Eat, Drink & Groove at Beat Street this June!

PRESS RELEASE 

Birth Announcement:

Jersey City’s Cool New Dining & Entertainment Hot Spot Opens June 22nd in the Powerhouse Arts District

Restaurant Launches with Fundraisers to Benefit Local Non-Profits:
Big Brothers Big Sisters & The Sharing Place Food Pantry

Left to right: Howard Brunner, Darryl Harmon, and KC Macias

Left to right: Howard Brunner, Darryl Harmon, and KC Macias

Entrepreneur and real estate dilettante Howard Brunner, nightlife impresario KC Macias and celebrated chef Darryl Harmon have teamed up to open Beat Street, a 100-seat restaurant, bar, lounge and performance space located inside Transmission, a nightlife brand located in the historic A&P warehouse at the intersection of Bay & Provost Streets in the revitalized Powerhouse Arts District (PAD) of Jersey City.  Brunner is the visionary Aussie ex-pat who originally built Transmission two years ago in the sprawling 5,000 square foot space.  He tapped Macias and Harmon to transform it into what he calls “an incredible multi-sensory experience — a gathering spot for locals where they can dine on delicious food and enjoy a variety of different genres of live music in a visually stimulating and welcoming environment.”  

 

About the Name

Beat Street is an homage to the 1984 classic hip-hop movie by the same name.  The film celebrated three aspects of life during the mid-1980s: breakdancing, DJ’ing and graffiti.  You’ll find snippets of all three art forms interwoven into the décor, ambiance and menu.  “We came up with that name because we’re authentically from that era,” explained Macias.  “We thought, wouldn’t it be cool to showcase top local street artists, street food and street music, but with a modern twist, and make it uniquely our own?”  The triumvirate has done so through the décor, the culinary creativity and the music.  “Really, the place defies all labels because, as our guests will see, it’s a juxtaposition of gritty street life with high-end touches that truly makes it a distinctive experience,” noted Brunner.

 

The Décor & Design

Art plays an integral role at Beat Street.  Macias handpicked Ivan Orama, a well-known New York City-based artist heralded for his portfolio of street art, canvas pieces, handmade furniture and murals, to recreate the feel of the 80s inside the restaurant.  Orama used the walls to create a graffiti-inspired black & white retro mural — the backdrop for the action in the dining area.  He has also constructed a Wu-Tang clan table, a replica of an old-school cassette tape that serves as a table. Orama’s work has been incorporated into designs by Adidas, Def Jam Records, the Hudson Hotel, WIP NYC Nightclub, GQ magazine and for filmmaker Spike Lee.  Orama recently designed the NYC studio of Grammy-award winning music producer Swizz Beatz.  “I’ll be incorporating images from that era — breakdancers, boom boxes and 80s fashion styles — to flow with the Beat Street theme,” he explained.  “My art is very direct and mentally interactive.  I hope people will enjoy it and love coming back to it.”

The restaurant has three distinct spaces: an opulent 15-seat bar where guests can sip locally brewed craft beers, international wines and artisan craft cocktails utilizing regionally-sourced spirits such as Dad’s Hat PA Rye, Bluecoat Gin and Lazy Eye vodka; a sexy lounge area with a grand piano is center stage, where guests can relax on teal and dark gray oversized mid-century style tufted high back wing chairs while enjoying cocktails and nibbling on small bites; and the dining room which features an elevated platform with banquettes and flooring that uses 100-year-old planks from the building’s original wood.  Unique details such as suede-clad light halos and table tops outlined by antique gilt gold frames round out the eclectic décor.  There will also be outdoor seating that wraps around the entirety of the expansive glass enclosed building.

 

The Menu

Brunner has tapped award-winning chef Darryl Harmon, who is the culinary talent and a consulting chef behind several NYC restaurant groups, to create what Harmon refers to as a menu ‘showcasing elevated street food.’  Prior to working in New York over the past decade, Harmon also served as Executive Chef at the legendary Water Works Restaurant in Philadelphia, and has cooked for numerous celebrities, professional athletes and heads of state.  “I’m excited to get real funky with the menu and seriously express myself,” he said.  The 40-year-old chef says “he’s excited to see guests’ reactions to the Beat Street menu.”  For example, Harmon took falafel and waffles, two common food truck items, merged them into one dish and put his personal spin on it.  What he conceived has been named the Rocka Falafel Waffle.  “Everyone offers falafel in and around New York.  I took a house made falafel mix, pressed it in a waffle iron to get that crispness, added mint frozen yogurt, Harissa infused syrup, Raita and micro borage for a sweet and savory treat.”

Lunchbox and Cafeteria Tray Frito Nachos are whimsical interpretations of Harmon’s childhood favorites, which will certainly ensure a trip down memory lane for many diners.  But the unexpectedness of the presentation is the show stopper.  Harmon’s Sloppy Joe, a school lunch staple, arrives wrapped in wax paper and tucked inside a custom designed lunchbox filled with sour cream & onion kettle chips, a house-cured pickle and a liquid nitrogen-powered root beer float.  “Each lunchbox is decorated with a different graffiti design,” said Harmon.  “Some diners might relive a time when they opened up their school lunchbox and found happiness in a delicious treat from mom or dad, which is a priceless memory.”  The Cafeteria Tray Frito Nachos might recoup additional childhood food memories: Fritos are adorned with chili con queso, smoked local corn, Jersey vine ripe tomatoes, jalapeño and spicy avocado mousse.  “It will be quite the surprise when that extra large bag of Fritos arrives at the table!” laughed Harmon.

Harmon, who grew up in the farmlands of Cumberland County in South Jersey also wanted to incorporate his Native American heritage (he’s part Lenape Indian) and Jersey roots into the menu.  In his Native Bison Tostadas, the base for the tostada is Native American fry bread (golden brown discs of deep-fried dough), topped with seared bison meat, smashed black bean pudding (popular in traditional Native American cuisine), Gem lettuce, Jersey heirloom tomatoes, Cotija snow cheese and lime-infused crema.  “This is the ‘original’ American food and we’re the only place to offer something like this in the region.  Once our guests taste it, it will change their paradigm regarding what one calls ‘Jersey cuisine,’” he said.  Other menu highlights include a Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steak (38 oz. rib eye served standing up, speckled with charcoal dust and pierced with a stone tomahawk) and Sous Vide Lobster Mac & Cheez-it — a sous vide-cooked 2lb. lobster served in a skillet with smoked paprika foam.  “The mac & cheese has Cheez-its sprinkled on top, and the empty Cheez-it bag is the serving vessel for the dish.  The entrée is rolled out on an ice cream street cart.  Serving it will be quite a show.”  Harmon said the menu will be divided into three sections: Lil Bites, S’medium (“a reference to back in the day when many pants were labeled small-medium”) and Biggie Bites (a nod to the late beloved rapper Biggie Smalls).  Menu prices range from $10 to $60.  While they won’t be doing any breakdancing, the servers will be wearing Adidas track pants, Beat Street logo t-shirts, and a variety of hats from the period.  The menu design presents a collage of boom boxes reminiscent of the bygone era. 

 

The Vibe

The person charged with concept development, entertainment and setting the vibe for Beat Street is KC Macias, who is known for staging elaborate international events and parties from Mexico to Miami, LA and Las Vegas.  As head of Appanage Hospitality Group, Macias has orchestrated exclusive experiences at the Gansevoort, for Super Bowl XLVIII and has worked with countless entertainers including Kevin Hart, Jay Z, Sean Paul, Pitbull, The Roots, Busta Rhymes and a host of celebrity DJs. His vision is to bring eclectic, engaging live music to life inside Beat Street, encompassing all genres from rap to jazz to bluegrass and Cuban salsa.  “I’m talking about raw, street music, including salsa you would hear in the streets of Havana, and jazz that you’d hear off of Bourbon Street” he explained. At the same time, we want to make Beat Street welcoming and comfortable, like you’re in your living room being entertained, but in a cool way.  That’s why we have the funky furniture and art.  Instead of a chef’s table, Macias, who’s collaborated with famous DJs such as Samantha Bronson and the late DJ AM, came up with a "DJ's table" in the dining area that seats six.  Music lovers will be seated up on the platform next to the DJ booth just inches away from the musical action to observe the mix master of the evening spinning and scratching on the turntable.  Macias said each night of the week will feature a different style of music: Tuesday-jazz; Wednesday-retro funk and classic hip hop; Thursday-Cuban salsa; Friday-Prince and classic 90s; and Saturday-Brazilian/Ibiza/house.

“With Beat Street, Darryl and KC have tapped Transmission’s spirit, bringing the establishment to maturity,” mused Brunner.  “I am beyond excited! The original sense of decadence that Transmission exuded is now complimented by seriously delicious, ultra-creative menu offerings and a salute to the culture that has extensively influenced today’s music, fashions and lifestyle.  There is absolutely no place like it.”

Beat Street at Transmission will launch with two events, which will benefit local non-profits.  On Wednesday, June 14th a stand-up cocktail party will feature several live music acts, passed hors d’oeuvres and open bar during a “Sneak Peak Open House” benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters.  The restaurant officially opens to the public on Thursday, June 22nd with a “Pay What You Want” fundraiser with all proceeds from the evening benefitting The Sharing Place Food Pantry at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Beat Street will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. for Happy Hour, dinner and live entertainment.  The restaurant, bar and lounge is located at 150 Bay Street, Jersey City, NJ.  To learn more, visit http://www.beatstreetjerseycity.com/.

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CONTACT:
Lena Vanier
Vice President
Peter Breslow Consulting & Public Relations
Phone: 610.529.2929
Web: www.PeterBreslow.com

2017 Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concert Series Returns for the 8th Year to South Orange, North Jersey

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concert Series returns for the 8th year.  Downtown After Sundown presents four concerts every weekend - May through September - and the performers range from local South Orange / Maplewood performers to musicians from Greater Essex County, New Jersey and beyond.

Live Music Concerts

We surveyed our audiences and the bands, and based on combined feedback we are making several changes this year to improve our audience’s enjoyment. 

This year many more bands applied, requiring a more intense curation process.  We selected bands based on past performance attendance, ability to generate bigger audiences, along with ability to drive increased audience engagement.

We added the concept of themed engagements during a weekend based on criteria such a sponsor’s need, music genre, holiday, or at a band’s suggestion.

Jazz On Sloan

Jazz On Sloan Street - With Jazz being such a huge component of our programs and our community, we have created a Jazz-only location at the corner of Sloan Street and South Orange Ave.  It’s now called Jazz On Sloan Street where we will highlight some of the best Jazz Talent in North Jersey.

Rocking Spiotta Park

Rocking Spiotta Park – Here, it doesn’t matter the music genre - be it Soul, Country, R&B, Blues, etc. - it will be Rocking in Spiotta Park.  This location is at the corner of Village Plaza and South Orange Ave.  Spiotta is a small intimate park that has the feel and the space of a mini festival site, so this year, when needed, we will create an environment that creates even more fun for the audience.

Theme Nights

Theme Nights.jpg

Themed Events - We will have themed events, especially if the band wants us to help devise something unique.  We will have themed purpose nights such as Doggie Night, Line Dancing, Caribbean or maybe a Karaoke night.  That’s right, bring your dog, come jam with a band or sing along while hearing the band, enjoy downtown, and of course have some fun.   

