2011 Newark Songbirds Calendar – Great Gift For A Great Cause

Posted by D.A. Gutierrez in Denise Hamilton, History, Jazz Events, Madame Pat Tandy, News, Pam Purvis, Yvette Glover

September 22nd, 2010   1 Comment »

You’ve heard me say it before – my daily NJ-centric jazz searches typically produce a list of band websites, local shows or other upcoming jazz events. On rare occasion, there’s a jazz club for sale or someone releasing a jazz-infused collection of Michael Jackson tunes. But late last week I had the unique pleasure of discovering a calendar featuring female jazz singers from the Garden State. What a treat! I had to investigate.

As soon as I saw the listing, I fired off an email asking for more information about how to order. A short while later I received a reply: “Thanks. I can send them through the mail. Call me at (973) 325-3760 for details. Barbara.” OK, fair enough. I called the number and left a message.What proceeded to happen next can only be described as mind-blowing…

The phone rang, and I entered into a 40 minute conversation with someone who has been a NJ music insider for nearly 40 years! That person was Barbara J. Kukla, formerly of the Newark Star-Ledger, founder of the Barbara J. Kukla Scholarship Fund and more importantly, the calendar’s creator. She’s also a published author, having penned the jazz retrospective Swing City: Newark Nightlife 1925-1950, and she’s been rubbing elbows with bonafide stars for decades.

I was so floored that I remember only a few of the dozens of her famous friends we discussed: jazz historian Stan Myers, vocalist Pam Purvis, vocalist and musician Ms. Anna Mae Lundy Lewis (also the mother of Yvette Glover) and mega-star Gloria Gaynor (Yes! THAT Gloria Gaynor!). We decided to keep in touch and discuss how we could work together in the future. Ms. Kukla has seen NJ Jazz up close, and I hope we can preserve her stories for generations to come.

In any case – back to the calendars. I just received them in the mail today, and I can’t wait for 2011 to come so I can start using mine! They are beautiful and feature some of the jazziest ladies who have ever graced a stage in New Jersey. If you’d like to get one of your own, give Barbara a call. She’s super friendly, and the proceeds go towards her scholarship fund which help keep Jazz alive in Newark by funding student scholarships and creating work for Newark jazz artists – both great causes we can really get behind. Below are more details on how to order the calendar. Buy a bundle of them – they make great gifts for the jazz lovers in your life!

3 Easy Ways To Get Your Hands On The 2011 Newark Songbirds Calendar:

1) Contact Barbara Kukla at 973-325-3760 or email her at BJKukla@aol.com.

2) Click here to print the order form. Fill it out and mail it to the address on the form.

3) Probably the jazziest way to get your hands on one:

From 6pm – 8pm on Wednesday, September 29th, “Miss November” Yvette Glover will be performing at the Newark Public Library with her trio. Go take in what’s sure to be a great show and buy your calendar to help support jazz in New Jersey.

Newark Public Library
5 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102

3 Easy Ways To Get Your Hands On The 2011 Newark Songbirds Calendar:

1) Contact Barbara Kukla at 973-325-3760 or by email at BJKukla@aol.com. 2) Click here to print the order form. Then fill it out and mail it to the address on the form. 3) Probably the jazziest way to get your hands on one of these calendars: From 6pm – 8pm on Wednesday, Sept 29th, “Miss November” Ms. Yvette Glover will be performing at the Newark Public Library with her trio in support of the calendar. Just show up, enjoy the show and open up your wallet or pocketbook as you support Jazz in New Jersey.

Newark Public Library
5 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102

Most importantly: Please spread the word about this worthy project. If we all pitch in, we can make a real difference to some deserving young people.