Newark, a city once teeming with jazz, will be filled with those glorious sounds again in October, when the New Jersey Performing Arts Center presents the James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival.
The first major jazz festival in Newark in 15 years, it will take place the week of Oct. 15 to 21. There will be two star-studded concerts—featuring George Benson, the Manhattan Transfer, Terence Blanchard and others—plus more events at NJPAC and other venues, including Newark public schools. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend.
Presented in partnership with Newark’s WBGO-FM radio station, it will be one of the centerpieces of NJPAC’s 2012-13 season, to be announced in May, and will take place immediately after the Dodge Poetry Festival, the largest poetry event in North America, scheduled for Oct. 11 to 14 at NJPAC and other Newark venues.
Named for saxophonist and Newark resident James Moody, who died in 2010, the festival will spotlight the music of many jazz musicians who call or have called Newark home.
“Newark deserves its own unique festival that pays homage to its jazz history, but also recognizes the vitality of what’s happening in this community today,” said John Schreiber, NJPAC’s new CEO and president, who has made putting together a world-class jazz festival at NJPAC one of the top items on his agenda.
“From Wayne Shorter to James Moody to Woody Shaw to Larry Young, all of that history comes alive in this festival,” said Cephas Bowles, CEO of WBGO. “Culturally, this is the epicenter for the state of New Jersey, and this festival will be one way to represent that in a tangible way.”
The first major jazz festival in Newark in 15 years, it will take place the week of Oct. 15 to 21. There will be two star-studded concerts—featuring George Benson, the Manhattan Transfer, Terence Blanchard and others—plus more events at NJPAC and other venues, including Newark public schools. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend.
Presented in partnership with Newark’s WBGO-FM radio station, it will be one of the centerpieces of NJPAC’s 2012-13 season, to be announced in May, and will take place immediately after the Dodge Poetry Festival, the largest poetry event in North America, scheduled for Oct. 11 to 14 at NJPAC and other Newark venues.
Named for saxophonist and Newark resident James Moody, who died in 2010, the festival will spotlight the music of many jazz musicians who call or have called Newark home.
“Newark deserves its own unique festival that pays homage to its jazz history, but also recognizes the vitality of what’s happening in this community today,” said John Schreiber, NJPAC’s new CEO and president, who has made putting together a world-class jazz festival at NJPAC one of the top items on his agenda.
“From Wayne Shorter to James Moody to Woody Shaw to Larry Young, all of that history comes alive in this festival,” said Cephas Bowles, CEO of WBGO. “Culturally, this is the epicenter for the state of New Jersey, and this festival will be one way to represent that in a tangible way.”
