By Gregory Burrus | Posted Sunday, January 23, 2022
World-class jazz history and more is being made behind this very unassuming doorway of this very local, recently remodeled Jersey City bar and restaurant. This restaurant offers very affordable drinks, special meals on occasion, but also some truly world-class jazz.
Take a listen.
Moore’s Lounge (originally Bill and Ruth’s) has been a fixture in a working-class section of Jersey City for over 51 years. Mrs. Ruth (Moore), one of the original owners, has made the space much more than a bar, but a community space. Generations of residents congregate over drinks to celebrate the creative talents in their community. Moore’s Lounge in Jersey City has become a place where the most diverse individuals come together.
It's been some challenging times, but Mrs. Ruth has been a bedrock in a fast-changing world. A recent interview stated, “In a challenging area where Moore’s is the only one left of 11 taverns that existed around it when they started out, Moore’s has helped keep a few lights on.”
Winard Harper, Founder of the Jazz Program at Moores Lounge
First, let us meet the quiet, unassuming but powerful drummer known to us as Winard Harper.
It Starts with the Village
Here’s a short intro to his website bio, which reads like a who’s who of jazz:
“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 events organizer – successfully running the weekly Friday Fish Fry Jazz Jam and the Sunday “Meet the Artist” Series at Moore’s Lounge in Jersey City.”
History, World-Class Jazz, and Diversity
Challenges, challenges!! The caption for the Moore’s video states:
“With the help of Winard Harper, a legendary jazz drummer, Moore’s has become a destination for jazz musicians, and jazz enthusiasts. Today, the bar functions as a jazz temple for aspiring young jazz musicians and even many professionals. After being a fixture in Jersey City for over 50 years, the future of Moore’s is up in the air. “Moore’s Jazz” looks at what is at stake for a community if it loses one of its cultural pillars to gentrification and to a pandemic.”
Jazz Programs
Well, Moore’s is surviving and history is still being made in 2022 because Winard soldiers on with his truly fabulous jazz program on Sundays and Fridays.
Sunday “MEET THE ARTIST” Series
As Winard’s page states:
“Every Sunday I be bringing together established, world-renowned and extraordinary artists with young, emerging talents, in a “Jazz Clinic” type of setting, performing for a local audience wishful to learn and exchange knowledge about the context in which Jazz music has emerged and is played today. Artists not only perform, but recount highlights of their career and their own story. I then open the Q&A for questions from the audience and to round up the evening, we invite to the stage for a jam session.”
Winard Harper Jam Session at Moore’s Place with special guest David Kikoski. 12.12.2021.
Winard Harper and Friends at Moore’s Place 12.05.2021 Jersey City with TK Blue
Friday Fish Fry Jam
As Windard’s page states:
“Every Friday aspiring future jazz professionals join our jam session and all enjoy the delicious fish fry made after Ms. Ruth’s legendary recipe.”
Below is a typical jam on Jun. 2, 2014 led by Winard Harper. It has 9,177 views:
Recorded by the awesome photographer @L1stener (Patrick Hilaire).
What Makes Moore’s Lounge So Special?
Musicians
If you get involved as a musician with this program, you are guaranteed to learn and have a support system. One of my favorite jazz musicians that I met for the first time here personifies what happens at Moore’s. Check out my IG post from Sept. 6, 2015:
“Sept 2015 – Drummer Winard Harper – Soon as you enter the lounge, you know there’s a serious drummer playing. Winard Harper is a worldwide renowned Jazz Musician, educator and band leader. Winard stated in a brief conversation, he wants to bring Jazz Jams of high quality back to Jersey City in places like Moore’s Lounge. He’s on a mission so it will happen. More about Winard below. If you haven’t heard him, you need to because he was just great!.…….. Within the host of musicians to play I wanted to give a special shout out to upcoming Tenor Saxophonist Nicole Glover who just recently relocated from Oregon. When she plays you feel it. She wowed the crowd no matter what tune was jamming and she was definitely on point. Nicole said she was influenced by the likes of Lester Young, Wayne Shorter and Stan Getz which is some pretty good company to be influenced by.” Read the full post here.
In a 2016 post, I gave a shout-out to Nicole Glover, who came in from Oregon to move her career forward. She was on sax that night. In Dec. 2021, I was watching the same Nicole Glover performing in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center for the Annual TD Moody Jazz Festival. That’s history, and there’s many more stories like that. You can also see history being made as some of the longstanding Jazz Greats come through to perform at Moore’s Lounge as well.
Attendees
While the parking may be a challenge, once inside you are absolutely guaranteed some phenomenal jazz performances, as Winard keeps it tight. The musicians come to play. Whether jamming or performing, you need to be serious about what you do.
Venue Owners
Mrs. Ruth is in her 80’s and fought to keep things going despite ongoing gentrification, remodeling challenges, a pandemic, and many other situations. Attendees enjoy great drinks at great prices and get to experience the hospitality of the locals and the warmth of the owners — Mrs. Ruth, her family and friends. It's just a great experience in an all-around great environment.
Events Calendar
Exciting new events are coming to Moore’s, so stay tuned:
Support The Cause
Now you know the story. As Moore’s GoFundMe page states:
“We’ve been serving Jersey City since 1968 and after being in business for 51 years we are struggling to remain open. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted Moore’s Place and your support is needed.”
Please click the image or link below to learn more about how you can help Keep Jazz Alive.
Please Donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-moores-lounge-stay-in-business
Support the Music
I urge you to explore and click the links above. Don’t hesitate to call for more info, and go support live music. Make some time in your schedule to visit all the venues this year and say hi to everybody.
Don’t forget to let me know how your visit went. Tag @gregoryburrus or message me directly via text or FB msg, and of course enjoy the live jazz entertainment.
About the Author
Gregory Burrus books bands, produces, promotes, captures, and records live music events along with various other community and private activities.
I love writing about it all.
My mission is to help community groups, live music bands, and local nonprofits, reach their goals and accomplish their missions while enjoying the day-to-day process of life.
Read more at http://gregoryburrusproductions.com
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