The Annual West Orange Jazz Festival is almost here! Saturday, October 7, 2023 1-8 pm at the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center located at 4 Boland Drive in West Orange NJ. We welcome you to enjoy world-class entertainment. We will be featuring 18-year-old “Jazz House” kid, star on the rise and recent recipient of the James Moody Scholarship, drummer Mecadon McCune, 98-year-old New Orleans native son and unsung hero in the annals of jazz, guitarist Warren Battiste, Grammy nominated pianist and songwriter for Luther Vandross Nat Adderley Jr, The multi-talented urban-tinged adult-contemporary jazz, soul, R&B, and Broadway performer, Ty Stephens, the Triple Threat, rising star violinist, singer and jazz jam leader Jacquie Lee with the Lee family band, latin band leader Carlos Frias and Circulo Social, Don Braden whose Earth Wind and Wonder album just reached #1 on the JazzWeek national radio chart, and closing the event with the world renowned, celebrated drummer Winard Harper.
Mike Lee is Professor of Jazz Saxophone at The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. In 2009. Lee’s musical accomplishments are shared and enjoyed by his musical family. Along with his wife, Violinist Rebecca Harris-Lee, they are raising three active young musicians. Their oldest son, saxophonist Julian, a graduate of The Juilliard School, has a thriving career in and around New York City having performed with ensembles including the Mingus Big Band, Wynton Marsalis Quintet, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
There will also be a beer and wine garden, food vendors, and more. Free parking and indoor restrooms are available.
General admission: $10—bring your own lawn chair. Premium Seating: $20—includes a pre-set chair in the front of the stage. Special group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. The rain date is October 7th.
Oct 7 Schedule
Come enjoy our lineup for 2023.- 7:15 PM: Winard Harper
- 6:15 PM: Jacquie, Mike Lee Family and Friends
- 5:15 PM: Don Braden Quartet
- 5:00 PM: Tribute to Warren Batiste Honor Lifetime Achievement
- 4:00 PM: Ty Stephens and the SoulJazz Band
- 3:00 PM: Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet
- 2:15 PM: Carlos Frias and Circulo Social, Latin Jazz
- 1:30 PM: Mecaden McCune Trio (A James Moody Scholar)
Meet The Bands
Winard Harper
Winard Harper was born in Baltimore, a child prodigy. Although his parents were not musicians, they were full of encouragement as they noticed him beating on cans when he was three or four years old. At five years old, Winard would sometimes sit in and play his drums in older brother Danny’s rock ‘n roll band after the family moved to Washington, D.C. When Winard’s younger brother Philip took to playing the trumpet, the two of them would busk in the streets of George Town, jam with a few bands, and help out with Danny’s various bands. Listening to Clifford Brown and Max Roach playing “Jordu” had fascinated Winard so greatly it showed him his direction — jazz. Subsequently, his father took him to all the local jazz scenes to listen and meet the best in the world of jazz.” Modern Drummer describes Winard as “a straight-ahead jazz drummer, Harper has perfected the blend of American jazz music with the sounds of African rhythms. Constantly in reverence of his predecessors while remaining innovative in his own right, Harper has been among the celebrated drummers in jazz for many years. He is a virtuoso on the drum set and the balafon, the West African equivalent of the marimba, he is a sought-after collaborator at home and abroad, a bandleader of his quartet, his quintet, and his exciting band the Jeli Posse. He is an event’s organizer – successfully running the weekly Friday Fish Fry Jazz Jam and the Sunday “Meet the Artist” Series at Moore’s Lounge in Jersey City.”Jacquie, Mike Lee Family and Friends
Teenager Jacquie Lee. in 2019 at Garfield Middle school, who has been playing Violin for 11 years, received the Jazz Soloist Downbeat Student Music Award for an Outstanding Performance. Jacquie has also been a member of Jazz House Kids and is a member of a family of musicians which has truly helped her hone her musicianship. Mike Lee Sax—Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, saxophonist Mike Lee has established himself in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area for many years. He balances a thriving performing career with a distinguished teaching resume. He performs regularly in New York City as a member of a wide array of jazz ensembles. His recent associations include The Jimmy Heath Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, Wallace Roney’s Universe Orchestra, The Oliver Lake Big Band, The Loston Harris Trio, The Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, Josh Evans Big Band, Dave Stryker, Frank Lacy, TS Monk, and The Roy Hargrove Big Band.Mike Lee is Professor of Jazz Saxophone at The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. In 2009. Lee’s musical accomplishments are shared and enjoyed by his musical family. Along with his wife, Violinist Rebecca Harris-Lee, they are raising three active young musicians. Their oldest son, saxophonist Julian, a graduate of The Juilliard School, has a thriving career in and around New York City having performed with ensembles including the Mingus Big Band, Wynton Marsalis Quintet, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Don Braden Quartet