The Bands

The Bands.jpg

Marketing the Bands – This year we need the bands to spread the word of their performance via their social media pages, mailing list, etc.  For 2017, we are providing new marketing materials, going live during performances and developing new around-town billboards.  We will also take photos and small video snippets at each performance.  All of us will hopefully use our new hashtags, #dasso, #dasjos and #dasrsp to check in to each location.  "Like" a location, then check-in while Rocking Spiotta Park or while listening to Jazz On Sloan, or both.  These promotional tactics will make it easier for us to continue to grow the series, to increase the audiences and attract more sponsors.

We are all ready for a great new Downtown After Sundown Season for 2017.  Hopefully you are, too.  We are ready for everyone to come on out and have a great time.

About the Author

Gregory Burrus – Downtown After Sundown

Gregory Burrus Downtown After Sundown.jpg

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians and local art exhibitions. On a regular basis, Gregory Burrus is promoter and manager of Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts for South Orange, NJ.

Gregory promotes events through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photo journalism.  Having fun living life while helping others.

 

#downtownaftersundown #sovca#livemusic #jazzonsloan #spiottapark #livemusicconcerts#dasso, #dasjos  #dasrsp #southorangenj #gregoryburrus

 

Kearny Point to Host NJCU’S 2017 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition

The exhibit is open to the public:

Thursday - Sunday, May 4-7 (12-6 pm)
and
Thursday - Sunday, May 11-14 (12-6 pm)

To view photos from the opening reception, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/njcugalleries/sets/72157682877708926

To view photos from the opening reception, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/njcugalleries/sets/72157682877708926

PRESS RELEASE

KEARNY, N.J.  – Hugo Neu has partnered with New Jersey City University (NJCU) to host its Art Department’s 2017 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition at Kearny Point.  The exhibition, displaying projects completed by the program’s senior undergraduate students, will be held through May 14.

NJCU’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition will be held on the ground floor of Kearny Point’s Building 78, the first building to be redeveloped under Hugo Neu’s ambitious multiphase redevelopment plan, located at 78 John Miller Way in Kearny.  The public is invited to view the exhibition from Thursday through Sunday, 12-6 p.m., and hear students speak in front of their work as part of a series artist talks, scheduled for each Friday afternoon of the exhibition (April 28, May 5 and May 12).  The presentations will begin at 2:30 p.m. and continue through 4 p.m.

Statement from the NJCU Art Department:

“We’re thrilled to be hosting our largest exhibition to date at Kearny Point, within a vibrant space that will complement our students’ work.  Our Bachelor of Fine Arts class represents a wide range of disciplines, media and vision, and each student brings a clarity of purpose and a developed conceptual foundation to their work that will be displayed through the show.”

Kearny Point is the innovative three-million-square-foot redevelopment of the historic Kearny shipyard, now reborn as a modern workplace home to a diverse community of pioneering businesses.  The complex is located less than five miles from Manhattan and within minutes of the PATH at Journal Square, Newark Penn Station, the Meadowlands, and the Frank R. Lautenberg train station in Secaucus.

This year marks the largest Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition in NJCU history, featuring work by a class of 29 students graduating with concentrations in ceramics, graphic design, photography, printmaking, illustration, jewelry, sculpture and painting and drawing.  While the majority of the projects will be displayed at Kearny Point, the Art Department will also be hosting a satellite show in NJCU’s Visual Arts Gallery, located at 100 Culver Avenue in Jersey City.

“As the Kearny Point business network continues to expand, it’s equally important that we create a place that harnesses the creativity of people and organizations from throughout the region,” said Steve Nislick, Chief Financial Officer at Hugo Neu.  “We’re so excited to provide NJCU’s Art Department with a space where some of the area’s most imaginative minds can showcase their work amid a larger community of entrepreneurs and forward-thinking businesses.”

The creative ‘flex’ office space at Kearny Point’s Building 78 is already home to nearly 100 creators and innovators – from craft-food artisans to tech trendsetters to filmmakers.  The collaborative work environment offers a variety of flexible office spaces, pre-furnished team offices, and a co-working facility known as Kearny Works.  The building is also home to a 5,000-square-foot roof deck and lounge, along with a 3,000-square-foot indoor event space, managed by JPO Concepts.

Kearny Point’s second phase, during which Hugo Neu will redevelop the former craneway, Building 100, into a technologically advanced creative office environment geared toward larger companies.  Building 100 will be complemented by over 25 acres of new open and civic space, including restored native habitat, a continuous waterfront promenade, and a living shoreline.   Hugo Neu has brought on a world-class New York-New Jersey brokerage team from Cushman & Wakefield – led by Executive Director Mitch Arkin and Associate Director Dan Johnsen – to market the space to office users.

Kearny Point’s master plan, conceived in partnership with STUDIOS Architecture and WXY architecture + design, calls for high efficiency building systems, solar and wind energy, and a multi-modal “complete streets” strategy.  As part of its plan, the project will implement additional green infrastructure measures, including green roofs/blue roofs, naturalized detention basins, bio-swales and the removal of impermeable surfaces throughout the site, replacing them with a variety of permeable surfaces limiting run-off into the Hackensack River.


More about Kearny Point

During World War I and II, Kearny Point was once one of the world’s most prolific shipyards when it operated as the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, where as many as 30,000 people came to work each day.  Today, Hugo Neu is transforming the 130-acre industrial complex into a new mixed-use waterfront destination – one that embraces the site’s history and provides opportunities for the businesses of the new economy.  Its renewed work environment is situated only minutes from Manhattan, but comes at a fraction of the cost of leasing in New York City, Newark, Hoboken or Jersey City.

In total, the Kearny Point project will reactivate more than three million square feet of industrial space for more than 5,000 jobs, making it one of the largest and most economically significant redevelopments in the region.  In subsequent phases, Kearny Point will include a host of indoor/outdoor common areas, including a living shoreline and public waterfront promenade and a restored marina. 

The complex offers a host of unique features, including dedicated trailer-loading area for ground-floor shipping and receiving, two passenger freight elevators, and high-speed Wi-Fi and phone capabilities.  Kearny Point is also a pet-friendly community, a policy that complements its friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

For more information, please visit www.kearnypoint.com

About Hugo Neu

Hugo Neu, a recognized global leader in recycling, is the owner and redeveloper of Kearny Point. Founded in 1947, the company advances its mission by investing in environmental, real estate, and non-profit enterprises that support economic, social, and environmental justice and sustainability.  Hugo Neu is a private independent company that is using its unique capital strength to execute its long-term vision for the commercial and ecological rebirth of Kearny Point.

For more information, please visit www.hugoneu.com

CONTACT:
Caroline Bligh
Senior Account Executive
cbligh@beckermanpr.com

4th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration "Protect Your Peace" at Priory Jazz Club by Ife Basim & Omisanya Masterpieces

By Gregory Burrus | Submitted Sunday, March 26, 2017

Women’s History Month Event

The National Women’s History Museum has stated that “Women have impacted American history for centuries. They have led labor movements and run successful business. They have spoken out against oppression, fought for rights, and caused change. Women have used a variety of methods to break barriers and promote equality.”  Since I am sure we all agree that women are fundamental and an integral part of our history and without women, life would not be the same.

We also know that history has shown that women have been extremely successful as composers, songwriters, instrumental performers, singers, conductors, music scholars, music educators, music critics, music journalists and of course music promoters. Add to the fact that Psychology Today states that: Music is often overlooked as a therapeutic intervention: singing, listening, and creating music of any kind will provide an immediate biological and psychological benefit for everyone. In fact, music can be a salvation and antidote to most psychological challenge.

This makes it very appropriate that two very dynamic women, Ife Basim and Omisanya Karade have come together during women’s history to not only celebrate women, but also use the medium of jazz music to deliver a message directly to women which is “Protect Your Peace”. They have been quoted as saying you need to “Practice Peace. Exemplify Peace, Exude Peace and of course Be at Peace”. With that in mind action always speaks louder than words and to that end for the last four years Ife and Omisanya have delivered on their annual message of helping people find salvation, soothe their soul and of course protect their peace through music.

Ife Basim Masterpieces – Women’s History Month Celebration

In its 4th year and bringing you the best in Live Jazz Entertainment.

Considering today's political and cultural environment, it makes sense that Ife and Omisanya have dedicated this year’s event to “Protecting Your Peace”. Since IfeBasim Omisanya Masterpieces has a mission of producing high quality, extremely elegant events, it’s no surprise that they intend to do this by celebrating, presenting and promoting some of the best female talent available.  Gregory Burrus Around Town Photography and Live Music Promotions is very happy to observe and be a part of the inner workings of these two very talented and caring masterminds as they go about creating, developing and planning this year’s Women’s History Month event.

With an all-star cast of vocalists and a world class set of musicians, this 4th Annual Women's History Month Celebration is ready to blow you away with an extremely elegant and very sophisticated night of music and loads of fun. The evening will be a very empowering collaboration of music, song, poetry and dance. lead by a host of very professional women in jazz at the Priory Jazz Club in Newark, NJ. It should be noted that the Priory Restaurant and Jazz Club is located inside a renovated church with one its mission which is to keep Newark's jazz roots alive. It will happen on March 31, 2017 as the ultimate culmination of Women’s History Month. Everybody is invited to join in the making of history, some great jazz by the following professional musicians.

Jazz Vocalists

Ife Basim

A truly memorable voice on the jazz scene with a refreshing combination of beauty, sophistication and talent, Ife Basim (aka joyElaine) has often been referred to as a “complete package “. Her rich vocals and unique phrasing take you back to the days of the classic jazz divas. Her sultry smooth voice invokes shades of Sarah Vaughn and hints at the daring of Billie Holiday.

Ife Basim developed her love of jazz as a child, forming a lasting appreciation for renowned artists such as Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Sarah, Billie and Ella. Today, performing with many of New Jersey & New York’s finest musicians, Ife Basim has earned a reputation as an exceptionally gifted song stylist with a repertoire seasoned with classic favorites.

Ife Basim has been warmly embraced by enthusiastic club audiences throughout the New York metropolitan area, and is rapidly gaining a loyal following. She has appeared at several popular venues, including New York’s Lenox Lounge, The Blue Note, Sylvia’s Restaurant, Cleopatra’s Needle and The Lake Club, and New Jersey’s Cecil ‘s Jazz Club, Trumpets, The Bridge Club, The Priory, Diva Lounge, Luna Rossa, The Savoy Grill, Passions Jazz Café, Delta’s Restaurant, Skippers's Plane Street Pub and Deborah's Jazz Cafe.  Having obtained a degree in Performing Arts at Howard University, and her love for production, she has successfully produced past Women’s History Month Celebrations and has teamed up with fellow vocalist.   

https://www.facebook.com/ife.basim

Phyllis Blanford

Phyllis Blanford is an African-American vocalist well-known in Italy, especially for some of her collaborations with great Italian musicians like Tullio De Piscopo and Pino Daniele. ~ Il Giornale, Italy

Blanford is known for exploring the avenues of overcoming the barriers that are often found when integrating different genres in your musical presentation. She explores blending poetry, blues, rhythm and traditional American and Mediterranean blues songs with the intention for a multi-faced musical dance in song.

