MONTCLAIR -- The lawn at Nishuane Park came alive with the sounds of horns, saxophones and singing on Saturday as music lovers gathered for the eighth annual Montclair Jazz Festival.

Organized by the jazz vocalist Melissa Walker, the free festival brought performances by Dee Dee Bridgewater & Memphis Soulphony; A Christian McBride Situation; and the Cyrus Chestnut.

Walker, whose husband is jazz bassist Christian McBride, is the president and founder of Jazz House Kids, an arts education nonprofit in Montclair that started 15 years ago.

"We are proud that the Montclair Jazz Fest has metamorphosed into one of the largest and greatest free summer events in New Jersey," Walker said in a statement. "Along with the Montclair Film Festival in the spring, the Montclair Jazz Fest has become part of the fabric of our community and a world-class event, solidifying this town's standing as a thriving arts and cultural destination all year round."

The day featured a beer garden and kid-friendly events sponsored by the Montclair Library and Montclair Art Museum.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.