// January 17th, 2011 // No Comments » // Blues Events, Jazz Events, News, Radam Schwartz, Robin's Nest, Linden, NJ
Master of the Hammond B3 Organ, Radam Schwartz will make his debut at Makeda Ethiopian on Thursday, Jan 20
Jersey jazz lovers: The weather outside is frightful, but don’t let that stop you from joining us this week at two live music events.
// December 6th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Jazz Events, News, Recaps & Reviews
Legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck continues to tour and compose music for devoted fans. PHOTO CREDIT: berklee.edu
He was declared a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2000. The Kennedy Center presented him with the Living Legacy Jazz Award in 2007. But if you ask me what comes to mind when I think of Dave Brubeck, I’d say he’s an adorable and charming man who you simply can’t look away from.
// November 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // Jazz Events, News
Howdy Jazzville readers! Hope you’re all having a jazzy weekend so far. Just wanted to call your attention to this really cool event to raise awareness about the 2,771 abused and neglected children in Essex County.
With the holidays coming up fast, why not take time out to unwind with some great jazz music from the Bob Cunningham Ensemble and enjoy a lovely spread, all while helping out a great cause? Here are the details. For more information, please visit http://www.casaessex.org/jazz.aspx, but do act quickly – reservations must be made by November 9th.
What: An Afternoon of Jazz
When: Sunday, November 14, 2010 (3:00 – 6:00pm)
Where: Van Gliek House & Gardens, 21 Van Vleck St #12, Montclair, NJ
// October 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // Commentary, History, Jazz Events, News
Google displayed a stylized version of its logo on Thursday, October 21, 2001, in honor of jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's birthday.
Having been sick for the last few days, I came home from work early today to fight off the last remnants of a nasty cold. At 5pm I downed a dose of NyQuil in an attempt to get some sleep, and boy did it help! I slept almost until midnight, or “Round Midnight” as may be apropos to say at this moment. Upon waking up, I logged on to the computer and was super excited to find that Google decided to honor what would have been Dizzy Gillespie’s 93rd birthday with a stylized Google Doodle.
// October 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Annette Njie, Commentary, Jazz Events, News
The website for the 2010 Trenton International Jazz & Blues Festival lists various sponsors, but problems paying the performers have left a negative mark on the event in the eyes of many.
I once heard a wise saying that went something like this: “Smart people learn from their mistakes; smarter people learn from the mistakes of others.”
Sadly, in the NJ jazz world we have an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of Annette Njie, the Trenton promoter who created the Trenton International Jazz & Blues Festival that ran earlier this year from September 17-19 at various venues around Trenton. The festival itself went off without a hitch, but when it came time to pay the two dozen acts, most were left high and dry, receiving partial payment or none at all.
// October 13th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Jazz Events, News
Miles Gilderdale (left) and Greg Carmichael (right) front UK-based contemporary jazz group, Acoustic Alchemy.
In a great example of just how big the jazz genre is, today I was surprised to learn that Acoustic Alchemy – a group I had always considered to be “World Music” or “New Age” – is in fact considered a jazz group. Awesome! I’ve only followed their music for a few years, but everything I’ve heard is a fantastical mix of relaxed, mellow, upbeat and positive. Listening to their work is like listening to a motivational speech.
// October 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cecil Brooks III, Cecil's Jazz Club, West Orange, NJ, News
Cecil Brooks III selling his jazz club in West Orange?
Is the world-famous Cecil Brooks III looking to sell his jazz club in West Orange, NJ? I don’t know, but evidence points to this being the case. The listing says a “Local Well Known Restaurant & Jazz Club” in “West Orange, NJ” is for sale with an asking price of $1,000,000.
// September 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Jazz Events, News
Hopewell Valley Vineyards invites you to enjoy a glass of wine and unwind to the sounds of their Friday Night jazz performances. PHOTO CREDIT: HopewellValleyVineyards.com
I’ve been a fan of local New Jersey wines for many years. For ages I wondered why wineries would close at 5pm on Friday nights. With beautiful grounds, fantastic wines and local jazz musicians itching to play a show, they have everything they need to attract a crowd seeking to unwind on a Friday night. I figured it was such a no-brainer that there must be some kind of law or local ordinance preventing them from staying open, serving wine and giving people a place to socialize, relax and listen to some jazz.
// September 26th, 2010 // No Comments » // Jazz Events, News
Left to right: Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade will perform at BergenPAC on Tuesday, Sept. 28th in their only NJ appearance.
Listen up, folks – a bonafide supergroup is blowing through town this coming Tuesday, September 28th! Chick Corea along with friends Christian McBride and Brian Blade are set to knock your socks off at BergenPAC in Englewood. Billed as Corea + McBride + Blade, this trio is sure to equal one amazingly good time!
// September 25th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Jazz Events, News
Pat Metheny redefines the term "solo concert" with his Orchestrion Tour, blowing through NJ in early October. Here, he stands surrounded by the multitudes of mechanized instruments that share the stage with him.
“Metheny’s Orchestrion is nothing short of spectacular… Endlessly fascinating and visually dazzling.” – Kansas City Star
Wow, the Kansas City Star’s review certainly caught my attention! And since Jazzville NJ’s sophisticated readers are always hot on the pulse of the latest jazz happenings, you probably already know about this tour which kicked off earlier in the year. What you might not have known is that Metheny’s Orchestrion Tour will be gracing NJ audiences with three dates in early October.
For those who don’t know who Metheny is or what an orchestrion does, allow me to explain:
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