The next generation of jazz, coming right up

At first glance, Molnar’s assertion seems obvious; representation, after all, is one of the best ways to welcome a particular group of people into any art form. As a longtime performer, however, Molnar has observed many jazz festivals fall short when it comes to incorporating the genre’s next generations in lineups.

It’s a pattern he hopes to disrupt with the Charles River Jazz Festival, which takes over Herter Park Amphitheater this Sunday. The fourth edition of the free, artist-run festival gathers a spectrum of jazz artists who incorporate elements of hip-hop, gospel, Afrobeat, and R&B in their original compositions. As the festival’s cofounder and executive director, Molnar helps curate the lineup, which he estimates will draw 3,000 people this weekend.

“We have thousands of young people grooving out there to awesome jazz music,” he says, recalling prior years of the festival. “It’s not that they don’t want it, it’s just a matter of how we package it and present it to them to get them involved and feel like it’s something that represents them.”

Molnar helped launch the festival in 2021 with little more than $2,000 and two months to plan. At the time, he and fellow organizers sought to fill a void in the Boston jazz community following the loss of the Beantown Jazz Festival, which ended after 2018. Since then, Molnar’s mission of community building has broadened to focus on connecting a vibrant array of younger jazz “royalty” with jazz performers and fans living in Greater Boston.

Some artists scheduled to perform this year include NALEDI, a New York-based vocalist who threads her South African heritage through bursts of jazz; New Orleans-raised artist Brian Richburg Jr., a lifelong drummer who melds Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the bluesy beat of his hometown; and Molnar, himself a well-traveled saxophonist who’s studied under the tutelage of Bill Pierce and Tia Fuller. Charles Haynes & The Tabernacle will headline alongside guest musician Keyon Harrold, who contributed all of the trumpet performances in the 2015 Miles Davis biopic “Miles Ahead.”

The lineup presents a snapshot of jazz’s eclectic, promising present — and a pathway to maintaining that variety and momentum in the future.

“The typical image of jazz is that we’re still playing those standards from back in the day, but the reality is, there’s a lot of young artists who are taking the mind-set of jazz and applying it to the sounds of today,” Molnar says. “We want to make sure there’s space for the next generation to have a platform and reach an audience.”

GIG GUIDE

The Xfinity Center swells with rollicking jams from Dave Matthews Band on Friday, while the fourth edition of Third Eye Blind’s “Summer Gods” tour taps Florida pop-punks Yellowcard for a show at the Mansfield amphitheater on Saturday.

Indie rock band The Brazen Youth import sounds from their native Connecticut and their 2022 album “Eagle, Idaho” at Brighton Music Hall on Friday. San Franciscan singer La Doña, known for spiking her hip-hop with reggaeton and Caribbean beats, headlines the club on Sunday after an opening performance from local Latin artist Yelena.

Two hip-hop icons cruise into town on Saturday, with 50 Cent headlining Big Night Live, and KRS-One dominating the Middle East Downstairs. The latter show folds local flair into the lineup via appearances from Boston hip-hop duo Blak Madeen and DJ Problemattik.

Following a split from longtime musical partner John Oates, Daryl Hall teams up with Elvis Costello & the Imposters at MGM Music Hall on Sunday. On Tuesday, Chicago rapper Chief Keef brings a lotta bars to the venue for “A Lil Tour” that celebrates his May record “Almighty So 2.”

The Jungle vibrates with Boston-crafted beats this week; DJ Starla hosts a showcase of women emcees on Tuesday, followed by a dual hip-hop and EDM showcase on Thursday. Across town, Philly’s dreamy rock act Queen of Jeans make a Thursday evening appearance at The Rockwell.

Also on Thursday, Boston-based artist Frances Forever caps off a brief North American tour at The Sinclair. The prospective bedroom pop star secured a viral hit in 2020 with the starry-eyed serenade “space girl,” and recently unveiled their debut LP, “Lockjaw.”

NOW SPINNING

Clairo, “Charm.” It’s been three years since Carlisle’s alternative star delivered an LP, and the mellow grace of her new record, “Charm,” demonstrates why. Clairo’s third album wades into a pearlescent collage of soft-spoken vocals and full-bodied instrumentals that echo her 2023 live EP. Even when she’s openly yearning on songs like “Sexy to Someone,” Clairo maintains a breezy composure on this unhurried work of pop magnetism.

Darren Barrett, “The Get Down 4 Real: Step Step Steppin’” and “dB-ish: The Path to Our Truth.” You’re not seeing double; Boston-based trumpeter and composer Darren Barrett marks his 25th year as a recording leader with the simultaneous release of two new records. “The Get Down 4 Real: Step Step Steppin’” guides a whimsical flow of jazz-funk, while “dB-ish: The Path to Our Truth” stretches into chewy, experimental instrumentals.

Trousdale, “Out of My Mind (Deluxe).” For proof that Trousdale’s folk-pop was made for festival season, look no further than the expanded edition of their 2023 record “Out of My Mind.” Newly-added live tracks from the LA trio, such as “If I’m Honest” and “Bad Blood,” soar with the unmistakable levity and gusto of a sprawling outdoor set. (Quite the feat, considering they were recorded at an indoor show.) A pair of covers and duets with BAILEN and Ben Abraham supplement the album’s sonic sunshine.

BONUS TRACK

Call it “Now Spinning, Vol. 2.” Waterfront Vinyl Nights return to The Institute of Contemporary Art this weekend, kicking off a summer’s worth of Friday evening dance parties. The free series, which brings a roster of Boston DJs to the museum’s back patio, runs through the end of August.

Victoria Wasylak can be reached at vmwasylak@gmail.com. Follow her on X @VickiWasylak.

This story has been updated to correct an error in the act that will perform Thursday night at The Rockwell.