William “Count” Basie Birthday Block Party – FREE!

As part of its momentous Centennial Celebration, the Count Basie Center for the Arts hosts a weekend commemorating the birth of its namesake and Red Bank native, jazz icon William Count Basie, born in Red Bank on August 21, 1904. This free, outdoor Block Party marks the 122nd anniversary of Basie’s birthday with a free outdoor performance by the legendary, world-famous Count Basie Orchestra, which has continued performing Basie’s music since his death in 1984 and is making its first Basie Center appearance in more than a decade. The celebration includes food trucks, street performers, and a dedication ceremony recognizing the Basie Center as an official stop on New Jersey’s Black Heritage Trail, a statewide initiative promoting awareness of Black history, heritage, and culture. The event also features the presentation of the Count Basie Center Jazz Vanguard Award to Jerry Bakal, a longtime promoter of live jazz music in New Jersey and beyond, and the unveiling of Monmouth Street’s ceremonial renaming to Basie Center Way. Everybody’s invited to this public celebration honoring one of the biggest icons of jazz and American popular culture.