She’s participated in several European jazz festivals and music tours with Tulli D’Episcopo, Enzo Avitabile, Roberto Ciotti and James Senese.

Phyllis is no stranger to the various levels of artistry, whether it be television, theatre productions or upsetting live crowds with her high-energy performances of tunes she entitles “Rock-Jazz”, hinted with a perfume of fusion underneath.

Blanford takes great pride in being heard around the world & across America, with spins in Washington, Germany, Italy, UK, New York, Bermuda & more. Excited about her future, Phyllis is setting her sites on jazz festivals worldwide and is passionate about finding the best musical settings in Israel to perform.

One unique quality about Phyllis Blanford is her innate ability to fuse musical genres with the foundation of jazz on her new CD “Edgewalker”. This is the album I always wanted to make.” It is “pure, raw, real. My heart, my soul. Expressed. Out loud. Unapologetic. “The Jazz Network Worldwide is proud to feature an artist who forged forward tackling the voices in her head telling her she wasn’t ready to walk on stages with confidence. What I admire most about Phyllis Blanford is her undying desire to believe in herself and to overcome her fear by painting a vocal landscape that speaks directly to your heart. “Endless” is her polished mantle-piece, with an impeccable selection of musicians for this cohesive unit, which is right on point” says Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide.

Vocalist Phyllis Blanford has a broad vision for her music. She lushly fills the corners of her art is color and edges with her band including multi-reedist Don Braden, guitarist Vic Juris, and drummer Winard Harper and vibraphonist Stefon Harris. These are percussion-rich songs softened with delicate horn arrangements, all increasing the buoyancy of Blanford’s assertive vocals. ~ By C. Michael Bailey ~All that Jazz.

Be sure to check out http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com  and to learn more go to http://www.phyllisblanford.com . “Edgewalker" is now available on Amazon, CDBaby.com, iTunes &more.  https://www.facebook.com/phyllisblanford/

Carol Deminski

 Carol Deminski loves all kinds of music! She sings Hot Jazz, Standards, American Songbook, Big Band, Blues, and Classic Pop/Rock. Her repertoire includes songs from greats like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, Peggy Lee, The Beatles and many more. Carol is a band leader and show producer. She leads the monthly Singer Celebration series at the DLV Lounge in Montclair, NJ. This popular event draws talented jazz vocalists, typically to a standing room only crowd. She is the MC, Lead Vocalist and Band Leader for this event. She produced the Jazz Generations show at the Priory in September 2016. The show covered 100 years of jazz and drew a crowd of about 120.

Ms. Deminski has studied with Grammy Award Winning Jazz and Blues vocalist Catherine Russell and pianist Jon Weber; pianist Norman Simmons (accompanist to Carmen McRae, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams); Grammy Nominated Jazz vocalist Roseanna Vitro; Jazz vocalist Carrie Jackson; vocal technique guru Barbara Maier, and keyboardist Radam Schwartz. Carol also attended the inaugural 2016 NY Hot Jazz Camp.

In Manhattan, New York City she has performed at the Iridium, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Mona's, Fat Cat, Kitano, The Rum House, Arthur's Tavern (sitting in with the legendary Grove Street Stompers), Jimmy's 43, and Rue B. In New Jersey, she has sung at the DLV Lounge, Ocean Place Resort & Spa, Robin's Nest, The Priory, Glen Rock Inn, Colts Neck Inn, Moore’s (aka Bill and Ruth’s), the Blue Moon, Hibiscus, Hailey's Harp, Maggie Murray's, Suite 53, Crossroads and elsewhere.

In the Philippines, she performed with the Henry Katindig trio at the Seda Hotel, and with Joey Casal at the Wine Club. In Hong Kong, she performed at the Orange Peel nightclub, and in Zurich at Jazz Barrage.

She has performed with many musicians, including: (keyboardists) Radam Schwartz, Richie Mcrae, Dave Braham, Gary Schaeffer, Benjamin Rosenblum, William Gorman, Kelly Green, Jesse Gelber, James Austin; (bassists) Mike Weatherly, Jared Engel, Brian Nalepka, Dan Martin, Earl Sauls, Ben Rubens; (drummers) Don Williams, Michael Mittelsdorf, Bruce Tyler, Noel Sagerman, (guitarists) Charlie Jones, Courtney Sappington, Bruce Hector, Frank Sole, Jon Boudrot; (front liners) Joe Licari, Barry Bryson, Vince Gardner, Dave Dilzell, Scott Ricketts, Jim Bogle, Jeff Hummel, Cornell McGhee and Frank Grasso; and in Asia, with Henry Katindig, Jeannie Tiongco, Colby Dela Calzada, Joey Casal, and Jeun Nackorda ... to name a few.

https://caroldeminskiproductions.com/

Sherry Gibson

Singer, playwright, artist, producer and former Soul Train and American Bandstand dancer! Sherry Gibson has performed on stage and recorded with local bands in the 1980s; sang throughout NYC with the Traditions Ensemble under the tutelage of Ms. Yvonne Hatchett, including at the reading of The Makeover, written by Peter Eliscu, music by Doug Booth, and Directed by Petronia Paley. 

Sherry has also performed at various venues throughout NYC with Pamela Baskin-Watson’s vocal jazz ensemble, sang at a Billy Holiday tribute event, Cobi Narita’s, The Kitano, Metropolitan Room, Zeb’s, Cleopatra’s Needle and participated in Angeline Butler’s production of Women of Jazz.

 Sherry studied at Barry Harris’ Jazz Vocal Workshop, with Ted Muzio and Marlon Saunders.  In addition, Sherry Gibson has singlehandedly produced several large-scale benefit concerts, wrote a play and read several parts in the plays Greener Grasses and Queens of Heart, written and directed by Sabura Rashid. 

https://www.facebook.com/staylorgibson

 

Jacquelyn Gilliam

Born in San Bernadino, California, raised in Central New Jersey, and currently residing in Piscataway, Jacquelyn's singing career started in church influenced by Gospel music. Her first solo was at the age of 5 singing for relatives, ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". She grew up in both church choirs and school choruses. Jacquelyn quotes her former guitar instructor, John La Greca, when she says, "a good song is a good song."

This genre blending singer provides some landmark musical gems, and the result is a sophisticated musical style creating an entirely new sound. She blends Contemporary, Pop' Jazz, R & B, music styles, effortlessly blending with her soulful voice. Jackie is a great talent and very charming as she explores new grounds showing that she is willing to take new chances.'(Carrie Jackson)

She has graced the stages of Trumpets Jazz Club, Crossroads, The Italian Bistro, and numerous other venues in Central Jersey. She has worked with several well-known music giants such as Radaam Schwartz, Richie McCrae, David Braham, and John Bianculli. More than a few highly-acclaimed singers (William Phillips, Rocky Robinson, Carrie Jackson, Jackie Jones, and Stephen Fuller) have encouraged and invited her to their stages to sing a tune.

She has been among other featured artists through Carrie Jackson's Jazz Collective at Trumpets Jazz Club and most recently has done two shows as the solo featured artist with John Bianculli at the Italian Bistro. If asked she will tell you, "We are more than one thing in life" Jacquelyn has enjoyed a successful career in teaching Spanish but has stayed connected to her passion for singing along the way. She has done this through celebrating special life events of friends, family, and colleagues. This is the path that has led her to be a performing artist in her own right. She was inspired by Roberta Flack's segue into singing from teaching. Jacquelyn embraces the mantra "I don't sing because I'm happy. I'm happy because I sing."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelyn-gilliam-9a00a119/

 

Omisanya Karade

Omisanya is an exceptionally multi-talented Native of Newark.... has performed all over the country and the world as far as the South Pacific and Africa soon to make a European tour. Omisanya has performed at all the all the local jazz clubs in New Jersey in New Brunswick, West Orange’s Cecil's, along with numerous venues around Harlem, New York and Newark, NJ.

With a degree in music/ music education Omisanya has performed background, lead vocals and most genres from gospel, R&B and even classical music. Her gifts now bring her to the wonderful world of Jazz and Blues, as a co-producer and co-writer of this Women’s History Month Event where her objective is to communicate an elevated vibration to share with mankind in the Name of Love and creativity.
 

Lynette Sheard

Lynette Sheard is a gifted versatile vocalist with a five-octave range and perfect pitch. She is an actor, producer, director and vocal coach. Her performances have been acknowledged in numerous publications including, NY Times, Broadway World, The Record, Hot House and the Chronicle. The Star Ledger proclaims that “Her voice reaches deep into one’s soul and finds a soft spot”.  She performs Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Soul and Pop music NY, NJ, PA and Las Vegas.

 Theater credits include principal roles in: Dream Girls, Smokey Joe's Cafe Ragtime, Swing, Aida, A Raisin in the Sun and most recently Gary Coleman in Avenue Q in which Broadway World declared that “she is fabulous with a voice that shakes the rafters” She is also the unseated West Orange Idol.

She has also appeared in Thursday and Friday’s performance of “For Colored Girls…” (lady in Purple) at the 4th Wall Theater in Bloomfield and has had encore performance as Lena's younger Mama in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.

TV credits include: BET, NJN and ABC. She has received countless awards and recognition for her musical service work with children, the elderly and veterans. She is a founding member of the Guiding Stars - a Medical Missions group of professional performers who volunteer to entertain
veterans and children in hospitals. Her performances have raised thousands for Hurricane Katrina survivors, The American Red Cross and numerous other charities.

Lynette Sheard is a gifted and versatile vocalist, actor, producer and director. She is the unseated "West Orange Idol." Her performances have been acknowledged in numerous publications, including NY Times, The Record, The Chronicle and most recently, The Star Ledger, which proclaimed that, "Her voice reaches deep into one's soul and finds a soft spot." She performs Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Soul and Pop music in NY, NJ, PA and Las Vegas. Theatre credits include principal roles in: Smokey Joe's Cafe, Ragtime, Swing, Aida, Outcasts.

https://www.facebook.com/Lynette-Sheard-126048014086838/
 

Patricia Walton

Born in Germany, raised in New York and currently residing in New Jersey, Patricia has been singing since she can remember.  Her singing career started in school choir, while still in Germany.  She was a soloist and member of the Mt. Sinai UCC choir, a member of One Accord, and as a lead vocalist for several party/dance bands has performed at various venues in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

As featured artist, she has recently appeared at The Priory, 16 Prospect Wine Bar & Bistro, Trumpets Jazz Club, Crossroads, and Duke's Southern Table where she has worked with musicians such as Radam Schwartz, Dave Braham, Don Williams and JJ Shakur.  Patricia also volunteers her time performing for the residents of the Lyons VA Rehabilitation Center and White House Nursing Home, and takes part in the annual charity fundraiser hosted by Salem Roadhouse Cafe.

 Her repertoire includes Jazz, Blues, Pop, R&B and Gospel.  Her musical influences include Billie Holiday, June Christie, Mahalia Jackson Barbara Streisand, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and many more. Quoting her mentor, Carrie Jackson, "Patricia possesses a cool, sultry style with a vocal range that is strong, yet relaxing. She sings with sincere spirit, while exploring the nuances of the melody and lyrics to deliver renditions of Jazz, Blues and R&B standards that make the listener take notice of her creativity and charisma".

