By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Jazz973 is proud to announce its new Monthly Live Music Concert Series at the premier Jazz listening environment in Newark’s Clements Place Jazz. As you know Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime. ... Since the 1920s Jazz Age, jazz has become recognized as a major form of musical expression. Wikipedia/Jazz. Jazz is important because most popular music today can be traced back to Jazz origins. Jazz is an offshoot of the blues and came of age in the early twentieth century.
Fast forward to today, Newark Jazz is thriving and Jazz973@Clements aims to provide a voice to local jazz musicians that are entering and growing within the jazz scene as they demonstrate that they are here to make a difference. Or as Wayne Winborne, Executive Director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University which by the way is the largest and most comprehensive library and archives of jazz and jazz-related materials in the world has stated “Let’s change the conversation about where Jazz is headed” because it is alive, kicking and strong all around our towns.
Unfortunately for the striving, less established artists, the professional jazz musicians get most of the notoriety and acceptance to perform at the better, more well-known venues and clubs in any given area. This is also the case here at the Clements Place Venue as the best professional musicians in the world have been coming through and performing on a regular basis. This means the venue, the buildings, the jazz rooms; the sound systems all benefit the seasoned artists but do not always allow time for these emerging musicians to showcase their best performances. Now after establishing this world class Clements Place Venue, the Institute of Jazz Studies aims to change that situation. “We’re going to leverage what we have here to become a pipeline to the wider community.” said Wayne Winborne who also has already started the mission by partnering with NJPAC to cohost community jazz jams.
At a recent Jazz Jam that was absolutely swinging, Eyesha Marable of NJPAC’s Community Engagement Dept. was heard to say "Extending our programs by involving the community has always been at the forefront of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Mission. Partnering with Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies to host the Community Jazz Jam ensures we both meet our goals." In line with that, the ongoing NJPAC- Rutgers Community Jazz Jams are a loud musical call to the jazz community to come on in and jam with the best of the best in one stellar environment.
Extending the mission of taking it to the community, Jazz973@Clements is taking another big step in that direction by inviting in local artists to perform Live Music Concerts at this very professional musical environment called Clements Place.
About the Location - 15 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
What better place to utilize on the local Newark Jazz scene than Clements Place in the recently reopened 15 Washington Street Residence Building. Clements Place is a venue for jazz and other music events located in a Rutgers Graduate Residence Building in Newark, New Jersey. On the first floor behind the quiet unassuming windows, the jazz is smoking hot on any given night. And just like jazz, the building harkens back to the 1930’s according to Rutgers.edu, it is “one of Newark’s most distinctive buildings, 15 Washington Street has a long and storied history.
The neo-classical building was designed by the same architect who designed the Newark City Hall, opening in 1930 as the headquarters of the American Insurance Company. A few decades later it was acquired by the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, which donated the building to RU–N in 1979. The building thrived under RU-N’s ownership as the S.I. Newhouse Center for Law and Justice from 1979 to 2000, but was mothballed when the Rutgers Center for Law and Justice was built as the new location for all of 15 Washington's offices. In late 2015 it re-opened, with great fanfare, as a residential space for both undergraduate and graduate students, and the residence of Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor.
The building’s first-floor Great Hall also is used as a space for public gatherings and events, as well as special programs”. You can read more about this great conversion here on NJ.com. The lobby depicted is one gorgeous renovation and is where one waits for the doors to open for nightly events. Clements Place was built in honor of “Clement Alexander Price, a Cheerleader for Newark, who was an American historian. As the Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of History at Rutgers University-Newark, Price brought his study of the past to bear on contemporary social issues in his adopted hometown of Newark, New Jersey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_Alexander_Price. Clement Place Venue is located directly off this entrance and it’s an intimate jazz venue reflective of the vision of Clements’s Price friend Wayne Winborne.
About The Venue - Clements Place Jazz Events
Jazz973@Clements is by no means just another club date as this venue aims to uplift the spirit and zeal of all who enter including these emerging artists with an environment that all jazz enthusiast want to participate in, while creating a path to the future along the way. Jazz973@Clements offers its artist a professional backline anchored by a Steinway Baby Grand, complete drum kits, extensive microphones, sound monitors and a beautiful acoustically tuned sound environment. The seating area, the bar, the lighting all reflect the need to listen to great music. The environment seating arrangement and sound system are adapted as needed.
