Meg McClenahan 
The Montclair Public Library is celebrating the opening of The Peter Bodge + Seed Artists Jazz Library Sunday, October 12th at 4PM. The new resource will deepen and foster the already vibrant jazz scene Montclair has to offer. Read on to learn more about Peter Bodge and the new Jazz Library coming to Montclair, NJ.
What to Expect at the Opening
On Sunday, October 12th at 4PM, the Montclair Public Library will celebrate and welcome community members into the Peter Bodge + Seed Artists Jazz Library. The celebration will begin on the Plaza of the library, which is located at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.
The performance will feature a jazz trio consisting of James Brandon Lewis, Pheeroan akLaff, and Jeong Lim Kim. Following the performance, community members will head inside to officially open The Peter Bodge + Seed Artists Jazz Library.
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The collection comes from Peter Bodge’s collection, which was donated to the Montclair Public Library in 2025. The collection consists of 600 jazz books collected over time and will be available to borrow through the interlibrary loan system. The Peter Bodge + Seed Artists Jazz Library will be one of the largest circulating jazz collections in the Northeast, providing a notable cultural resource for the community.
In a statement, library leadership shared, “Beyond serving as a valuable and accessible research archive, it will also serve as a foundation for future concerts, film screenings, lectures, art exhibits, and youth programming at the public library via collaborations with creative partners throughout Montclair and beyond.”
About Peter Bodge
Peter Bodge was an educator, visual artist, self-taught drummer, and jazz historian. Peter’s daughter and her family moved to Montclair two decades ago, which is where Peter’s connection to Montclair began. Peter worked with the local Seed Artists nonprofit by hosting monthly jazz listening sessions at the Montclair Public Library, creating artwork for jazz festivals, and influencing the Seed Artists children’s programs.
Inspired by his father, jazz was a lifelong passion for Peter. Peter was a self-taught drummer who frequented the New England jazz circuit. Peter was deeply involved in Jazz his whole life, which is a testament to his collection and visual art. Peter was an educator who taught art in middle and high schools. In addition, Peter taught art history and jazz to adults, art for non-artists, and creative thinking to educators. Peter’s donation of his collection will continue Peter’s legacy of education and stand as an incredible free resource for the community.
About Seed Artists
Seed Artists is a local nonprofit that focuses on arts programming in the area. Seed Artists began working with the Montclair Public Library in 2015. Seed Artists believes in arts programming to educate and build community. The Peter Bodge + Seed Artists Jazz Library is a free resource that they find integral to the community and public programming at the Montclair Public Library.
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