The Charles River Jazz Festival was founded in 2021 by Boston-based saxophonist Seba Molnar, in partnership with Friends of Herter Park, to reimagine what a community-centered jazz festival could look like in Boston. In the wake of the Beantown Jazz Festival’s closure and the loss of many local venues, the festival was created to rebuild spaces where artists and audiences could come together through live music.

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With just two months of planning and a limited budget, the inaugural festival featured five bands and welcomed more than 500 attendees. With the help of Seba’s partner, Moriah Phillips, and a group of dedicated friends, what began as a small grassroots effort quickly grew into something much larger. By the following year, attendance had tripled to over 1,600 people, with the addition of food and art vendors creating a more immersive, community-driven experience.

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As the festival grew, so did the vision behind it. In 2022, the Boston Jazz Foundation was formed to meet a broader need for accessible and inclusive jazz programming across the city. Born directly out of the success of the festival, the foundation expands this work year-round—supporting local artists, connecting communities, and preserving the authentic spirit of jazz. Now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Boston Jazz Foundation is entirely artist-run and powered by a passionate, volunteer-based team dedicated to uplifting the creative community it serves.

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The momentum continued, and by 2025, the festival had grown to over 5,000 attendees, welcoming audiences from 26 states and 16 countries, establishing itself as one of Boston’s most inclusive and rapidly growing cultural events.

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In 2026, the festival is yet again reaching a major milestone with its move to the iconic Hatch Memorial Shell, expanding its capacity and visibility while remaining free and open to the public. The festival features a full day of live music programming, food trucks, and Vendor Row, highlighting local artists and artisans. Past performers have included nationally recognized artists such as Keyon Harrold, Braxton Cook, Christian Sands, Michael Mayo, and Charles Haynes.

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At its core, the Charles River Jazz Festival is about access, connection, and community. In a city where rising costs can limit participation in the arts, the festival provides a free, welcoming space where people of all backgrounds can gather, experience live music, and celebrate Boston’s rich cultural landscape. It is not just a concert, it is a platform for artists, a resource for the community, and a growing tradition that continues to bring people together year after year.