Patricia studied voice with Phil Orlick who made it a point to pick unfamiliar songs to encourage students to find their own voice and discover creative ways of presenting the story and lyrics. She also studied Musical Performance at HB Studio under Helen Gallagher and attended Craig Derry’s vocal boot camp. Currently, she is a member of the Jazz Vocal Collective (a weekly jazz vocal workshop) founded by Carrie Jackson.

Patricia believes that music is the one thing we all understand; if she can touch just one heart in the audience through a song, then she succeeded in sharing the gift that God gave her!

http://www.patriciawalton.com/

               

Jazz Musicians

Sheryl Bailey

Sheryl Bailey.png

There's no description more apt for Sheryl Bailey than "A sizzling guitar goddess", coined by Elliot Simon of All About Jazz.  Adam Levy of Guitar Player Magazine calls Sheryl "One of the most compelling tones of her generation", and Frank Forte of Just Jazz Guitar ranks her "among the best bop guitar players with a fresh approach and something new."

Sheryl's playing is unquestionably "sizzling". She has groomed incredible chops and impeccable taste with which she applies them. It's said (by Lee Metcalf, The Villager) that she can "go from zero to blazing in two beats", but she is continually praised for never sacrificing melody and lyricism for technique. "She balances superior technical skills with a strong lyrical sense and swinging touch..." continues Metcalf, and Joe Taylor of Soundstage says "Bailey combines an astonishing command of the fingerboard with a seemingly endless flow of melodic invention."

Sheryl attended Berkley College of Music where her years of dedication and focus won her 3rd place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar competition in 1995, and she was chosen as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department in 2000 for a South American tour. She is now said to be "One of the top players in an emerging generation of jazz guitarists" (John Heidt, Vintage Guitar).

Her own trio, The Sheryl Bailey 3, is a modernized version of the organ trio-"the ultimate organ trio" according to JazzInside Magazine. In addition to their 15-year plus residency at NYC's 55 Bar, they have toured China, Canada, Europe and the US. She also tours the world as a member of David Krakauer's "Ancestral Groove". A partial list of others with whom she has performed and recorded with includes Richard Bona, George Garzone, Bill O'Connell, Mike LeDonne, Irene Cara, Shingo Okudaira, Ingrid Jensen, Dwayne Burno, Tommy Campbell, Simon Woolf, Alex Garnett and Ken Peplowski.

To date, Sheryl has 9 CDs out under her name, and a live DVD, The Sheryl Bailey 3 Live in NYC (Mel Bay). In 2010 MCG Jazz released A New Promise, her tribute to Emily Remler, produced by Grammy-award winner, Marty Ashby, featuring Sheryl as the solo artist with Three Rivers Jazz Orchestra. In Downbeat Magazine Phillip Booth commented, "She is one of the new greats of her chosen instrument". Her 2014 release on the Cellar Live label, A Meeting Of Minds features The Sheryl Bailey 3. In 2015.

Sheryl is a Professor at Berklee College of Music, and at the Collective in New York.  Sheryl lives up to Elliot Simon's description, in all facets of her work. Earning "Rising Star" status on Downbeat's Critic's Poll 2013, 2014, and 2015. 

http://www.sherylbailey.com/

 

Kim Clark

Best known for her tenure with the pioneering avant-funk unit Defunkt, bassist Kim Clarke began playing R&B at age 18; a self-taught musician, she was a college sophomore when she first learned of the Jazzmobile project's Saturday workshops, changing her major to music and proceeding to study under the likes of Jimmy Owens, Lisle Atkinson, Buster Williams, Victor Gaskins, Jimmy Heath and Ernie Wilkins. Awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz study grant, Clarke honed her skills under the tutelage of bass great Ron Carter; a stint at Barry Harris' jazz improvisation workshop followed, and soon she was the house bassist at a number of Harlem jazz clubs as well as the Jazz Cultural Theatre's "Art Blakey Breakfast Jam." Clarke joined Defunkt for 1982's Thermonuclear Sweat, remaining with the group for over a decade; concurrently she toured Europe and Japan with a variety of artists before going on to lead the jazz group Inner Circle Quartet and the funk/jazz project A.W.O.L. (Angels with Outstanding Lawyers). In the late 1990s, Clarke also teamed with saxophonist Rob Scheps to lead the Oregon-based Magnets.

Bassist Kim Clarke is the producer of the LADY GOT CHOPS Women's History Month Music Festival as well as the leader of MAGNETS!, Jamaikit Funky and the Inner Circle Q'tet (performed at the Cape May Jazz Festival 2011). Kim has been working in and organizing quintets for various occasions for over 30 years. Kim’s touring experience includes: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Romania, England, Nice, Austria, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Lichtenstein, Sardina, Corsica, Poland, Spain, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, Portugal, Turkey, Sicily, Greece Pakistan, Japan, Guyana, Nassau, & Trinidad; most of which was with Joseph Bowie's Defunkt and Defunkt Big Band. Kim has also toured internationally with Joe Henderson, the National Black Theatre, George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, Doran, Stucky, Studer and Clarke, Annie Whitehead Experience, Teri Jenoure, Bertha Hope Trio, Teri Thornton Trio, the Kit McClure Big Band and Ursula Dudziak. Among my local experiences have been house bassist at the Jazz Cultural Theatre, Blue Note Jam Session with Ted Curson and JAzz Spot. I have worked with Art Blakey, Andy Bey, Little Jimmy Scott, Olu Dara, Leon Thomas, Yusef Lateef, Queen Latifah, Nona Hendryx, the Ghetto Fighters, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Cassandra Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Cissy Houston, Dakota Station and Rhonda Ross.

In addition to presenting educational jazz history workshops from k thru college, Kim does her utmost to bring the type of music to your event that your crowd enjoys most via professionals experienced in a variety of musical situations from theatre, concert, festival and celebrations. 

https://www.facebook.com/kim.clarke.9634

 

Brianne Ford

 With a musical resume that reads longer than those of many seasoned veterans, jazz pianist Brianne Ford has been a girl on a mission to become a star since a very early age. Born and raised in the home of Jazz, the great American city of New Orleans, Brianne Ford began her obsession with the piano at the age of seven performing in her church and mastering her craft through professional lessons.

When Ford wasn’t performing on stage, she spent much of her time listening to jazz musicians on her radio. Her infatuation for the genre grew into what would become a lifelong passion for jazz artistry and sound. Growing up enthralled by the Jazz musicians and clubs of her hometown, Ford wasted no time jumping right into the heart of the jazz scene in New Orleans. Ford began playing at local clubs and attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (N.O.C.C.A), a gifted art program whose alumni include Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, and Jonathan Batiste.

Ford has often cited her N.O.C.C.A music teacher Clyde Kerr Jr. and teacher Ellis Marsalis as one of her biggest music career influences. By the age of 20 Brianne had performed at several well-known New Orleans venues and events such as Snug Harbor, the Funky Butt, Le Meridian Hotel, the Coca Cola Essence Festival, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Maison Bourbon, and the Ritz Carlton. Ford's success in New Orleans landed her opportunities to share the stage with some of the industry’s best, including jazz legends such as saxophonist Donald Harrison, Nicholas Payton, and Jason Marsalis to name a few. Her determination and feverish display of raw talent made her a standout in a music genre that has for years been male dominated.

Having reached a pivotal point in her music career with the opportunity to attend one of the country’s best jazz programs at William Paterson University in New Jersey.  Ford migrated to the NJ/NY metro area. After enduring the pain of Hurricane Katrina, she quickly gained her footing in the bustling jazz scene, working as a side person and bandleader in New York City and New Orleans with performances reaching globally as far as Trinidad for their International Jazz Day celebration. Ford would continue to grow her already extensive resume and was inspired to begin working on her debut album, Invocation.
http://www.brianneford.com/html/

 

Debra Kreisberg

Saxophonist Debra Kreisberg performs, composes, arranges and records with the New York City-based Latin-jazz ensemble Los Mas Valientes, and the award-winning klezmer ensembles Metropolitan Klezmer and Isle of Klezbos, with whom she has toured in the U.S., Canada and in Europe.

 She is the leader of two jazz projects, East Harlem Trio, and The Highliners Jazz Quintet, and is a member of the Latin-jazz quintet Esencia and the Latin-jazz big band Bronx Conexión, led by master percussionist / composer Victor Rendón.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music with a master in jazz performance from Manhattan School of Music, Debra has performed with renowned singer-songwriters Natalie Merchant, Jill Sobule and Rachelle Garniez; jazz luminaries Harvie S, Chuck Redd, Sheryl Bailey and Tommy Campbell; the Rochester Philharmonic; the world-blues project Hazmat Modine; and Taylor Mac in the world premiere of Taylor Mac's 24-Decade History of Popular Music at St. Ann's Warehouse.

Her playing and compositions have been heard on CBS Sunday Morning, CNN Worldbeat, WBGO, SiriusXM Radio, Ebru TV’s Rhythm and Roots and on Showtime's The L Word.

https://www.debrakreisberg.com/

 

Whisper J. McRae

Whisper McRae is a 19-year-old rising star drummer from Paterson, New Jersey, where she attended high school at Rosa Parks School of fine and performing arts. Whisper now attends college at SUNY Purchase in New York as a jazz studies major.

Whisper enjoys playing many styles of music and has participated in many music programs such as Jazz House Kids, William Paterson summer jazz work shop and an all-female jazz program.

She's has studied with several drum instructors along the way/ mentors such as Dan Johnson, Shirazette Tinnin, Matt Kane, and Jeff Tain Watts.  

Sought after by many venues and professionals she has played in many venues such as Trumpets Jazz, Montclair, NJ, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola - Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, Atlantic City, Met life, Club Swing 46, In Church, Clements Jazz Place, Newark NJ, the Disability Pride Parade in NYC, Downtown Brooklyn, The Priory Jazz Club, the Newark museum, Hat City Kitchen, Orange, NJ and other venues around the Greater New York, New Jersey area.

In her appearances, she has shown the ability to smoothly mix and sync with fellow musicians and deftly escape to some beautiful solo’s as required. Whisper continues to use the tools she's been given to become a successful musician and have an impact on today’s music scene.

https://www.facebook.com/jahney.mcrae

 

Meet Me On Brunswick St. – Sarah Vaughn

At the end of this special Women's History Night Celebration, this wonderful experience is not over as the Women’s Jazz Jam Session is just getting started.  Here the celebration continues in honor of Sarah Vaughn whose childhood was spent on Brunswick St. in Newark, NJ.

Continuing the wonderful sprit of the evening, "Meet Me on Brunswick St." jam session is a way for everyone to network, swap some jazzy ideas, cement old relationships and form some new friendships. Doesn't matter who you are, bring your instrument, your voice and or your just good spirit and have a good time.

Vendors - Supporters

In line with making this a great event, allowances have been made to let others come on board and help support the cause. Some of the vendors onboard at the time of this writing are listed below.

