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South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) Announces January-May 2012 Jazz Concert Line-Up

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Monthly Jazz + Blues “In The Loft" Concert Series
A Tribute to Sarah Vaughan
Kyle Eastwood Band
Jane Monheit
and more...

South Orange Performing Arts Center is located at One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079. All artists and prices are subject to change at the time of this release. For more details on the upcoming season, including a complete schedule and ticket information, visit SOPACnow.org, or contact the SOPAC Box Office at 973.313.2787 (ARTS)

JAZZ IN JANUARY

SUN 1/22 @ 5PM—BLUES IN THE LOFT ACOUSTIC BLUES WITH COLIN JOHN, HEATH MENSHER AND BENOIR Tickets: $15

SOPAC is excited to launch the new “In the Loft" series—a casual, affordable and fun concert series featuring up-and-coming musicians and seasoned professionals. Cash bar. No drink minimum.

An accomplished, versatile musician, Colin John commands the stage with both his guitar prowess and passionate singing honed from years steeped in Memphis' rich music community. His infectious, genre-defying style was described by the British music magazine Mojo as “ferociously entertaining funked—up R&B" and a reviewer in Akron's Beacon Journal suggested John sounds like “Albert King channeling Steve Vai." Heath Mensher (Vocals, Harp) and Benoir (Guitars, Vocals) have been playing together since they were children, honing their blues skills on Long Island. They formed the Suffering Blues Band with renowned Bassist Kentucky Parkis and drummer Freddie McCondichie. Performing their traditional gutbucket blues and hard funk style, The Suffering Blues Band sound was an audience favorite at the 2011 South Orange International Blues Festival.

FRI 1/27 @ 8PM —THE SOUNDS OF SARAH VAUGHAN
Tickets: $30, $40

Vocalist Rosena M. Hill (Come Fly Away, The Color Purple), trombonist Jason Jackson (Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band) and legendary jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut, pay tribute to the music of Sarah Vaughan, and the musicians that influenced her sound.

JAZZ IN FEBRUARY

FRI 2/10 @ 8PM—JANE MONHEIT
Tickets: $35, $45

“Blessed with an extraordinarily warm and supple voice, perfect pitch, inventive musicality and an insightful approach to storytelling, [Jane Monheit] has the capacity to express herself convincingly in virtually any area of the music world." —Los Angeles Times An extraordinarily gifted vocalist whose sincere and romantic interpretations have made her a favorite in both the jazz and cabaret worlds, Monheit has garnered numerous accolades in the past decade. Her first album, Never Never Land, was voted top debut recording by the Jazz Journalist's Association and stayed on the Billboard Jazz chart for over a year. Subsequent albums either charted high, or in several cases, debuted at number one, and yielded two Grammy nominations in the Best Instrumental Arrangement accompanying Vocals category.

SUN 2/12 @ 5PM—JAZZ IN THE LOFT: CLAUDIO RODITI
Tickets: $15

SOPAC is excited to launch the new “In the Loft" series—a casual, affordable and fun concert series featuring up-and-coming musicians and seasoned professionals. Cash bar. No drink minimum. “One of the very best performers in jazz"—Allmusic.com Brazilian-born born trumpet and flugelhorn player, Claudio Roditi kicks-off the first concert of the Jazz in the Loft series at SOPAC. Known for his warm, fluid sound combining post bop and Brazilian elements, Roditi has worked with Herbie Mann, Charlie Rouse, Paquito D'Rivera and Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra. A current South Orange resident, Roditi has recorded a dozen albums as a leader and has received Grammy Award nominations for his albums Symphonic Bossa Nova and Brazilliance X 4.

JAZZ IN MARCH

SUN 3/18 @ 5PM—JAZZ IN THE LOFT: JAZZ LEGACY ALL-STAR JAM WITH JOHN LEE
Tickets: $15

As part of SOPAC's new “IN THE LOFT" Series—jazz/blue concerts in a casual, club café atmosphere in SOPAC's upstairs loft space. Cash bar. No drink minimum. Bassist, composer, educator and producer, John Lee is the co-founder of Jazz Legacy Productions and also serves as the executive director of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars and All-Stars Big Band with whom he performs regularly. A resident of South Orange, NJ, John has played in the bands of Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Larry Coryell, Joe Henderson, and Dizzy Gillespie. John Lee puts together a line-up of jazz artists from the area to perform in a classic Jazz Legacy All-Star Jam as part of the Jazz in the Loft series.

SAT 3/24 @ 8PM—KYLE EASTWOOD BAND
Tickets: $30, $40

Son of actor Clint Eastwood, jazz musician Kyle Eastwood has seen just as much success as his father. His second album, Paris Blue, hit number one on the French Jazz charts. An accomplished musician and composer, he has composed music for several movies that have gone on to win Academy Awards.

SUN 3/25 @ 5PM—BLUES IN THE LOFT (ARTISTS TBD)
Tickets: $15

As part of SOPAC's new “IN THE LOFT" Series—jazz/blue concerts in a casual, club café atmosphere in SOPAC's upstairs loft space. Cash bar. No drink minimum.

TUE 3/27 @ 7:30PM—JAZZ KNIGHTS OF WEST POINT
Tickets: FREE

Jazz' n the Hall Presented by Seton Hall Arts Council. Bringing over three decades of musical excellence to their audiences, the West Point Band's Jazz Knights present the best in big band favorites, popular music, and original compositions and arrangements for jazz ensemble.

JAZZ IN APRIL

SUN 4/15 @ 5PM—JAZZ IN THE LOFT: JOHN DUKICH
Tickets: $15

As part of SOPAC's new “IN THE LOFT" Series—jazz/blue concerts in a casual, club café atmosphere in SOPAC's upstairs loft space. Cash bar. No drink minimum. South Orange resident John Dukich performs an evening of Jazz Standards and International songs. A versatile performer who sings in English, Spanish and Portuguese, John captivates his audiences with rich tones and a smooth, warm delivery. John's repertoire includes romantic ballads with moving lyrics and haunting melodies, swinging standards, smooth Bossa Novas, and popular Brazilian and South American songs less-known to audiences in the United States. His natural, easy approach to Brazilian music results from extensive visits to Brazil. His experience as an instrumentalist (trombonist) is conveyed in his phrasing and interpretation.

SUN 4/29 @ 5PM—BLUES IN THE LOFT (ARTISTS TBD)
Tickets: $15

As part of SOPAC's new “IN THE LOFT" Series—jazz/blue concerts in a casual, club café atmosphere in SOPAC's upstairs loft space. Cash bar. No drink minimum.

JAZZ IN MAY

TUE 5/1 @ 7:30PM—SETON HALL UNIVERSITY FACULTY JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Tickets: FREE

Jazz' n the Hall Presented by Seton Hall Arts Council. Ever growing in popularity since its debut two years ago at SOPAC, the Seton Hall University Faculty Jazz Ensemble has become widely known by the University students and general public for its exciting performances of great historic jazz music of every style.

About SOPAC

Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The multidisciplinary arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. To further expand its offerings, SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC—a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is also a home for Seton Hall University Arts Council's performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz N' the Hall performances and Seton Hall Theatre productions. SOPAC also presents performances by its theater company in residence, Midtown Direct Rep, and its dance company in residence, Lydia Johnson Dance.

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