The New Jersey Performing Arts Center announced their 2016-17 lineup of programming. We’re sharing it in a 6-part series, and here’s a look at the jazz performances on this year’s calendar.
Jazz
The TD James Moody Jazz Festival marks its fifth year from November 1-20, but the TD Jazz Series keeps the music swingin’ throughout the season. The Cuban rhythms of the aforementioned Buena Vista Social Club’s Omara Portuondo offer a taste of what’s to come later at the festival.
“I’m especially looking forward to leading all-star concert tributes to two of Newark’s legendary musicians – the “Divine” Sarah Vaughan and saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter – and hosting an afternoon of music with four-time Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding,” says Christian McBride. “I’m also beyond excited to be part of that very special reunion of James Brown alumni in Prudential Hall. We’ll be hearing from Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis, the greats of GRP Records, and many others. That’s the kind of company we keep.”
A highlight of the Moody celebration – named in honor of the Newark saxophone virtuoso – will be Jazz in the Key of Ellison (November 1) sponsored by Audible.com with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, vocalist Catherine Russell, special guest Angelique Kidjo and others to be announced. It’s an all-star homage to American novelist Ralph Ellison and his remarkable jazz collection, told in words and music. On November 6, Chris and Dan Brubeck, sons of jazz giant Dave Brubeck, head a versatile band in The Brubeck Songbook highlight never before heard songs from Brubeck with Manhattan singer-pianist Hilary Kole and host Michael Bourne of WBGO Jazz88.3.
A who’s-who of alumni from GRP Records, the groundbreaking jazz label founded by musicians Dave Grusin and the late Larry Rosen in the ‘70s, will reunite in GRP Jazz Revisited (November 17) to present, individually and collectively, music from the studio’s heyday. Grusin will be joined by Lee Ritenour, Phil Perry, David Sanborn and The Yellowjackets in this heartfelt tribute to Rosen. This season the festival turns the spotlight on Newark’s “Divine One” – Sarah Vaughan – for a pair of events: the annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (November 20), a career-making opportunity for five top female singers to vie for the “SASSY Award,” and Sarah Vaughan Celebration (November 19), hosted by McBride and his trio, with special guest vocalists Dianne Reeves, Lisa Fischer and Sheila Jordan.
Newark saxophonist Wayne Shorter participates in a jazz-filled, April weekend in his honor as part of the TD Jazz Series and in sponsorship with the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers-Newark. His former Weather Report bandmates join McBride, Rachel Z, Joe Lovano and Steve Wilson in Weather Report and Beyond Reimagined on April 22, 2017. Preceding the concert is a screening of Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity, a documentary directed by Dorsay Alavi. The next evening, electronic jazz and R&B icon Herbie Hancock guests with the Wayne Shorter Quartet in Prudential Hall. Preceding that concert, at 3 p.m., Shorter’s work is sure to be a topic in Christian McBride with Esperanza Spalding: One on One, a concert and conversation between two acclaimed bassists.
“We take the definition of jazz further than most venues,” says Rodriguez of the innovative “casting” of these themed jazz concerts.
Dorthaan’s Place, NJPAC’s popular jazz and brunch combo, begins its season during the festival with pianist and composer Renee Rosnes on November 20. The Sunday series at in-house NICO Kitchen + Bar continues with the Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin Quartet (January 22, 2017); baritone Kevin Mahogany (February 12, 2017); bluesman Rob Paparozzi (March 12, 2017); and the Bucky Pizzarelli/Ed Laub Duo (April 2, 2017).