Artist Cathleen McCoy Bristol

Cathleen (Cathy) McCoy Bristol is a painter and illustrator of portraits, figure work, land and cityscapes and spiritual scenes. Cathleen McCoy Bristol is a former student of and instructor at the Newark school of fine and Industrial arts, the Junior Museum of the Newark Museum and Arts Unbound. Cathy has freelanced as a fashion illustrator and painter focusing mostly on portraits, figure work, and landscapes. She has also worked on a commission basis with numerous pieces in private collections.   http://cathymccoybristol.webstarts.com/

 Gregory Burrus Around Town Photography

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians, and local art exhibitions. Gregory is a manager and promoter of the South Orange Village Center Alliance Downtown After Sundown Live Music Events, Board Member of the North Jersey Blues Alliance, Friend of the Valley Arts District in Orange, NJ,  an avid supporter of jazz, blues and art all around our towns and the Greater New York, New Jersey area.  On a regular basis, Gregory gets the word out through social media marketing, photojournalism writing articles for JerseyIndie. http://www.gregoryburrusaroundtown.com

Makeup and Moor

Makeupand Moor -  Professional Makeup Artistry & Photography Services - She paints faces. He frames moments.  Services for all occasions including Weddings, Birthdays, Professional Headshots, Maternity Photoshoots, Newborn Photography, Family Portraits, Editorial Projects, and more! 
http://www.MakeupandMoor.com

 


Katthyz Kreations

From childhood, KatthyzKreations has always had a passion for creating in different at forms. My latest creations start from my love of music and fashion. Each piece is uniquely designed with Guitar pics and beads that different healing power to bring positivity and peace to the wearer It gives me great pleasure to share my gifts and talents with you.  
https://www.instagram.com/katthyzkreationz/  

  

 Yvonne Onque

 Yvonne Onque, Owner and Creator of God-S Wearable Art – So who is God-S? She is your Momma, Auntie, Sister, Daughter, and Friend. She is YOU! She is the everyday woman who defies odds and stands in her power. She is collective feminine energy. We encourage you to wear your God-S Wearable Art as a testimony to the universal blessing of women as life bearers, nurturers, teachers and inspiring leaders in today's multifaceted global village.”

https://www.newarkhappening.com/things-to-do/shopping/wearable-art/

 

So, what more could one want, women’s history, a great jazz venue, good food, lots of spirits, may epic professional musicians, dedicated promoters, get your image captured for social media, for our website, for history, have fun, dance when the spirit hits you, of course you can hang out and jam all night long.  Ife Basim Masterpieces – 4th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration is an event you don’t want to miss as it will be one of best experiences in Live Jazz Entertainment. Join us March 31st, 2017 7 PM in the Priory Jazz Club. Like us on Facebook 4th Annual Women's History Month Celebration "Protect Your Peace" and let us know you are coming.

About the Author

Gregory Burrus with Ife Basim and Omisanya Karade Founders of Ife Basim Omisanya Masterpieces.

Gregory Burrus with Ife Basim and Omisanya Karade Founders of Ife Basim Omisanya Masterpieces.

Hi Guys -  Congratulations on producing an elegant and epic night of music. The 4th Annual Women's History Month Celebration "Protect Your Peace" produced by IfeBasim Omisanya Masterpieces at the Priory (Jazz Club) in Newark, NJ is going to be historic.

This year Gregory Burrus Around Town Photography will be partnering and supplying picture and video services. We are going to have a blast so come on through and have a great time.  

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians, and local art exhibition and is urging you to come on out and have some fun, protect your peace and support a great Women’s History Month event. Connect with Gregory atFacebook | Google+ | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Vimeo.

#womenshistorymonth  #ifebaimomisanyamasterpieces #protectyourpeace #supportlivemusic #jazzvocalists #prioryjazzcelebration #newarkjazzpeople #jazzandblues #allaroundourtowns #gregoryburrus #jazzmusicians

First Ever Juice Hip-Hop Exhibition: Garden State Edition

Saturday, April 1, 2017, Jersey City, NJ

PRESS RELEASE
Courtesy of Moxie 1973

NJ will once again make history by bringing together all of its most proficient talent!

JERSEY CITY, NJ – On April 1, 2017, Moxie 1973 will have its first Juice Hip-hop Exhibition in Jersey City, NJ.  Stationed around the culture of hip-hop, many of New Jersey’s hidden talents will have an opportunity to unveil why the garden state deserves its credit in the industry.  The event will be located at Juice Cathedral on 380 Montgomery Street and doors will open at 1 pm.

The Juice Hip-hop Exhibition: Garden State Edition was created for one purpose, to generate interest back into the culture of hip-hop.  With a fierce line-up of artists such as Tsu Surf, Quiana Parks, Moruf and Dougie F as well as a number of other emcees, artists, deejays, dancers, entrepreneurs, and designers, Moxie 1973 has found a way to combine them all in one city, on one date, under one roof, and for one cause.

The goals Juice intends to meet for this exhibition is to give the community a history lesson on Hip-hop, resurge Jersey’s pride behind the culture of hip-hop, and to leave a footprint in its legacy for the youth.  Ultimately, Moxie 1973 wants every participant to be able to tell their story through their talent.  Moxie 1973 is a collective of cultural storytellers through the mediums of music, content, product, and live events.

For more information on how one can contribute or for ticket info, please visit http://moxie1973.com/.  For all other inquiries, please contact info@moxie1973.com.

Hip-Hop's The Religion.  Rap's The Gospel.  Juice Is The Church.  Everybody is welcomed April 1st to witness all the elements of the culture together under one roof for one night, and one culture.  www.moxie1973.com.  Video Edited by Juan V Roque.  Narration by Juels Pierrot.  *This Video Is For Promotional Use Only*

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones

Friday, April 7, 2017, Montclair, NJ

NEWS RELEASE

MONTCLAIR, N. J. -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones [NY/CA] on Friday, April 7th at 8 p.m.  This concert will take place at at 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church Street in Montclair.  Opening the show will be Sammy Brue [UT].

The best harmony duet singing always confounds basic arithmetic.  One plus one, instead of equaling two, suddenly yields an unexpected third thing.  An upper-case ONE.  A deep vibration.  A universal hum that encompasses both male and female viewpoints and conveys more subtle shades of emotion than a single voice can.  On Little Windows, the debut album by Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones, the duo have that kind of ONEness.

"George and Tammy... Porter and Dolly... Teddy and Kelly?  Teddy Thompson (son of Richard and Linda) and Kelly Jones (best known for her 2010 album SheBANG!) have a ways to go before they're recognized as the next great male-female duo, but this winning twosome is off to a fine start with Little Windows.  Blending their plaintive voices in seamless, high-lonesome harmonies that would do The Everly Brothers proud." - Jon Young, Mother Jones, April 2016

About Sammy Brue:

To say that Sammy Brue is an old soul is an understatement.  Last year, at just fourteen-years-old, Brue released his own EP I Don’t Want You To Leave: a collection of devastatingly beautiful songs that touch on heartbreak, jealousy, God and suicide.  The release prompted Rolling Stone to declare the songwriter an “Americana Prodigy” and led to performances at Newport Folk Festival and Summerfest.

Brue, a Portland, OR, native living in Nashville, first cut his teeth at age ten by busking on the sidewalk during Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.  Looking to raise extra cash to buy more music gear, his stunning and sincere performances turned heads of famous actors, musicians and press alike, prompting the festival to invite him back every year since.

With a reverent nod to early Dylan and Guthrie and more modern contemporaries Cobain, Justin Townes Earle, and Jason Isbell, Brue released his latest single “Once a Lover“ via ReverbNation CONNECT’s The Watch List.

How to Get Tickets:

Tickets: $28 in advance, $32 at the door and are available at Keil’s Pharmacy, 732 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973-744-2113;  Studio 042 – Super Business Printer, 423 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973-509-7591; and on TicketLeap: https://outpost.ticketleap.com/teddy-thompson-and-kelly-jones-2017/ dates/Apr-07-2017_at_0800PM

About The Outpost:

The all-volunteer Outpost is a nonprofit outreach organization in Montclair dedicated to building community through music, community service, and cultural events.  The Outpost has presented more than 350 concerts by internationally known artists such as Judy Collins, Roger McGuinn, Dave Mason, Jorma Kaukonen, Jimmy Webb, Richie Havens, J.D. Souther, and Dar Williams.  In addition to promoting and staffing concerts, Outpost volunteers have donated many hours of their time through programs affiliated with Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, the Human Needs Food Pantry of Montclair, the Community Food Bank of N.J., Dress for Success and a soup kitchen run by Outpost volunteers in East Orange, NJ.

For more information, visit www.outpostintheburbs.org or call 973-744-6560.

Contact

Gail Prusslin Outpost in the Burbs
prance@comcast.net
www.outpostintheburbs.org

Like Outpost in the Burbs on Facebook
Follow Outpost in the Burbs on Twitter

 

Jaded Past Performs at The Brighton Bar

Friday, March 17, 2017, Long Branch, NJ

PRESS RELEASE 

Show Info:
March 17th @ The Brighton Bar
121 Brighton Ave
Long Branch, NJ 07740
Show starts at 7:00PM
Phone: (732) 229-9676
$10 COVER

More about Jaded Past:

George Becker, a long time veteran of the East Coast music scene, has shared the stage with numerous national acts.  He has collaborated with many musicians and producers, creating a real name for himself within the classic rock community.  George Becker and his band, Jaded Past, most recently, hit the studio with notable producer Steve Brown of Trixter and Def Leppard. 
The result... the sophomore Jaded Past album: Believe.

For 2017 show dates, Becker has enlisted the incredible line-up of
George Becker on Lead Vocals, Guitar, 
Scott LaFlamme (Bang Tango) on Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jason Cornwell (Eric Martin Band) on Bass, Backing Vocals  
Rob LaFlamme on Drums. Backing Vocals
& perhaps a few guest appearances along the way!

A full 2017 concert schedule can be viewed at www.jadedpast.com. 

For more info on Jaded Past:

First Annual New Play Festival: Emerging Theater Voices Get Heard in Jersey City

Now thru March 25, 2017, Jersey City, NJ

***For Immediate Release***

Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) presents the first annual New Play Festival, a series of staged readings of new plays by established and emerging playwrights held in Jersey City.  The inaugural New Play Festival, a partnership with the Writers Theatre of New Jersey, runs through March 25.

The New Play Festival begins February 9, Fourth Planet by Dano Madden, about an astronaut deciding between relationships on earth and becoming the first woman on Mars, setting a tone for a cluster of plays that defy genre, embrace diversity, and explore important issues of our times.

 “As a presenting venue, JCTC is committed to nurturing new voices in American theatre,” said Olga Levina, Artistic Director.  “It is urgent, because of the times we live in now, that we listen to each other so can we fully analyze our current situation and build our future together. These playwrights represent the voices of people from a cross-section of society.”

"We need a theater that is inclusive, that enables audiences to listen to voices from many different theaters. With the New Play Festival, we are bringing plays of artistic excellence so audiences can experience quality work, many of which seem destined to become full-scale productions.”

