PATRICE RUSHEN
- Montclair Jazz Festival
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Patrice Rushen is an award-winning musician and composer who is also one of the most sought after artists in the music industry. She is a classically trained pianist who originally found success in the 70’s and 80’s with her signature fusion of jazz, pop and R&B. During this era, she composed and recorded the hit song, “Forget Me Nots,” which has been frequently covered and sampled by other artists.
Rushen is also a four-time, Grammy nominee who has composed scores for movies and television. She has been the first female musical director for many of the entertainment industry’s top award shows, which include the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, the People’s Choice Awards, the NAACP Image Awards and HBO’s “Comic Relief V.”
Considered one of the world's top jazz pianists, she has performed with many artists. Among them such esteemed names as Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Prince, Nancy Wilson, Ndugu Chancler, Carlos Santana, Christian McBride and Lee Ritenour. She is a record producer and an award-winning composer of symphonic music, some of which was commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Rushen is the ”Ambassador of Artistry In Education” at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, and is the Chair of the Popular Music Program at USC’s Thornton School of Music.
Rushen also spends time working with the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, NARAS “Grammy In The Schools” program and other organizations dedicated to establishing music education and mentorship programs for underprivileged youth.
When and Where to See Her
Catch Patrice Rushen live on Saturday, August 15, 2025, at Downtown Jamboree, the festival’s all-day, open-air music extravaganza held in Downtown Montclair. It’s a free, family-friendly event packed with more than 150 food, artisan, and community vendors, plus kids’ activities, beer gardens, and pop-up performances throughout the day.
Plan Your Visit
Want the best seats—or rather, street-side views? Arrive early to stake your claim, or upgrade to VIP Lounge Access for prime viewing, complimentary refreshments, and an elevated festival experience.
Follow @MontclairJazzFestival on Instagram and Facebook for festival updates, artist features, and behind-the-scenes magic. Use hashtags #MontclairJazzFestival and #PatriceRushen to join the conversation!
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