Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

09/13/2026

We’ve finally “made it.”

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JEx4p4bSj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Celebrate the rhythms of jazz and soul at a free festival featuring live performances from renowned artists. Link in comments to find out more. ⬇️

09/09/2026

Some of us from the festival will be in attendance tomorrow night. We hope to see you there!

09/05/2026

Our friends at Lexington History Museums have a wonderful event planned for Thursday, celebrating local jazz legend Alan Dawson. We hope to see you there!

09/03/2026

Happy Birthday to HD, festival co-founder Henley Douglas Jr., a friend and mentor!

09/01/2026

From the big-band era to today, the music continues at Salem Willows.

Salem Willows Jazz History · Part 5 of 5

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival carries this legacy forward by bringing free, accessible live music back to the same historic setting where jazz helped define a generation.

Since 2007, our nonprofit festival has paired free concerts with ongoing support for music-education initiatives and community organizations serving young people across the North Shore.

Thank you for following this history with us. If you want to help write its next chapter, please help us keep the music free.

08/30/2026

Sandy’s and Lennie’s kept North Shore jazz moving for generations.

Salem Willows Jazz History · Part 4 of 5

Sandy’s Jazz Revival in Beverly and Lennie’s on the Turnpike in Peabody carried the region’s jazz tradition forward long after the great ballrooms faded.

Their stages welcomed artists including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone, and many more—connecting generations of musicians and audiences across the North Shore.

The venues are gone, but the musical community they helped build is still here.

08/28/2026

Before the arcade, Salem Willows was a big-band destination.

Salem Willows Jazz History · Part 3 of 5

Prof. Kenerson’s Dancing Casino first drew crowds to the Willows for live music and dancing. In the mid-1920s, the Charleshurst Ballroom became one of the region’s premier big-band destinations—the place where Duke Ellington and His Washingtonians performed nine times in 1927.

By day, families came for the ocean breezes and promenade. By night, the Willows came alive with music, dancing, and laughter.

Nearly a century later, that mix of place, people, and music still makes Salem Willows special.

08/26/2026

The Shribman brothers helped build New England’s jazz circuit.

Salem Willows Jazz History · Part 2 of 5

Charlie and Cy Shribman transformed New England’s dance-hall business in the 1920s. Charlie built relationships with musicians and recognized emerging talent; Cy handled the operations, bookings, and business that kept bands moving throughout the region.

Charlie booked Duke Ellington extensively between 1924 and 1927, helping introduce new audiences to the music while supporting Ellington during his formative years.

Their work made Salem part of a much larger jazz story—one that still echoes across the North Shore.

08/25/2026

We'd be remiss if we did not honor Mary Ellen Sullivan, a longtime festival volunteer who passed in February. Mary Ellen, along with her husband Howie, enthusiastically put together festival VIP bags for us every summer. She always had a smile and a kind word.

This paragraph from her obituary is an example of her dedication to her community: "Mary Ellen had a profound impact through her career in social work. For over 40 years, she worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, most recently as the Supervisor for the Department of Transitional Assistance in Salem. Her career path was a true calling born from her desire to help others, especially those in need. Her compassionate spirit and dedication to her work won the hearts of many. Her active mentoring of others throughout her career empowered a new generation of social workers, leaving a lasting legacy."

Please keep Mary Ellen and her family in your thoughts.

View Mary Ellen McHugh-Sullivan's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/24/2026

Duke Ellington played Salem Willows nine times in 1927.

Salem Willows Jazz History · Part 1 of 5

On Easter Monday in 1924, a 24-year-old Duke Ellington made his first appearance at the Charleshurst Ballroom. By summer 1927, Ellington and His Washingtonians had returned for nine performances—helping connect Salem to a defining chapter in American jazz.

That history is one reason the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival calls the Willows home today.

Follow the series as we trace the people and places that built the North Shore’s jazz story.