By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, November 17, 2021
If you are a true Jazz Fan around here then you know that every year for the last 10 years the magic of Jazz happens in an intense way in Newark, NJ, and this year the intense, vibrant magic returns again as the 10th annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival comes to town.
10th Annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival (Nov. 19-21, NJPAC)
Started in 2012 as The TD James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival, it was a weeklong celebration of jazz and the legacy of Newark's own music master, James Moody. This festival was presented by The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), radio station WBGO Jazz 88.3FM 1 and was sponsored by TD Bank. NJPAC president and CEO John Schreiber said at the time, “TD Bank has become synonymous with the top international jazz festivals, and we are proud to be joining the TD jazz family in our inaugural year.”
Bringing it full circle 10 years later, John Schreiber walked on stage this week and said: “TD Bank is the Best Sponsor Ever”, and so true because in a time where a Pandemic is running havoc with the arts and entertainment industry, all the right supporting forces have come together this week for the 10th year to make a truly spectacular TD James Moody Jazz Festival happen again.
Saxophonist James Moody
Source: jamesmoody.com/gallery
James Moody, despite being born partially deaf, was an accomplished musician on the tenor and alto saxophones, as well as the flute. In addition to his instrumental prowess, Moody was an engaging entertainer, captivating audiences with his personal charm and wit. He was born in Georgia, raised in Newark, New Jersey and was beloved by all.
Christian McBride
This year, another brilliant musician Bassist, Christian McBride, took over and announced the festival. Always listed in The New York Times “Weekend Roundup: 5 Things to Do This Weekend”, the festival runs Nov. 5 through 21 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Keeping in line with their mission of keeping great jazz alive and community outreach, the festival hosts, sponsors and presents dozens of free and ticketed events across Newark. Like prior years, this year’s presentation of a stellar musician lineup along with special and signature events was spectacular once again. This year’s lineup included the incomparable Chaka Khan and, if you were there you got to experience one of my favorites, the brilliant trumpeter Chris Botti.
Following is a walkthrough of a few events that occurred this opening week that I attended, with their details. I hope you enjoy the experience as we did and attend future shows listed at the end.
Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition
A very special, signature event is the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition or the Sassy. This is a prestigious talent contest that pays tribute to the titular singer who was born in New Jersey and whose career began when, on a Wednesday night in 1942, she herself won a talent contest at New York’s Apollo Theater. Her win helped launch a career that would transform America's original art form and an icon who elevated the craft of jazz vocal music and garnered the respect and adoration of millions. This contest is open to solo jazz vocalists of all nationalities who are 18 years or older and not currently signed to a major record label.
It’s an intense competition, as the 2021 finalists were culled from 160 submissions across 25 countries. Once again after a year-long search, the finalists of the Sassy Awards dazzled the audience with their vocal prowess. One of my favorite finalists took 2nd place, April May Webb of the Sounds of A&R. She said, “I truly sang from my soul and it was to date the most powerful performance OF MY LIFE!“ Folks reported there were some masterful performances by all the contestants.
NEA Jazz Master Vocalist Dianne Reeves
A five-time GRAMMY Award winner, Dianne Reeves is widely recognized as one of the premier vocalists on the worldwide music scene. “Reeves grew up in Denver and was introduced to the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan by her uncle, who was a bassist in the Denver Symphony Orchestra” (hancockinstitute.org/meet/dianne-reeves). Dianne Reeves has released almost two dozen albums and been recognized as an NEA Jazz Master. Needless to say, it was a spectacular, powerful performance with Ben Williams on Bass, Terreon Gully on Drums, the Great Brazilian Guitarist Romero Lubambo and Peter Martin on Keys, all led by the powerhouse vocalist Dianne Reeves. I was there and what a really great show!!!
NJPAC Jazz Advisor Christian McBride’s The Movement Revisited
NJPAC Jazz Advisor, bassist, composer and bandleader Christian McBride has played everything from Monk to Funk. The Movement Revisited is a full-length work for jazz orchestra, vocalists and orators, celebrating the great leaders of The Civil Rights Movement — Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack Obama.
The evening began with a performance by The Last Poets: Abiodun Oyewole, Umar Bin Hassan and Baba Don Babatunde, joined by Newark’s Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka. The Last Poets laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip hop.
Also performing in an absolutely wonderful, strong, uplifting presence, the choir from the original recording, Voice of the Flame (VOTF) hit a homerun for sure.
Cyrus Chestnut at Dorthaan’s Place
Another absolutely always sold out event is the very special Dorthaan’s Place Nico’s legendary jazz brunch curated by NEA Jazz Master and Newark’s First Lady of Jazz Dorthaan Kirk. Ms. Kirk is the widow of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, the blind multi-instrumentalist with a reputation for fierce musicianship and daring improvisation.
