The Jazz Room at William Paterson University

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF THE SUMMER JAZZ ROOM SERIES (JULY 17 – 21) 🎷🎵🎶

☀️ We are heating up summer with 5 nights of hot jazz! Join us for another unforgettable week of exceptional talent in all styles of jazz from up-and-comers to seasoned vets. Click the link for more info and to reserve your seats.

https://www.wpunj.edu/wppresents/jazz-room-series/

Admission: $10 per concert • $40 week pass (on sale until July 13)

Jazz Room Series Jazz Room Series at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Come hear the great Steve Nelson this Sunday at 4pm in the Shea Center for the Performing Arts for the ! He'll play alongside our very own WPU Jazz Orchestra directed by Dr. David Demsey featuring original arrangements from our second-year graduate arranging students!

Mark your calendars and get your tickets. WP Summer Jazz Room series is back for its 29th annual season from July 18-22.

Tickets are on sale now at wp-presents.org

4PM TOMORROW!!! Come early for the 3PM Sittin' In Meet-the-Artist session to interact with members of this all-star band.

Tickets are still available for the show. Buy them online https://tickets.wpunj.edu/TheatreManager/1/online?performance=2545 or at the door.

This Mother's Day, treat Mom or yourself to the sounds of the all-female ensemble Artemis that is taking the world by storm! ⁠
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The fantastic finale of this season brings to our stage one of the most in-demand ensembles on today’s jazz scene, appearing at the top of many reader and critics’ polls. This jazz supergroup features pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, clarinetist Anat Cohen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. The group is distinctive not only for bringing together six singular artists, each renowned for their own remarkable solo career; but for its multi-generational and globe-spanning line-up. Their combined repertoire is reshaping today's jazz world.⁠
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May 8 | 4:00 p.m.⁠
Grab your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/5czb887w
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Congratulations to our Jazz program!!! Tracks by our WP Jazz Sextet will be airing for the rest of the month on WBGO Jazz Radio as part of Jazz Appreciation Month!

Here's the band lineup:

WP Jazz Sextet - directed by Bill Charlap

Selections:
Bojangles – Duke Ellington, arr. Jonny Gittings
Lotus Blossom – Kenny Dorham, arr. Jonny Gittings

Personnel:
Jonny Gittings (Cranberry, NJ), trumpet
Pat Gannon (Scotch Plains, NJ), alto saxophone
Richard LaRouech (Aurora, NY), trombone
Caelan Cardello (Teaneck, NJ), piano
Matt Holmes (Harpers Ferry, WV), bass
Alberto Oliart (Mexico City, Mexico), drums

Congrats to Pete McGuinness and his group, The Royal Bopsters, on their Jazz Artistry award at the 2022 Bistro Awards!

10 days away until WPU Music Department's annual Spring production. We encourage you to support these students who have worked incredibly hard on this monumental endeavor. We're extremely proud of our students.⁠
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There will be two performances⁠
April 22 | 7:00 p.m.⁠
April 24 | 2:00 p.m.⁠
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Click here for tickets: https://tickets.wpunj.edu/TheatreManager/1/online?event=0
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Join us this Sunday for the next installment of the Spring 2022 Jazz Room Series. Saxophonist Leo Johnson is one of the true elders of the Newark jazz tradition, maintaining a broad career in the Latin and jazz worlds for decades. This concert combines Johnson’s long jazz history with the students of WP’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, an unbeatable combination⁠
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April 10⁠, 4:00pm⁠
Sittin' In Meet-the-Artist session begins at 3:00pm.
Shea Center for Performing Arts⁠
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Grab your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/mw9uxw47
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WPU Music Department presents its annual opera. This year's production features Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). The opera, performed by our students, is a comedy, and it explores themes of class, infidelity, power relationships, and forgiveness. Performed with a full orchestra and in Italian with English supertitles.

📍Shea Center for Performing Arts
🗓 Friday, April 22 at 7pm & Sunday, April 24 at 2pm
🎟 $10 for WP community and $15 for general admission.

Click here for tickets: https://tickets.wpunj.edu/TheatreManager/1/online?event=0

Did you read TAPinto Wayne's feature on the Shea Center for Performing Arts at William Paterson University? In case you missed it, click below 👇

How the New and Improved Shea Center for Performing Arts at WP is Emerging from the Pandemic The Shea Center for the Performing Arts at William Paterson University in Wayne NJ is emerging from the pandemic with a spring lineup of live music and more.

