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The 21st Annual Michael F. Sherlock Memorial Jazz Festival, held Saturday, October 5 at Williamson Park in Morrisville, attracted several hundred jazz enthusiasts. This year’s show featured renowned vocalist Jill Salkin and her Trio, the Suzette Ortiz Latin Ensemble, the Riverside Quartet, and the Fascinating Rhythm Big Band.
After being postponed from its original date in August due to scheduled storms, this rescheduled event could not have asked for a more beautiful fall day under perfectly blue sunny skies. The park’s lawn was filled with spectators who brought lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy this free community event that also included food trucks and vendors.
Although people came for the music, this festival was established as a tribute to Michael F. Sherlock, a longstanding Morrisville resident who passed away from lung cancer at the young age of 50 on July 18, 2002.
A year after Michael passed, Nancy Sherlock, his wife of 33 years, and their three children wanted to come up with a way to memorialize him. They ultimately established the Michael F. Sherlock Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to support and sponsor musical and community events in his memory. It also supports cancer research through donations to existing research and medical organizations.
Nancy describes how she and her husband always enjoyed listening to jazz music together and often drove to Philadelphia and Trenton to see live jazz performances.
She tells how one Christmas in 1997, she had walked to A-Z Music in Morrisville, trying to think of a gift for Michael. She ultimately bought him a saxophone because of his love for jazz. When she gave it to him, he looked at her curiously, and said “But you know I don’t play the saxophone.” She responded with, “So, you’ll learn.” And he did! He even became a member of the Uptown String Band for four years.
As a result of his love for music, Nancy and her family decided to sponsor a free annual jazz festival in Morrisville. Every spring their foundation hosts a spring comedy show to raise money for the festival. All proceeds from this show go to the foundation, which pays for the festival. Any money leftover is donated to cancer research.
Nancy describes how during the first few years of this festival, they had the privilege of having acclaimed jazz musician Eric Mintel perform. At the time, he was a Morrisville resident and a family friend. During these early years, she also reached out to Bucks County Community College’s music professor who was happy to get the school’s student band involved.
While some musicians return year after year, new jazz performers come onboard as well, so it’s always a new experience.
Nancy has recently strived to make the festival more family friendly by adding yard games and equipment for the kids. This year, children enjoyed playing the big Connect Four games as well as cornhole.
The foundation serves as an enduring memorial to Mike to share his love for music and to continue his philosophy of enjoying every moment and life itself.
“Our hope is that through community events like this jazz festival, others are able to share life’s special moments with their loved ones,” says Nancy.
Donations can be made by mail to the Michael F. Sherlock Foundation at 424 West Bridge St., Morrisville, PA 19067. For more information, contact 215-630-7887.