"The New Play Festival at JCTC provides a valuable new play development opportunity for local playwrights.,” said Lia Romeo, New Play Reading Coordinator, JCTC. “Before new plays come to the stage in a full production, it's incredibly helpful for playwrights to hear them in front of an audience in a "reading" format, and get a sense of what's working and what isn't. It also provides an opportunity for audience members to give feedback and get involved with the development of a new work of art.”

“The women’s marches on January 21 were truly borderless events, occurring in almost every state and on every continent,” said John Pietrowski, Artistic Director, Writers Theatreof New Jersey. “March is Women’s History Month, and the plays Writers Theatre are offering as part of the New Play Festival celebrate the resilience and determination of women; from the large historical canvas of the Paterson Silk Strikes, to the quiet fortitude that holds a family together in Newark during the Depression and World War II, to women incarcerated in the American prison system, or struggling to find a spiritual and moral center against impossible odds.”

Bringing new audiences to emerging artists and enabling new artistic voices to be heard not only is in keeping with JCTC’s mission, but is an artistic endeavor that seems more necessary today than ever before. “Supporting  emerging artists and new voices is especially important now, at a time when the arts aren't highly valued by the political administration,” said Romeo, who is also an accomplished playwright. “There are programs like this in New York, but few in Hudson County. There's an incredibly smart, diverse, cultured audience in Jersey City that's hungry for this kind of thing. JCTC is a hub for the local arts scene and working with emerging theater artists on new and innovative works is a huge part of that."

All New Play Festival readings are held at Merseles Studios in Jersey City and are free ($5 suggested donation) and open to the public.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit:> jctcenter.org

Jersey City Theater Center
Merseles Studios
339 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 795-5386

*Photographs and interviews available upon request*

 

NEW PLAY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Wed, March 8 • 7:30pm
New Play Festival/Staged Reading
Paterson Falls by Rosemary McLaughlin

This is the play investigates the Paterson Silk Strikes in 1912-13. Rosemary McLaughlin is a NJSCA Literary Fellow in Playwriting and this reading is part of the Literary Artist Fellowship Award.

Thurs, March 16 • 7:30pm
New Play Festival/Staged Reading
Run On Sentence • by Stacie Lents

In 2016, Stacie Lents spent over 70 hours interviewing women prisoners at the Women’s Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC) in Vandalia, Missouri as part of a commission for Prison Performing Arts. Run On Sentence is a work of fiction based on those interviews. The play is an astute and often humorous look at the lives of these women as they deal with issues associated with their incarceration.

Sat., March 18 • 7:30pm
New Play Festival/Staged Reading
The Messenger by Phoebe Farber

Trish is living as a caretaker in her brother’s house while teaching at a local nursery school. When some work needs to be done on the house, she hires Oren, an itinerant handyman who turns out to have come to earth on a mission of healing. The Messenger is a triangle play that looks at issues of global and minuscule proportion: how does one live one’s life in the presence of loss, helplessness and impotence?

Wed, March 22 • 7:30pm
New Play Festival/Staged Reading
Diagonal Trilogy by Vita Morales

It 1939, and in the shadow of the newly-built Pulaski Skyway (then called The Diagonal), Gianni Finti has drowned swimming in the debris-strewn Passaic River. His cousin Carlie tries in vain to save him. His perceived failure and the anguish of Gianni’s death opens a box of secrets that reveals Carlie’s true identity and triggers a lifelong quest for forgiveness. Based on a true story, The Diagonal Trilogy is a sensitive look at life in Newark before and after the Second World War.

Thur, March 23 • 7:00 pm
New Play Festival/Staged Reading
Tiene Duende • by Cecilia Copeland

An American flamenco dancer of mixed heritage longs to master her art, but must deal with cultural and romantic difficulties along the way. –Followed by Talk-Back..

Sat., March 25 • 7:00 pm
New Play Festival/Staged Reading
Like Saltwater by Pia Wilson

A bipolar, African-American woman named Ailyn is locked in a room with her husband's childhood friend, would-be lover, and now priest, Richard while her husband John is dying in their bedroom.

Funding for Borderless and the 1st annual New Play Festival was made possible by generous support from the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development, Thomas A. DeGise, Hudson County Executive and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Funding for Borderless and the 1st annual New Play Festival was also made possible through the generosity of Ben LoPiccolo Development Group, JCTC’s Board of Directors, private donors and local Jersey City businesses.

Jersey City Theater Center, Inc. (JCTC) manages programming at Merseles Studios and the adjacent White Eagle Hall, currently under construction. JCTC is a nonprofit, 501c3 arts organization committed to presenting innovative and progressive performing & visual arts as well as educational arts programs that embrace the multicultural identity and preserve the rich history of Jersey City, bringing its community closer together and enhancing its quality of life. > jctcenter.org

Contact

Timothy Herrick
Communications Director
(201) 736-1884
Timothy@jctcenter.org

 

 

 

Interview with Artist Peter Bloomfield

Opening Exhibit: March 10th, 2017 at Gallery OVO, South Orange, NJ
 

By Patricia Rogers | Posted Tuesday, March 7, 2017

First off, this was a particularly memorable interview because Peter was a delight to talk to, and he is the first artist I have profiled from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  So far, it has been all about artists in Essex County, and of course my hometown, New York City.

I was able to have an insightful conversation with him, and it reminded me of why I love what I do.  And why providing this platform for artists, is so important.

Art is an outlet, a release.  It is a way for a person to express themselves through various mediums.  But at the same time, there is the provided spotlight into society at that moment. Attitudes, concerns and culture at that time. Buildings are a way to see into history. I cannot help but also think about iconic buildings and architecture that does the same thing.

Peter is an architect and visual artist based in Philly, but this weekend he is exhibiting his work at South Orange, New Jersey’s Gallery OVO.  Peter says, “I always was into the drawing side, figuratively and architecturally, design facilities nationally, artwork, and integrated it into the design of a building […] it is graphics, drawing, even poetry, and fashion design has often led the way prior to architecture.  I was always fascinated with what was going on in the causal as well as buildings being built.”

We continued to talk about structures in that magnitude like the rise of Bell House in Germany. Painting, and all aspects of design, go hand in hand almost seamlessly.  Architecture has brought Peter to the West coast, and since settling in Philly, he has dived back into the arts.

“I always have a sketchbook with me, method as a way to present ideas to clients.  We have done a lot of work for the broadcast industry,” says Peter.  Talk about being on the pulse.

The more we spoke, I realized that his upcoming show is going to be a turning point in his arts career.  I also live in an arts district.  We had a lot in common in that sense.  Being in the heart of the activity of an arts scene serves as a major inspiration. There are now peers, and people, that you can talk about the arts with, as well as meeting new people and being exposed to new things. I hope to introduce him to our scene, and I can maybe go to Philly.

Friday, March 10, 7-10 p.m. join us as Gallery OVO presents the opening of “Abstract Narratives, the Works of Peter Bloomfield.” Gallery OVO is a fairly new gallery, and a special one I might add.  Peter met the curator and owner, Caro Marr, through his wife who worked with Caro in the music industry.

I attended the MetalurJ jewelry show (Dec. 2016), with pieces designed by Jill H.  It was a sisters-only event and a lot of fun.  I was sent by marketing extraordinaire Gregory Burrus.  This is when I saw that Gallery OVO is like no other and goes back to the fundamental reasons why it is special to be a gallery curator.

Caro Marr took a look at Peter Bloomfield’s work and loved it.  “She took a look at it and said, ‘this is interesting.’” Peter continued, “She enjoyed the subject matter, color balance, and connection to my background.  She saw my interests and understood that.  She then came to my studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and looked through a bunch of pieces.”  The pieces are large scale.  I cannot wait to see how Gallery OVO is transformed by the colors of Peter Bloomfield’s pieces

“Abstract Narratives, Works by Peter Bloomfield” opens Friday, March 10.  It runs through March 26 at Gallery OVO, located in 26 South Orange Ave, South Orange, New Jersey.

About the Writer

Patricia Rogers, #ValleyGirlNJ, lives in New Jersey's Valley Arts District.  The native New Yorker works as a writer, blogger and community activist. Starting Masconsumption Media in 2012, she has been passionate about capturing the stories of the vibrant up and coming Valley Arts District neighborhood through her blog, zine, events and more.  She blogs for Jersey Indie, Luna Stage, and Hat City Kitchen and offers many creative media services.  Visit her blog www.masconsumption.com and keep up with your favorite Valley Girl on social media at @valleygirl_nj (Twitter / Instagram). 

 

JCTC Breaks Down Walls With Borderless Series

Now thru March 24, 2017, Jersey City, NJ

Borderless, the new series by Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC), explores the impact of globalization. Borderless opens Feb. 9 with a visual arts show, including One Vision by Rod Sanchez.

Borderless, the new series by Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC), explores the impact of globalization. Borderless opens Feb. 9 with a visual arts show, including One Vision by Rod Sanchez.

 ***For Immediate Release***

 With increased communication, technology, travel and trade, planet earth seems smaller every day.  But why is nationalism rising globally at the same time our everyday lives have become more international?  What are the public and personal consequences of 21st century globalization?

Borderless, the new series by Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) at Merseles Studios, opens February 3rd and runs through March 24th, explores the social, political and personal dimensions of this very topical issue.  Like previous JCTC series – Justice, Happiness, Origins, Identity and Vanity – Borderless utilizes multiple art forms to examine a topic global in scope but relevant to the lives of everyone in our community.

Borderless brings a diverse array of new and emerging voices to JCTC audiences with a comprehensive range of art, theater, readings and performances.  In addition, with a new administration in the White House intent on changing national policies on immigration, nationality and globalization, Borderless is a theme whose current relevance is nothing less than inescapable.

“Twenty five years ago we were tearing down walls, filling the people everywhere with hope,” said Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC. “What has happened in our world today that so many virtual and real walls are being built to divide us.”

Using multiple art forms that tackle issues of our times is an essential component of the JCTC’s mission.  It is no accident that during the contentious 2016 presidential election, JCTC developed a thematic series about the impact of globalization.  What may be surprising is that as a new administration takes power in the U.S., issues of immigration, border security and identity have only become more dominant in the news.

“We have to remember that our country was built by immigrants and our diversity is our strength,” said Levina.  “With Borderless, we’ve have artists, writers and actors from many different cultures.  Fear of the other drives us to accept divisions in society – of class, race and who we chose to love – and this series shows us the need to overcome borders that are not just geographical, but personal and psychological.  JCTC encourages a dialog with our audiences and community and this conversation is urgently needed.”

On February 3rd, the Borderless Art Show opens at Merseles Studios.  Doors open at 6:00pm with artist reception. At 7:30pm, an Artist Talk  is followed by performances and previews of other Borderless events. Curated by Lucy Rovetto, Visual Arts Coordinator, JCTC, Borderless features 14 artists, many of whom will be exhibiting for the first time at Merseles Studios. Not only do these artists come from a range of cultural backgrounds – and ages – the mediums used are both diverse and innovative, including: collage, painting, print-making, multi-medium assemblage, and a screen-printed wall, a uniqueform of installation art known as “Printstallation.”

“Artists in this show are thinking very deeply about what globalization is doing on both a social and individual level,” said Rovetto. “Many believe in an optimistic future with a continued breakdown of racial, political and sexual boundaries, but walls seem to be coming down just as fast as they seem to be going up. It’s remarkable to see how these artists have internalized their reaction to cultural changes. Artists realize that art must have no borders.”