Sunday's Jazz Room concert of Randy Brecker with the WP Jazz Orchestra was chosen as NJArts.net's Top 10 NJ Arts Events of the Week. Tickets are still available: https://tinyurl.com/5erua2db

Top 10 NJ Arts Events of the Week: Light of Day, Randy Brecker, Kiefer Sutherland, more Also JC Fridays, Flip Circus, Kiefer Sutherland, Norman Seldin, Mike Davis, more.

While Thursday is Monday at WPU, we're still hosting a professional Midday at 12:30. If you can make it, please go!

Music Department alum Nat Janoff and his trio play at 12:30 as today's professional Midday.

Nat Janoff-Guitar; James Robbins-Bass; Koko Bermejo-Drums

Jazzmeia Horn is one of today’s leading jazz vocalists. She was mentored by jazz vocal legends Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, and Bobby McFerrin. Winner of the Sarah Vaughn Vocal Competition and the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, plus two Grammy nominations, we're thrilled to have her open up our Spring 2022 Jazz Room Series. ⁠
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Feb 20⁠, 4:00 PM⁠
Shea Center for Performing Arts⁠
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Admission: General Public $15⁠
WP faculty, staff, alumni, and senior citizens $12⁠
Non-William Paterson students $8⁠
WP students are admitted free⁠
All tickets are an additional $3 on show day.⁠
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Click here for tickets: https://tinyurl.com/2p93tamj
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FREE CONCERT! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! PROFESSIONAL MIDDAY CREDIT FOR STUDENTS! LET'S GO!!!!

The first Professional Midday of the semester is today at 12:30. Go!

The Jazz Room at William Paterson University is so excited to present vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, in celebration of , on Feb. 20th.

For tickets 👉 https://tinyurl.com/2p93tamj
For the full calendar of WP's Black History Month activities, click the link below 👇

WP jazz alum Tom Brislin shares a touching story about working with rock legend Meat Loaf who sadly left this Earth but left behind his art and a massive impact on people and musicians alike, including Tom. Read his story.

It’s hard to believe the man is gone. Meat Loaf believed in me; he was the first one to put me on the big stages, in a role more demanding than most rock bands. Night in and night out, he gave everything he had and showed us what it meant to perform.
I joined Meat Loaf’s band in 1998. Thanks to the recommendation by Glen Burtnik (thank you Glen), I auditioned for Musical Director Kasim Sulton, who brought me in (thanks Kasim) along with fellow newcomers to the band Ray Andersen(guitar/keys/vocals) and Damon LaScot (lead guitar). Kasim along with band veterans John Miceli (drums), Patti Russo (vocals) and Pearl Aday (vocals) worked us up to the highest level for several weeks before the big guy joined the new lineup. When Meat Loaf showed up, there was anticipation in the air. He was gracious to us all and even took us newbies out to the movies after rehearsal.
After only 3 or so rehearsals with him, we filmed VH-1 Storytellers. From there it was off to the UK and Europe for more TV appearances. 1999 began with “The Very Best of…” tour in Europe with a lot of time spent in London for rehearsals and more TV performances. As I’m thinking of this I’m reminded of the impact Meat Loaf had on my life simply from all the incredible friends and memories I’ve gained thanks to the opportunity he gave me. This is especially true for the Storytellers tour in North America, which capped off a big tour year. We had a lot of laughs on the road; playing video games on the tour bus and talking about his role in the film Fight Club, which had been released that year.
Following the tours, Meat Loaf brought me into the studio to play on his album “Couldn’t Have Said it Better”. He had a way of bringing out the best in me no matter what the setting. Life as a touring musician would take me other places after this experience, yet I still feel the influence of these sessions and tours to this day.
It was an unexpected turn to be called in to tour with Meat Loaf one last time, in 2016. Filling in for Justin Avery, there were some new faces in the band: Paul Crook-guitar, Cian Coey-vocals, Randy Flowers-guitar, David Luther -sax, guitar, keys) as well as familiar faces from my first go-around (John Miceli still manning the drum kit, guitar/bass tech Charlie Milton and drum tech Eric Anderson). And of course, the boss himself. Meat Loaf spoke to me as if no time had passed since we last worked together, let alone 15 years. He was even thinking of creative ways to keep me around once Justin was to return. Sadly, he would not tour again, Time may have been catching up to him, but it never stopped him from giving his all to the audience.
I had the pleasure of working with great bandmates, and great techs who kept my keyboards working: Tony Geranios, Russ Ryan, Bruce Hendrix, and Robert Dorion). They helped me stay focused on the man himself, as Meat Loaf would often throw us curveballs onstage. He could pause for dramatic effect at any time, and we had to be ready to stop on a dime, bring it down, or pump it up.
Meat Loaf was an epic performer, and I’m grateful to have been a part of the circus. He ended every show by saying “Don’t ever stop rockin’”, and I intend to follow that call as long as I can. Rest in peace, Meat Loaf.
(photo by Damon LaScot, London 1999)

