Jazzville, NJ

Lou Pallo And The Gibson Bus

// May 22nd, 2011 // 4 Comments » // Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, Jazz Events, News

A bus similar to this, and no doubt loaded with musical goodies, will be at the Crossroads in Garwood on Tuesday, May 22.

Just got an email from organist Radam Schwartz, who runs the Tuesday Night Jazz Jam at the Crossroads in Garwood. Check it out and consider attending. Sounds like a fun time! Here’s Radam’s original email with full details:

Full Details For Point Pleasant Beach Jazz & Blues Fest 2011 (Address, Schedule, Etc)

// May 2nd, 2011 // No Comments » // Blues Events, Jazz Events, News

Well, this certainly is a rarity. Usually I find out what’s going on in the jazz & blues scenes around NJ and blog about it here, ultimately pointing you, faithful reader, to the official website for any given event.

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NJ Grindy Jazz Metal – Oh My!

// April 7th, 2011 // No Comments » // News

NJ grindy jazz metal quartet, Mothguts PHOTO CREDIT: RobotMojo

In my never-ending quest to bring you, my faithful Jazzville, NJ readers, all I can about the NJ jazz scene, I’ve come across a very interesting jazz band, mixing equal parts Sun-Ra, Ornette Coleman and Voodoo Glow Skulls. The NJ quartet bills itself as Mothguts and has launched a Kickstarter project seeking funding to cover recording & touring costs.

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From Dawn Till Dusk: Fill Your Day With Jazz

// April 2nd, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Jazz Events, News, Robin's Nest, Linden, NJ

Pat Metheny redefines the term "solo concert" with his Orchestrion Tour. Here, he stands surrounded by the mechanized instruments that share the stage with him.

Sunday April 3rd is set to be a windfall for NJ jazz fans:

First, wake up to the sounds of Pat Metheny and his Orchestrion (a show we attended this past October) at 9am on Channel 2′s “CBS News Sunday Morning.” Full details for this interview & performance can be found here.

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Tearing Down The Nest With Gas House Gorillas

// March 20th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Blues Events, Gas House Gorillas, Recaps & Reviews, Robin's Nest, Linden, NJ

Gas House Gorillas lead singer Rick Fink cuts an imposing silhouette in his fedora, A-shirt and suspenders.

Wow. Talk about a band that does not disappoint! It’s Saturday night and Jazzville, NJ Meetup Group is in attendance at the Gas House Gorillas show at the Robin’s Nest in Linden. It’s a friendly, if cozy, little juke joint that specializes in blues acts. But if you’re here to sit back and take in a quiet, relaxing evening, you are at the wrong show. Early in the night, the crowd’s energy boils over into spontaneous dancing as couples -and even singles- writhe and twist rhythmically among the tables.

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Best New Artist Esperanza Spalding Mesmerizes Crowd In Her Only NJ Appearance

// March 6th, 2011 // No Comments » // Artists, Esperanza Spalding, Jazz Events, Recaps & Reviews, UCPAC, Rahway, NJ

Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding's innovative style is paving the way for future jazz musicians. PHOTO CREDIT: Afrobella.com

She may have made history at this year’s Grammy Awards by becoming the first jazz musician EVER to win Best New Artist, but Esperanza Spalding hasn’t let the hype change her. Humbly walking onto the unlit stage of the Union County Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 5, Spalding turned on a lamp, took off her coat and poured herself a glass of wine, creating an atmosphere of tranquility amidst the whirlwind of activity that’s occurred in these few weeks since then. Having read Esperanza’s bio detailing how she first decided she wanted to be a musician at age four after watching Yo Yo Ma perform on an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, I couldn’t help but feel that her “arrival”  was a small tribute to the daily ritual he performed at the start of every episode.

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Grammy Winner Esperanza Spalding To Play Union County Performing Arts Center

// February 16th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Esperanza Spalding, Jazz Events, News

Six years ago, at the age of 20, Esperanza Spalding became one of the youngest teachers in the history of the famed Berklee School of Music. This past Sunday she added to her list of achievements with a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Gustafson/FTWP.

Fresh off her win for Best New Artist at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards (and all the Bieber controversy that surrounded it), Esperanza Spalding will be playing at the historic Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on March 5th.

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Tia Fuller Blows Away Audience In Jazz Room Series

// February 15th, 2011 // No Comments » // Jazz Events, Recaps & Reviews

Tia Fuller proved to the audience at William Paterson University's Jazz Room Series that she is a force to be reckoned with. PHOTO CREDIT: StanfordJazz.org

Jazz lovers received an early Valentine’s Day treat on Sunday, February 13, courtesy of William Paterson University’s Jazz Room Series. The magnificently talented Tia Fuller performed a set from her latest record entitled “Decisive Steps.”

The Jazzville, NJ crew first had a chance to see this incredible young saxophone player when the The New Brunswick Jazz Project hosted an event at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant late last year. Fuller completely stole our hearts that night, and this past weekend was no different.

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Jazzville, NJ Invites You To Attend A Meetup

// February 11th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Jazz Events, News

Tia Fuller will perform this Sunday at William Paterson University's ongoing Jazz Room Series. PHOTO CREDIT: Raj Najik

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we invite you to join Jazzville, NJ in sharing your love of New Jersey Jazz. Each month, we attend several events around NJ with a group of dedicated jazz fans, and this month features a special treat:

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Jimmy Cobb’s “Kind of Blue” 50th Anniversary Tour Passing Through Red Bank This Weekend

// February 9th, 2011 // No Comments » // Jazz Events, News

It’s been two years since the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis’ seminal album “Kind of Blue” – an album so wide-reaching in its scope that musicians in both the rock and classical genres have cited it as an influence. Heck, according to Wikipedia, it’s still the best-selling jazz album of all time, certified quadruple platinum in 2008.

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