Borderless Artists: Luis Alves, Jerome China, Stuart Bruce-Noble, Paul Di Zefalo, Eileen Ferara, Dustin Grammanta, Jang soon Im, Frank Ippolito, Qori Moorehaul, Hirah Park, Copie Rodriguez, Gregg Rosen, Rod Sanchez, Steve Singer, Nerissa Tutiven, Anthony Wills, Jr, Muhammad Zaman.

The Borderless Art Show begins a series of two months of events, which includes the debut of the first annual Jersey City New Play Festival, presented in Partnership with The Writers Theatre of NJ, a series of New Play readings as well one-person shows, multimedia musicals, and No Peeking Theater, a Jersey City based Theatre Company known its immersive theater experience that uses multi-sensory story telling.  Borderless concludes with The BOX, a showcase of music, spoken-word, poetry and performances on the Borderless theme. Borderless includes free and paid events.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit:> jctcenter.org

Jersey City Theater Center
Merseles Studios
339 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 795-5386

*Photographs and interviews available upon request* 

Funding for Borderless was made possible by generous support from the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development, Thomas A. DeGise, Hudson County Executive and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Borderless was also made possible through the generosity of Ben LoPiccolo Development Group, JCTC’s Board of Directors, private donors and local Jersey City businesses.

Jersey City Theater Center, Inc. (JCTC) manages programming at Merseles Studios and the adjacent White Eagle Hall, currently under construction.  JCTC is a nonprofit, 501c3 arts organization committed to presenting innovative and progressive performing & visual arts as well as educational arts programs that embrace the multicultural identity and preserve the rich history of Jersey City, bringing its community closer together and enhancing its quality of life.
> jctcenter.org

JCTC/BORDERLESS SCHEDULE

Sat, March 11 • 7:30 pm
One Woman Show
Dirty Paki Lingerie by Aizzah Fatima

Aizzah Fatima has performed at Upright Citizen's Brigade, and in sketches for collegehumor.com. The Wall Street Journal says Dirty Paki Lingerie “Breaks down stereotypes of Muslim women in America” and reviewers call it a “must-see” production.

Merseles Studios / $25


Sun, March 12 • 7:00pm
Fri, March 17 • 8:00pm
Multimedia Musical/Greencard Wedding

Hailed by Howlround as “deeply original” and Time Out as “talents to watch, not to mention a pleasure to hear,”Greencard Wedding is a true, bittersweet love story of artistic triumph through technology and music. Part rock concert, part international film featuring notable locations in the New York indie rock scene, Greencard Wedding is written by Jody Christopherson, directed by Morgan Zipf-Meister.

Merseles Studios / tickets $25/2 for $20 & students $15 (ID Required at door) 


Fri, March 24 • 7:00 - 10:00pm
The Box

JCTC concludes "Borderless" with a variety show evening of curated performances featuring music, dance, poetry, spoken-work, and multimedia performances.   

Merseles Studios / $5 Suggested Donation

Contact

Timothy Herrick
Communications Director
(201) 736-1884
Timothy@jctcenter.org

Working With Creative Groups to Make it Happen in Jazz, Blues and Art All Around Our Towns

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Sunday, March 5, 2017

Previously, I have written about events that happen all around our towns in Northern New Jersey.  I list a lot in my Jazz, Blues, and Art – Annual Activity Events List, and I mentioned I would highlight a few organizations that make a huge difference.  As stated before, one of the reasons I write is to help the musician, artist, small businesses, especially the up-and-coming folks, maximize their profiles on social media.

I should state that I work with Jersey Indie at http://www.jerseyindie.com because it is dedicated to building a wider exposure for the creative community across New Jersey and beyond.  It is the perfect place for today’s article which is dedicated to bringing additional exposure to the mission of these wonderful groups that I get involved with and hopefully bring them many more dedicated fans.

MARAFANYI DRUM, DANCE & SONG

One of the great things about being an artist, a musician, is you have skills that others want to know more about.  Founded in 2005 and based out of Orange, NJ, band members consist of Lara Gonzalez, Yael Shacham & Lisa Gonzalez-Howell, and they go under the name of Marafanyi Drum, Dance & Song.  They absolutely love dancing and drumming.  They are committed to the Transformational, Educational and Therapeutic power of Drum, Dance and Song for all ages and abilities - from toddler to elder.  When you see them in action, you now they would dance and drum just for the fun of it.  Besides North Jersey, they are also very active in Massachusetts among many other locations in New Jersey like NJPAC and are very committed to making a difference in the community.

They also have an awesome dance and drum school, and if you ever attend it you will see they have a lot of fun.  Check them out at Marafanyi Drum, Dance & Song.

 

MASCONSUMPTION MEDIA

One of the people who has started a blog and then taken it to another level is ValleyGirlNJ, who has created the widely popular blog MasConsumption Media.  Masconsumption Media is a multi-faceted media platform bringing you the culture of New Jersey’s Valley Arts District.  Curated by native New Yorker Patricia Rogers, the brand has been the definitive “curator of cool” for the Valley Arts District.  I am major league impressed with this effort as she had started just blogging in 2009, but the blog has become so much more.  It is a primary source of information, communication and a promotion resource for the Valley.  I have partnered, sponsored events, and she is very professional in what she does.  MasConsumption Media is great for the emerging artist community, offering events, media services, media educational programs, and provides overall coverage of the Valley Arts District.  I am gladly supplying photography services, sponsorship services, and more.  This Masconsumption Media endeavor is continually making a difference in the Valley.  This year, expansion includes providing WordPress Newbie Training services.

I urge you all to look at the Masconsumption Media Blog and contact the ValleyGirlNJ when you need coverage of your events.  

  

North Jersey Blues Alliance – South Mountain International Blues Festival

The North Jersey Blues Alliance was formed as a non-profit performing arts organization in the State of New Jersey.  The organization’s concept is to stage the annual South Mountain International Blues Festival music festival in September of each year.  It started in 2009 and covers a wide range of Blues & “Roots” music.  It is held at the South Mountain Reservation.  The North Jersey Blues Alliance provides the financial framework wherein the Festival can operate, and consults directly with the Essex County leadership.  An important goal of North Jersey Blues Alliance is to coordinate in advance much of the volunteer effort needed to operate the festival, as well as solicitation of public donations.  They also staff the merchandising, headquarters tent, and host the annual North Jersey Blues Alliance Blues Muse Fundraising event. I am currently providing Social Media marketing services and helping Chair the Annual Blues Muse.  2017 promises to be a banner year.

While the South Mountain International Blues Festival is on September 10, 2017, we invite you to save the date of May 19th when the very exciting Blues Muse event happens in the Firehouse Gallery in the Valley Arts District of Orange, NJ.  Stay up to date by visiting The North Jersey Blues Alliance on Facebook.  

 

SOVCA - DOWNTOWN AFTER SUNDOWN LIVE MUSIC EVENT

Downtown After Sundown is run by the South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) for South Orange, NJ.  Bob Zuckenberg and Melissa Hodge, who are at the forefront of it all, have goals to make South Orange, New Jersey a choice destination where people want to live, work, visit and enjoy by building and strengthening the downtown district as the center of the town, supporting existing businesses, recruiting new businesses, and guiding entrepreneurs while developing and supporting cultural activities that make South Orange Village a cleaner, safer, and more attractive pedestrian-friendly environment for all to enjoy.  Well, managing and promoting Downtown Live Music events is what I love to do, producing almost 80 live music events from May to September every Friday and Saturday weekend throughout the summer months.  We have Jazz Alley on Sloan Street along with simultaneous performances in Spiotta Park.  Performers love it, the audience loves it, and the best part is band selection is starting soon and we look forward to another great live music season.

Visit Downtown After Sundown to stay up to date and, of course, to learn about all that’s going on in South Orange, NJ, check out http://www.sovillagecenter.org.  Please Tell Your Friends.

 

VALLEY ARTS DISTRICT – ORANGE, NEW JERSEY

Valley Arts District is an umbrella organization working together with residents, merchants and arts organizations dedicated to building a vital and creative place to live and work.  While Hands, Inc plans to add more housing for “working artists,” the ValleyArts mission under the leadership of Candace Gabbard, Executive Director at ValleyArts, and Jeremy Moss, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, is to inspire the neighborhood to recognize the arts as essential to community health and vitality; help build up and serve individual artists, arts organizations, and creative entrepreneurs; and encourage everyone to participate in arts, culture, and creativity as part of everyday life.  There is a lot going on in the Valley which is about a 15-block-wide area off the Highland Avenue Station.  Several initiatives are underway:

·       Community Gallery at ValleyArts: primary gallery space used for major exhibitions, rental for private events, classes for young artists, and monthly artistic community events.

·       ValleyD Radio: Community radio and curated shows. 

·       artfullbean café: An artisanal boutique cafe serving fair trade coffee, featuring art and crafts from ValleyArts members, and various vendors.  

·       Makers + Movers: Membership organization for entrepreneurs focused on the Valley Arts District with the aim of fueling economic opportunities for members and enhancing the community with new business opportunities.

·       bardbeatz: The art of the word.  Spoken word and poetry events.

·       Business Incubator Space: ValleyArts provides office space for start-up businesses doing work in and around the Valley Arts District.

·       PACarts: Art education programs working with local schools and educators.

In the Valley, there are several Art Galleries like the Firehouse Gallery, the Arts Unbound Gallery the beautiful Luna Stage Theatre Company, and more.  ValleyArts is making a huge difference as the go-to place for the Artist.  Discover more at Valley Arts District & http://www.valleyartsnj.com/

 

IFE BASIM / OMISANYA MASTERPIECES

IfeBasim Omisanya Masterpieces has a mission of producing high quality, extremely elegant events celebrating some of the best talent around.  One event that is coming up soon is the Annual Women’s History Month Celebration.  Ife Basim and Omisanya Karade have dedicated this year’s event to “Protecting Your Peace” which is very much apropos, considering today's environment.  In its 4th year, I am very happy to observe and be a part of the inner workings of these two masterminds as they go about creating, developing and planning this year’s event. With an all star cast of vocalists and a world class set of musicians, this 4th Annual Women's History Month Celebration is ready to blow you away with an extremely elegant night of musicians, entertainment and fun.  It will be a very empowering performance, and it happens at the Priory Jazz Club in Newark on March 31st.  There is no cover, so come out and have a great time.

There's a lot more to come, but know I will be there doing my photography/social media thing, so come and expect a great time.  Stay up-to-date with this event as we get closer by visiting 4th Annual Women's History Month Celebration.

That’s all for now.  If looking for additional places to play / display your work, then give a shout and let’s have fun together.  Next up, I will profile some of the individuals mentioned in some of these posts.
 

About The Author

Gregory Burrus, Photojournalist, Blogger, Writer, Photographer.

Gregory Burrus, Photojournalist, Blogger, Writer, Photographer.