Saxophonist, flutist, composer and educator, Don Braden’s jazz career spans 40 years. He has toured the world with Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, and others and performed on Saturday Night Live, at Carnegie Hall, Harvard University (where was an engineering undergrad), and countless jazz festivals and clubs. He has over 100 CDs as a sideman and 21 as a leader, the most recent being his critically acclaimed Earth Wind and Wonder. Don has written 150 pieces for ensembles from duos to full orchestras, including one for Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and over 100 songs for jazz combos. His compositions appear on dozens of CDs, TV shows and indie films. In 2000, he received a Doris Duke Foundation New Works grant and adjudicates for them and for SURDNA, the Downbeat Student Music Awards, and others. He teaches at Prins Claus Conservatoire in the Netherlands and at Montclair State University. He ran NJPAC’s Jazz for Teens for 15 years and led the Harvard University Monday Jazz Band. Don believes that jazz is a great music style to study because it reflects so many important aspects of life, including creativity, discipline, teamwork, leadership, listening skills, democracy, supportiveness, and improvisation. Don has been the music director of the Litchfield Jazz Camp since 1998.Guitarist, Warren Battiste
New Orleans native son Warren Battiste is another one of those unsung heroes in the annals of jazz who deserve more recognition for their contributing efforts to the cause of American music. Warren Battiste was born in New Orleans in 1925 and was taught to play the guitar by his father who was a banjo player at Preservation Hall. He was the first guitarist to play with Fats Domino on a regular basis and went on to play with Illinois Jacquet in New York. In New Orleans, Warren has performed at numerous jazz clubs on Bourbon Street, Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor, the Matador and many others. Warren also appeared in the film Shy People starring Jill Clayburgh and Barbara Hershey. Warren has performed with fellow guitarist George Benson, organist Jimmy McGriff, and accompanied classic vocal groups such as The Platters and The Inkspots to name a few. In 2000, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.Ty Stephens & SoulJaazz
SoulJaazz led by Ty Stephens. a multi-talented urban-tinged adult-contemporary jazz, soul, R&B, and Broadway performer are going to knock you out! Ty Stephens and the SoulJaazz band have performed around the world, gaining international audiences together and separately have performed with a whos' who in the industry such as Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Billy Preston, Eddie Kendricks, Chuck Mangione, Nile Rogers, Hugh Masakela, Wayne Shorter, Jon Lucien, Harry Belafonte, Diane Reeves, the Temptations, Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, LL Cool J, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Sting, Little Richard, Sam & Dave, Cindy Lauper, Roy Ayers, Merv Griffin, Pharoah Sanders, George Benson, Tito Puente and many more.Nat Adderley, Jr. Quartet
The Nat Adderley, Jr.. Quartet provides a unique jazz experience that you will also not want to miss. The Adderley name is an important one in music because it’s synonymous with jazz, swing, funk, spirit and musical excellence. Nat Adderley Jr. keeps the torch burning, with a lineage from as far back as Multi-instrumentalist Cannonball Adderley (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and in Mikes Davis Band), and Cornetist Nat Adderley (Work Song and Lionel Hampton’s big band). Over time Nat Adderley Jr. has created his own historical legacy. With over 20 years as the musical director and songwriter for Luther Vandross. Nat wrote “The Wave” for Kirk Whalum, arranged Natalie Cole’s 1987 recording of “When I Fall In Love”, produced “Just Another Lonely Night” for Johnny Gill, arranged Aretha Franklin’s album Jump To It, produced Gloria Lynne’s album No Detour Ahead, and produced “That’s How Heartaches are Made” for the Temptations. This Yale University Graduate in recent years has performed in Beijing Blue Note, Singapore Kool Kats Club, in New York City numerous venues in New York and New Jersey and has headlined WBGO “Somerville (NJ) Jazz Festival” amongst others.Carlos Frias & Circulo Social
With roots in the Dominican Republic Carlos Frias is a singer songwriter, Visual Artist, Drummer and percussionist and the front man of the world music band, Carlos Frías & Circulo Social. Based out of Bloomfield NJ, we play mostly original music that blends with Rock, Jazz and Latin rhythms. In our music you can hear the heart of the Caribbean, the peasant chant, the voice of those speaking against injustice accompanied by Afro Caribbean rhythms. Carlos, a talented musician, has captivated audiences in Northern NJ at popular venues and towns including South Orange, Newark, Bloomfield amongst others and has captivated audiences at many popular venues including Crossroads, Suzy Ques, Hat City, and Abuja International. He opened the Patterson NJ Jazz Festival, and recently earned the honor of opening for Tito Puente Jr. in Rahway, NJ. Don't miss the chance to experience this electrifying performance. Learn more about Carlos Frias and Circulo SocialMecadon McCune Trio
Proud to open our festival with 18-year-old “Jazz House" kid, and rising star who has been awarded the $10,000 James Moody Scholarship to study Jazz Performance at Montclair State University. Mecadon McCune also performed in the Rising Stars opening act at the New Jersey Jazz Society's Jersey Jazz LIVE! concert in Madison, NJ. He will lead his trio with bassist Sam Konin, a Charles Mingus Electric Bass Award winner and Pianist James Bally a Westfield NJ Musical Club 2020 Scholarship Winner. Come early and catch this future of jazz performance.Secure Your Tickets
Your hosts for the evening will be singer, actor Lynette Sheard and Live Music Producer Gregory Burrus.There will also be a beer and wine garden, food vendors, and more. Free parking and indoor restrooms are available.
General admission: $10—bring your own lawn chair. Premium Seating: $20—includes a pre-set chair in the front of the stage. Special group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. The rain date is October 7th.