This year the show featured the piano stylings of Cyrus Chestnut over brunch at the beautifully appointed Dorthaan’s Place. The Cyrus Chestnut trio included Lincoln Center emerging artist and Detroit native, Bassist Endea Owens and the hard-swinging, composer and powerhouse Drummer Chris Beck. Truly a beautiful performance. We were swinging and tapping the whole program.
James Moody Jazz Scholarship Winners
A special treat this year was that in attendance were the winners of the previous high school contest for the James Moody Jazz Scholarship minus Iyonna Herbert and Paul Reinhold. Pictured L-R Andrew Wagner, Jalin Shiver, Rayner Perez, Linda Moody, Birsa Chatterjee, and Caelan Cardello with local live music Producer/Promoter Gregory Burrus. These winners were front and center with the widow of James Moody and TD Moody JazzFestival First Lady Linda Moody enjoying the brunch and the music.
Artemis — All Female Jazz Supergroup
Jazz Journalists Association: Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year called them:
"A killer line-up of players, composers, and performers who hail from all over the world...they all converge on this extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound." - NPR MUSIC
The musicians of Artemis are Renee Rosnes, Piano & Musical Director, Anat Cohen, Clarinet & Soprano Saxophone, Ingrid Jensen, Trumpet, Nicole Glover, Tenor Saxophone, Noriko Ueda, Bass and Allison Miller, Drums. This supergroup first assembled as a band for a 13-city European Jazz Festival tour in summer 2017. Named “Artemis” after the Greek goddess who was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, the twin sister of Apollo, the patron and protector of young girls and the goddess of hunting, wild nature, and chastity, they released their debut album for famed Blue Note Records in September 2020. Their performance was absolutely superb.
More great performances to come...
That's just to start part 2 coming next....
Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (Friday, Nov. 19th)
Pianist, composer and six-time Grammy-Award winner Arturo O'Farrill presents Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra.
Presented by NJPAC, the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University-Newark and the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, this concert is part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival. Performance on Nov. 19
George Wein and the Newport All-Stars (Saturday, Nov. 20th)
“Pianist and bandleader George Wein, who founded the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954, is universally regarded as the single greatest producer and impresario jazz has ever known. (Music festivals like SxSW and Coachella owe him a great deal as well. Celebrate George, who recently passed at the age of 95. This all-star concert will feature contemporary swing saxophonist and clarinetist Anat Cohen, along with special guests including Christian McBride, Kenny Barron, Johnathan Blake, Randy Brecker, Lew Tabackin, Peter Washington, Duchess and more. This is sure to be one of the most memorable nights in the history of jazz at NJPAC, and a fitting tribute to the life and legacy of George Wein.” —NJPAC. Celebrating George Wein takes place on Nov. 20.
Maria Schneider Orchestra (Sunday, Nov. 21st)
“Composer, bandleader, and NEA Jazz Master Maria Schneider returns to NJPAC with her genre-defying orchestra. Her music has been hailed by critics as “evocative, majestic, magical, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, imaginative, revelatory, riveting, daring and beyond categorization.” Her 2020 album Data Lords was called “her magnum opus, a riveting, remarkably intense double album, as profound as modern-day instrumental music gets” (Minneapolis Star Tribune). Data Lords garnered two GRAMMY® Awards, was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist and won the Grand Prix De l’Académie du Jazz. You’re guaranteed to hear something thought-provoking and new every time Maria Schneider takes the stage.” — NJPAC. Performance Nov. 21.
NJPAC Community Engagement
Also know that having a great time and meeting up with friends at NJPAC is part of the experience during these COVID Pandemic times. With a motto of engage, connect, and celebrate, NJPAC states “We like to say that we’re more than a venue—we’re a community.” Living the motto in action is Eyesha Marable, Director of NJPAC Community Engagement. She said, “Thursday night of NJPAC's TD Moody Jazz Festival was outstanding. Friday was wonderful too. Tonight, we will enjoy Dianne Reeves. Treat yourself soon family, to some good music. Come home (to NJPAC) when you can.”
Here are some images to entice you to come on out and enjoy the show. Click to see more.
NJPAC states, “We like to say that we’re more than a venue—we’re a community. That’s why we’re one of the few performing arts centers in the country with an entire department dedicated to reaching out, building connections and just plain having fun with our neighbors in their own backyards.” That’s right, finally getting back outside and establishing these new times of togetherness becomes extremely important to help us. “Come home to NJPAC” and enjoy the community of fellow jazz lovers.
Come join us.
About the Author
Gregory Burrus with Linda Moody at Bethany Baptist Jazz Vespers
Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner, live music ambassador and community partner that curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local SOMA (South Orange, Maplewood) community, Northern NJ and the New York Area.