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians, and local art exhibitions.  Gregory is a manager and promoter of the South Orange Village Center Alliance Downtown After Sundown Live Music Events, Board Member of the North Jersey Blues Alliance, Friend of the Valley Arts District in Orange, NJ and avid supporter of jazz, blues and art all around our towns and the Greater New York, New Jersey area.  On a regular basis, Gregory gets the word out through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photojournalism.

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Loving Your Music and Wanting to Maintain Your Income: Internet Jobs You Can Do Anywhere

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Sunday, March 5, 2017

Now having spent over 30 plus years in corporate America, I always loved what I did.  Besides being one of those people that loved to travel, loved airports, hotels and especially the piano bars, the word “job” never meant “a job” but rather whatever work I would like to get into.  Hence, I loved moving around from job to job until I found the work I loved to do.

Choose A Job You Love and Never Work A Day In Your Life

One of the things that I truly believe in is the saying “Find a Job You Love and Never Work a Day in Your Life Again."  When I left the corporate environment, and went out on my own, I went into business process analysis and telecommunications systems consulting.  A large part of what I did was travel a heck of a lot across America, Canada and many other places.  While there are many beautiful cities and places to see, a large part of my travel was work, airport and hotel.  So, while I still love airports and hotels, I also wanted to see what happened in the world, not just the business office I traveled to.  To do that in the many cities that I traveled through, it became clear that the next level of doing what I love but enjoying life more became a necessity.  

Today’s Environment You Can Work from Anywhere

Fast forward to today, I still apply the same lessons to life now that I did then.  Now I do mostly photography, social media marketing, blogging and building websites.  I also learned many, many virtual working lessons while working my internet business.  I learned that there are many jobs that can be done remotely while doing other work.  Bottom line is you don’t have to be tied down in one location or be stuck in an office.  You can work from home or work from anywhere if you want to.  Now, let’s apply it to the many musicians and artist that I meet.

Live Music Events Anywhere and Everywhere

The beauty of live music is that it can and will happen anywhere and everywhere in a town.  Since I meet and interact with many musicians and artists, it’s clear they love performing for their audiences and some will do it for the love of performing and not just for the payment.  I see the passion for what they do and the need to spend the maximum amount of time practicing and honing their skills.  What I see is that musicians and artists have already found the job they love and yet the industry may not always compensate them, so that’s the only thing they do. Therefore, most need a way to increase and supplement their income.

So how do people make it work?  Well, some musicians literally leave the country for more attractive opportunities like access to better health care, reduced college costs, and a better lifestyle.  Others secure a second job in an area that they may not actually love, or they find something closely aligned but it takes them away from what they want to do for way too many hours of the day. 

Making the Music Lifestyle Work

In most people’s minds, the words "meaningful" and "work" have little, if any, connection.  Our culture has become such that we are encouraged to choose a career based on its ability to provide security and financial stability, rather than opportunity for alignment with our passions and dreams.  The problem lies in the fact that many of us have come to believe that it is simply not possible, or wishful thinking at best.  Yet, in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.   Like anything in life, with the right knowledge and tools, anyone can be empowered to accomplish whatever it is they set their mind to.  To me, the musician and the artist, from what I see, do not have an option because what they do is built into them.  It’s what they do and they don’t have a choice.  That’s why, I suggest, you keep on doing what you love and research finding additional income sources by working jobs over the internet to generate some additional income from home or anywhere you travel.  

In today’s environment, high-speed connections and the ability to both send and receive money online means it’s easier than ever before to work remotely.  In fact, millions of Americans work from home every day, so it stands to reason that you could work from another country as well.  This is true for people of all ages and knowledge levels.  

Working Online Jobs

Depending on your income needs, this might mean working just a few hours per week, or it might mean a bigger commitment.  A good thing is that some of the suggested and very popular online businesses listed below offer incredible flexibility in addition to great income potential. 

Virtual assistant – VAs work in a lot of different areas and specialties.  They build websites, edit audio and video files, write content, create graphics, keep appointment calendars, and just about anything else that can be done on a computer.  Note, however, that competition is high from lower-wage countries like India or the Philippines.

Affiliate marketer – Affiliate marketers make money by recommending products to others.  When you make a sale through a specially coded affiliate link, you earn a small commission.  Income is based on the amount of effort you put into it, and can range from very little to multiple six figures.

Information product creator – If you have a great deal of knowledge about a topic, like music and art, or just like to research subjects, love to write and/or create videos and audio, creating info products might be for you.  Product creators can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, but it generally takes time to build up to that level.

Coach – Coaching is a hot business these days, and can easily be done remotely.  Life coaches help their clients achieve more and have a happier life.  Business coaches assist with business planning and development.  Dating coaches help clients find lasting love.  A music coach can provide knowledge and encouragement.  Established coaches can earn a significant amount per hour, but be aware that certification and relevant experience may be required.

Writer – Writing is an in-demand skill, and can certainly provide a good income no matter where you live.  Demand includes writing blogs and articles for websites, marketing brochures, PR materials for your fellow musicians, or even help to ghost-write books for authors.  Top writers can earn a substantial annual income for a magazine article.

Working from Home or Anywhere

So to be clear, there are plenty of scams on the internet claiming you can make a gazillion overnight.  That’s not what we are talking about here.  I am suggesting you find your passion and find an associated work activity that people will pay for because you are doing it.  Then, figure out how to do it using the power of the internet, which many musicians and artists in the past never ever had as an option.

If it sounds good to you to work on something else while traveling, while doing what you love or while working from home, then take some time and do some research.  I only suggested a few opportunities.  There are literally hundreds of ways to work virtually.  It’s that, or being tied down to an office-type gig that may not supply the flexibility you need.

So You Just Want to Play Music

Now let’s pull it all together.  Where’s your office?  On a stage, in a club, or in a performing arts center?  You have a gig with lots of travel time and loads of downtime?  If you could do something during these hours that allowed you the freedom to travel and play, then know that any of these businesses can be operated entirely online from home, a hotel, or an airport with nothing more than a laptop and maybe a headset.  Think of it as your business, so rarely will you be required to attend a face-to-face meeting.  Now, you gain the benefit of a schedule that will be totally flexible, and you can live, work and play anywhere you choose.

This idea here is to get you thinking and considering the possibilities.  Like I said, I know many, many more ways and will gladly discus them.  In future articles in this series, I will go in-depth, into various work-over-the-internet income producers.  Have a question?  Let me know, and we can get you the details.  

About the Writer

Gregory Burrus: Photojournalist, Blogger, Writer.  Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians, and local art exhibitions.  Gregory is a manager and promoter of the South Orange Village Center Alliance Downtown After Sundown Live Music Events, Board Member of the North Jersey Blues Alliance, Friend of the Valley Arts District in Orange, NJ and avid supporter of jazz, blues and art all around our towns  and the GreaterNew York, New Jersey area.   On a regular basis, Gregory gets the word out through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photojournalism.

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JI Blogposts by Gregory Burrus: JI blogger Gregory Burrus

 

Atlas Booking Presents: First Show of 2017 at Studio Luloo feat. Crash Landing // Old City Revival // Downer // Better Machines // Bike Routes

Saturday, April 8, 2017, Oaklyn, NJ

Click the flier to be directed to the event on Facebook.

Click the flier to be directed to the event on Facebook.

By Sean McCall | Posted Sunday, March 5, 2017

Atlas Booking is a fairly new booking agency, founded in 2016, looking to help bands and artists book local shows based out of Cinnaminson, NJ.  Consisting of Tom Hale, Andrew Worelle, and Kevin Dunne, this booking trio recently teamed up with Grandaire Booking, making them the newest addition to the Grandaire team, helping South Jersey show after show.  This show will be one of their first official shows as “Atlas Booking” in 2017, and it will be held at one of South Jersey’s most well known local venues: Studio Luloo.

Atlas back, back again, tell a muh fuh kin friend.  Atlas Booking is really excited to announce their first show of 2017, and you bet your ass we’re gonna bump “Poppin’ Champagne” by All Time Low the entire show.  Yo, it’s all ages though, so pop sparkling cider like a respectable human being.  The gig is on Saturday, April 8th, 2017, and doors are at 6:00pm. There’s only 5 bands so make sure you get there early -- it’s a stacked show with some of the best bands (and the best people) in the tri-state area.  They’re making moves and you don’t want to miss this show.  Luloo kind of looks like your little sister's bedroom, so you can basically say “Oh, I saw *insert band name here* in this bedroom lookin' ass venue before they got big.” *insert nail emoji* - Basically if you go, you’re getting hella punk cred like you got pepper sprayed at a Trump rally.  My friend Tim had that happen to him, and he has also has gotten robbed; so I feel like those two combined give him a lot of punk cred.  Be like Tim.  Get that punk cred, brother.

I mean, Drake wants you to come.  Like damn, look how strangely happy Drake is for you to get to this gig.  Of all people to disappoint, it shouldn’t be Drake.  Drake doesn't like disappointment, he likes Happiness.

More info: 

“Pizza shop (with some really good cheap pizza) connected to the venue and coffee shop across the street (just incase you get hungry). 

Park in the parking lot a little past the venue if you can't find a spot on the street.  Bands: try to be at the venue at least 30 minutes before playing so set times don't get pushed back. 

Tell your friends. 
No drinking/drugs/fighting.  Have a good time. 
COME OUT”

Definitely go to that pizza shop.  They’re so cheap and so good.  They also have a deal for a slice and a can of soda for $2, so get there before the first band, and use that extra 2 dollars you’d be spending if you came after the first band.  It’s like free pizza and drank.

***************

HOUSE RULES:

1. Respect the Venue.
2. Respect the People. 
3. Come early, Stay late

$5 before the first band, $7 after.  Get there early, use that $2 for the $2 pizza deal, stay late, party hard.

**************** 

FEATURED BANDS

Crash Landing

Four Average Dudes from Marlton, NJ

Most Recent Release: “CL // OCR” (peep this split)

 

Chilled out Indie Vibes – Cinnaminson, NJ

Most Recent Release: “CL // OCR” (but really, peep this split)

 

Loud Emo Ambient, real cool, really – Tabernacle, NJ

Most Recent Release: “Nothing Scared Us Enough”

 

Dynamic Post-Punk/Post-Hardcore – Hammonton, NJ

Most Recent Release: “Honesty”

 

My boy singin' that sing along, real world acoustic you wanna emotionally yell/cry to, but you’re still smiling – Marlton, NJ

Most Recent Release: “Doesn’t It Suck?” (It doesn’t suck at all)


SET TIMES

6:30-7:00 Bike Routes

7:15-7:45 Better Machines

8:00-8:30 Downer

8:45-9:15 Old City Revival

9:30-10:00 Crash Landing

           
Want to work with Atlas? Shoot them an email at atlasbookingnj@gmail.com

~Confirm you’re attending on Facebook~


About the Writer

Sean McCall is a Music Business Technology Major studying at Rowan University with a Minor in Theatre.  He has been attending shows since he was young, and is currently in Breaking Tradition and FV, and is actively involved with The Calcifer Sessions.  He has an ear for music and challenges himself in learning as many instruments as he can.  Sean has sung in multiple competitive honor choirs throughout the country ranging from All-State to All-National Honor Choir.  With a passion for writing, creating, and music in general, he is adding music journalism to his resumé to contribute even further into this talented area we call home.