz voices. Guitarist Dave Stryker returns as part of the team, curating this event with the Ross Farm’s David Becker to shape the day’s music.

Bring a chair or blanket, pack a picnic, and make yourself at home—we just ask that you carry out what you carry in.

Saturday, May 9 | 1–7 p.m.
Rain date: Sunday, May 10

Estimated Set Times & Lineup:
1:00 PM – Jazz House Ambassadors Combo (Director: Mike Lee)
2:00 PM – Ryan Huston and the Montclair State Jazz Sextet
3:00 PM – Christian Orlowski and the Rutgers Jazz Sextet
4:00 PM – Sally Shupe and the William Paterson Jazz Septet
~5:30 PM – Dave Stryker Quartet with Eric Alexander (Headliner)

We’re jazzed for this one and can’t wait to kick off the season with you on the lawn at the Ross Farm this May.

Featuring guitarist Dave Stryker – a celebrated performer and collaborator helping shape this year’s Jazz Fest lineup. Stryker will be performing with the Bob Mintzer Quartet

The Bob Mintzer Quartet joins the Ross Farm Jazz Fest as part of the Dave Stryker–curated lineup, bringing decades of world-class jazz artistry to this special event

Liz Longley with Rachael Sage at The Ross Farm | EmpowHER Concert

by | Mar 26, 2026

We are thrilled to welcome Liz Longley, with special guest Rachael Sage, to the Ross Farm MainStage this summer for an unforgettable EmpowHER evening of music.
Known for her powerful vocals, deeply honest songwriting, and captivating live performances, Liz Longley has built a devoted national following, and we’re honored to bring her to our stage for this special evening.
Nashville-based, Liz is celebrated for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice and emotionally resonant music, blending folk, pop, and Americana. She has earned accolades from prestigious songwriting competitions, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition.
Her self-titled debut album was praised as “stunning” by HuffPost and marked by “cleverness and wit” by the Dallas Morning News. Her follow-up album Weightless (2016) was called “a thing of beauty” by Pop Dose. Her sixth album, Funeral For My Past, became a major independent success after fans raised more than $150,000 on Kickstarter to fund its release, making her the #4 most-funded solo female musician in Kickstarter history. The album earned widespread acclaim, with Billboard praising its range from Americana to shimmering pop anthems.
Becoming a mother in 2022 brought new depth and perspective to Liz’s songwriting. Her most recent album, New Life (2025), reflects this new chapter, showcasing both her personal growth and continued evolution as an artist.
Opening the evening on the MainStage is soulful vocalist and innovative multi-instrumentalist Rachael Sage, who has earned a loyal international following for her dynamic piano playing, delicate guitar work, and engaging, improvisational live performances. A six-time Independent Music Award winner, she has shared stages with artists including Ani DiFranco, Judy Collins, and Beth Hart. Her genre-blending sound – described by NPR as “witty, graceful, and powerfully intimate” – makes her a perfect lead-in to an unforgettable evening.
🎶 EmpowHER Finale Concert begins at 7:00 PM – Tickets are required for the evening performance featuring Rachael Sage and Liz Longley.

🎶 EmpowHER Afternoon Celebration begins at 1:30 PM – Everyone is welcome! No ticket is required to enjoy the afternoon community experiences, live music, speakers, and participating organizations.

Throughout the afternoon, the historic Ross Farm grounds will come alive with music, conversation, and connection as EmpowHER brings together women’s voices in music, leadership, and community.
Afternoon performances will feature rising local artists including Shruti Ram, Ally Lambie, and Ariel Bold, alongside an immersive interdisciplinary performance by The Chapel Coalition, blending music, poetry, and sound in a site-inspired experience unique to Ross Farm.
Join us for the afternoon celebration, arrive in time for the evening concert, or make a full day of it—however you choose to experience EmpowHER, we’d love to welcome you.
✨ Afternoon community experiences & live music (no ticket required)
✨ MainStage evening concert featuring Liz Longley, with special guest Rachael Sage (ticket required)
✨ Bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating
✨ Picnics welcome (carry in/carry out)
The afternoon celebration concludes at 5:30 p.m. and the gates will open at 6:00 p.m. for the evening concert.

 

 

The Chapel Coalition – Ariana Hartunian-Sowa and Rachel Weeks – will present an immersive show inspired by the Ross Farm and the stone tape theory. The performance will converse object, sound, physical, and spiritual realms through artistic means of poetry, music and sound art.

Shruti Ram, RHS Class of 2023, will perform at the EmpowHER event on July 18

Ally Lambie, RHS Class of 2018, will perform, playing a guitar built from the Basking Ridge Oak Tree

Ariel Salomon has performed at the Ross Farm for a few ARTsee events; we’re happy to welcome her back for the EmpowHER event!