• By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) hosts the 13th Annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival this month. Performances start on November 7, continue during the month and culminate on November 24 at the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

WHEN: November 7 – 24, 2024

WHERE: Multiple venues across New Jersey including NJPAC (One Center Street, Newark), Mayo Performing Arts Center (1000 South Street, Morristown), Newark Symphony Hall (1020 Broad Street, Newark), Rutger University Clement’s Place (15 Washington Street, Newark)

**Listing of Performances:

Paquito D’ Rivera with New Jersey Symphony (Nov 7, 8 & 10)

Tribute to Funk! with Bilal, Nona Hendryx, Christian McBride, Savion Glover, Vernon Reid, George Clinton, and More (Nov 14)

NJMEA All-State Jazz Band + Choir (Nov 15)

Tyshawn Sorey Trio featuring Aaron Diehl and Harish Raghavan and

Sandbox Percussion (Nov 15)

WBGO Children’s Concert with Davell Crawford (Nov 16)

Madeleine Peyroux (Nov 16)

Cindy Blackman Santana (Nov 17)

Jazz Jams @ Clement’s Place (Nov 21)

Bethany Baptist Jazz Vespers @ 25 Honoring Rev. M. William Howard, Jr. (Nov 21)

John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russell: BILLIE & BLUE EYES (Nov 22)

Dorado Schmitt and Sons: Django Festival All-Stars (Nov 23)

Kronos Quartet (Nov 23)

Philip Bailey, Lisa Fischer, Dianne Reeves and Christian McBride Big Band (Nov 23)

Dorthaan’s Place: Brandee Younger Trio (Nov 24)

13th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition (Nov 24)

PROGRAM INFORMATION (subject to change):

THU 11.07-SUN 11.10 Paquito D’Rivera with New Jersey Symphony

THU 11.07 @ 1:30 p.m. @ NJPAC

FRI 11.08 @ 8:00 p.m. @ NJPAC

SUN 11.10 @ 3:00 p.m. @ Mayo Performing Arts Center

Carlos Miguel Prieto – conductor

Paquito D’Rivera – clarinet & co-curator

Paquito D’Rivera Quintet

Amber Monroe – soprano

New Jersey Symphony

In this special trio of performances Nov 7, 8 and 10, he performs as a guest soloist, along with his phenomenal Quintet, with the New Jersey Symphony. D’Rivera puts his own signature jazzy swing on Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, a medley of Gershwin’s unforgettable hits, and more.

Locations: NJPAC’s Prudential Hall & Mayo Performing Arts Center.

THU 11.14 @ 7:30 p.m. Tribute to Funk! with Bilal, Nona Hendryx, Christian McBride, Savion Glover, Vernon Reid, George Clinton and Ray Chew

 It’s an unmissable night with the living legends of funk. Featuring appearances by:

Bilal, the GRAMMY®-winning soul singer and songwriter. In addition to his award for “These Walls,” he was nominated for his songs “Little One” and “Matter,” and for his contributions to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly.

Nona Hendryx of Labelle, celebrating 50 years of the hit song “Lady Marmalade.” The pioneering songwriter, vocalist, activist and multimedia artist is still breaking boundaries with her ambitious fusion of technology, music, art and performance.

Christian McBride, the luminous 16x GRAMMY® nominee and 8x winner who plays everything from Monk to Funk. Bassist, composer, bandleader and NJPAC Jazz Advisor.

Savion Glover, the TONY Award-winning tap dancer extraordinaire of Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk; The Tap Dance Kid; Jelly’s Last Jam and Shuffle Along. Tap legend Gregory Hines calls him “possibly the best tap dancer that ever lived.”

Vernon Reid, the GRAMMY®-winning guitarist and founder of Living Colour. “His rampant eclecticism encompasses everything from heavy metal and punk to funk, R&B and avant-garde jazz, and his anarchic, lightning-fast solos have become something of a hallmark” (AllMusic).

George Clinton, the Godfather of Funk. The frontman of Parliament-Funkadelic is one of funk music’s foremost innovators, with a career spanning five decades, three dozen albums and sweeping musical influence.

With Music Director Ray Chew (Dancing with the Stars, Showtime at the Apollo, SNL).

Location: NJPAC’s Prudential Hall.

FRI 11.15 @ 7:00 p.m. NJMEA / All State Jazz Band and Choir

NJMEA Jazz Band

NJMEA Jazz Choir

Catch the next generation of great jazz artists from New Jersey. This annual concert event, co-presented by NJPAC’s Arts Education Department and the New Jersey Music Educators Association, brings together some of the very best young musicians and vocalists from across the state for a dynamic group performance. Performers include NJMEA All-State Jazz Band and NJMEA All-State Jazz Choir.

Location: NJPAC’s Chase Room.

FRI 11.15 @ 7:30 p.m. Tyshawn Sorey Trio (featuring Aaron Diehl and Harish Raghavan) and Sandbox Percussion East Coast premiere

Tyshawn Sorey – percussion

Aaron Diehl – piano

Harish Raghavan – bass

Sandbox Percussion – percussion

2024 marks the Centennial of the birth of jazz pioneer Max Roach (1924-2007). His legacy and music are explored in this unique concert led by breakout percussionist Tyshawn Sorey. A MacArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize winner, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Sorey grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and attended Newark Arts High School. As a teenager, he participated in NJPAC’s very own JAZZ FOR TEENS program. Coming full circle, this Nov 15th performance marks his NJPAC debut as a leader. He will lead his all-star Trio comprising pianist Aaron Diehl and bassist Harish Raghavan, followed by the GRAMMY-nominated chamber percussion quartet Sandbox Percussion (Ian Rosenbaum, Jonny Allen, Terry Sweeney and Victor Caccese).

The two groups will perform their own sets highlighting Roach’s impact across musical worlds. Then, they’ll join forces for the East Coast premiere of a new work co-commissioned by NJPAC, a through-composed multi-movement piece paying tribute to Roach’s groundbreaking M’Boom ensemble. Partial support for the development of this work was provided by NJPAC with the approval of the Max Roach estate.

Location: NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.

**JAZZ EVENTS AFTER NOVEMBER 15 will be featured in the next issue.

TICKETS

For tickets to each of the events, visit NJPAC.org

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)