Looking for part-time work? The Shea Center Box Office at William Paterson University of New Jersey is hiring! 🤑💰💵
See poster for details. All are welcome to apply!

The WP Jazz Room Spring 2022 Series continues its tradition of widely varied programs across the jazz spectrum with artists that embody virtuosity, innovation, diversity, and legacy. The spring lineup features Jazzmeia Horn, Randy Brecker, The Royal Bopsters, Leo Johnson, Christian Sands, and the jazz supergroup Artemis. Get your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/2p98frr9

Congratulations to our very own Payton MacDonald for this work achievement.

🎶 Music Professor Payton MacDonald Completes 52-Week Marimba Recording Series 🎶

"Payton’s project creates spaces that help to define the exceptional artistry and sonic timbral variability of the marimba," - Lauren Fowler-Calisto, associate professor of music at WP.

🗞️ Read the full story from our Fall/Winter WP Magazine here 👉 https://bit.ly/3eIZgMw

🎶 https://paytonmacdonald.com/

Looking to de-stress??? Don’t miss this FREE community-building event today at 12:30PM in Shea. Let’s laugh and build a powerful community together!
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Please join us tomorrow for a free Midday Artist Series concert of SeekHer7, as part of William Paterson University of New Jersey's LGBTQIA+ Pride Celebration. Longtime friends Natalia Zukerman and Lisa Ferraro have combined musical efforts that are undeniably powerful, infectiously joyful and deeply connected to Spirit. Their collaboration is a collective gathering with meditation, music, movement, learning, deep listening, safe discovery and above all, boundless joy. Natalia Zukerman's music can be heard on the soundtrack of several seasons of "The L Word" and ABC Family's "Chasing Life." Lisa Ferraro's musical style rides the spectrum of music from modern rock and ballads to jazz standards. She has a distinct vocal style which is soulful, powerful and warm, with tremendous range. In performance, she tries to connect with the audience individually and personally.

See poster for details. No ticket or registration required. All are welcome!

Tonight at 8:00!!!!

Choir!Choir!Choir! is coming to William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ! This Toronto-based singing group, led by creative directors Nobu Adilman (AKA “Dabu”) and Daveed Goldman, takes a non-traditional approach. There are no auditions, and the audience is the choir. You get a lyric sheet at the door, and they’ll teach you an original vocal arrangement to a song you love. The show's intent is in equal parts: singing, comedy, and community-building. In the end, everyone has a blast and goes home feeling great! More details to follow. Go to wppresents.org for more info. This engagement is funded through the Mid Atlantic Tours program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from National Endowment for the Arts.
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Through the support of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation ArtsCONNECT grant, we presented a 2-day residency with the legendary Buster Williams that included a Sittin' In Meet-the-Artist session with audience members, a live performance with his band Something More, and a music workshop with WP Jazz Studies majors. We also had a surprise guest. Subbing for Steve Wilson was WP jazz alumna Bruce Williams Saxophonist. Check out pictures from the event. For more upcoming Jazz Room concerts, click here: https://www.wpunj.edu/wppresents/jazz-room-series/

This Sunday's Jazz Room features the Russell Malone Quartet.

Join us this Sunday, October 3rd for Jazz Room's concert of Buster Williams and his all-star group, Something More, featuring pianist George Colligan, saxophonist Steve Wilson, and the historic drummer Lenny White. Bandleader Buster Williams is a veteran of groups led by Herbie Hancock, Dexter Gordon, and Mary Lou Williams, as well as being a noted vocal accompanist, with Nancy Wilson, Shirley Horn, Betty Carter and others. 3PM Sittin' In Meet-the-Artist session, followed by 4PM concert. Click here for tickets: https://tinyurl.com/cwzrrzka

This engagement of Buster Williams & Something More is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.