About The Program - Jazz973@Clements
Thanks to the vision of the IJS Executive Director Wayne Winborne, Clements Place has established itself for its absolutely fabulous listening environment and for having some of the best jazz patrons in the tri state area. It is a very classy cabaret-style venue with a cozy atmosphere. It has very good, natural acoustics, a warm, intimate setting and a helpful, very friendly staff.
The Jazz973@Clements program will curate a select group of local, emerging artist to perform on a regular basis in this professional, venue. These artist will create history and demonstrate their growing repertoire of musical accomplishments to a wider, knowledgeable, sophisticated jazz audience. This beautifully appointed environment is perfectly suited to the professional, the emerging musician and all true jazz lovers.
About Executive Director - Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies Wayne Winborne
Clements Place Jazz is run by the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies Executive Director, Wayne Winborne who manages the world’s largest and most comprehensive jazz archive in addition to being a jazz aficionado, true jazz lover, and is one incredible encyclopedia of jazz knowledge.
Along with this impressive melding of business and academic experience, Winborne also has extensive knowledge of jazz and extensive relationships with artists and producers throughout the genre. He has served as advisor and consultant to artists and musicians and worked with filmmakers, playwrights, and theater producers. Winborne has produced recordings for the MaxJazz, HighNote, and Savant labels, including “Daybreak” by Bruce Barth and the just-released “Feeling Good” by Mary Stallings. He also has taught jazz history and appreciation at Stanford University.
Winborne also brings to the IJS an extensive record of success in fundraising in the jazz and nonprofit communities, as well as a network of collaborations with an array of cultural institutions. He has served on the boards of local and national nonprofit organizations ranging from the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, to the Asian American Justice Center, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Social and Public Art Resource Center. He earned degrees from Stanford and New York University.
Winborne has stated:. “There is so much to build upon: the IJS’ phenomenal holdings, experienced and committed staff, rich history, and its presence in Newark, the intellectual resources of the university, and the great good will among so many possible collaborators across Newark, the New York metro area, and the jazz world. IJS is poised to realize fully the bold vision Chancellor Cantor has developed. I’m honored to have been chosen to be a part of this exciting next chapter.” https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/news/new-leadership-chosen-worlds-largest-jazz-archive
About the Curator of Jazz973 - Gregory Burrus
Gregory Burrus out enjoying Jazz with Dothan Kirk, Newark’s First Lady of Jazz
This new monthly Wednesday evening series called "Jazz973”, focuses on local and emerging musicians will be curated by Gregory Burrus local promoter and producer. Gregory has been promoting local events throughout Essex County over the last few years and is known for helping musicians get exposure through extensive promotional ventures.
Working over multiple venues and genres, his love for Jazz has him dedicating venues to help local jazz musicians gain increased recognition for what they love to do. These venues are known for attracting serious jazz lover audiences resulting in artists garnering greater recognition of their jazz proficiency with their dedicated jazz patrons.
Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events and in addition to curating Newark's new Clements Place Jazz973, Gregory Burrus is promoter and manager of South Orange, NJ Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts which includes the well-known Jazz on Sloan South Orange Gazebo venue. Gregory is creator, curator of the Annual South Orange 24 Hours of Live Music event and is Music Programmer of Orange NJ’s Valley Arts Community Gallery. Gregory is also Vice President of North Jersey Blues Alliance for the West Orange, NJ South Mountain International Blues Festival. Along with supporting numerous other live music programs in Essex County and New York City, Gregory Burrus promotes, documents events through social media marketing, photojournalism and writing articles for Jersey Indie. Gregory Burrus motto is “Having fun, living life, while helping others”..
As you can see, Jazz973@Clements place has the connection of prominent individuals, connected history, beautiful architecture, a perfect jazz listening environment, committed business and community sponsors along with being under the direction of the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies. All involved, are firmly committed to the growth of the Jazz artist in the Jazz environment. This place has a unique listening environment, complimentary refreshments are available and if you love jazz than it's highly recommended that you come on through and enjoy some oif the best local, emerging musicians around town..
You can learn more about Jazz973, the jazz artists being selected at Clements Place Jazz Events and these fabulous jazz programs here at Clements Place Jazz Events - An Awesome Truly Cool Newark Venue to Enjoy Some Serious Jazz.