Interview with Artist Logan Stahl

By Nicolas Palermo | Posted Thursday, March 4, 2021

In her book What it Is, underground comics legend Lynda Barry explains that fantasy worlds in art aren’t created to escape reality. Rather, their existence helps us to stay in reality. To bear it. “We have always done this; used images to stand and understand what otherwise would be intolerable.”

Logan Stahl is an illustrator from NJ whose images help me do just that. The sci-fi inspired worlds that his characters inhabit portray, but are not limited to: scenes of warriors battling insect-like beasts, buildings that somehow look both ancient and futuristic and nomads trudging through seemingly endless deserts (are they escaping something or just wandering to feel alive?) Logan takes hints from comic book and manga greats that many of us deeply admire, but his style is still distinctly his own.

Hi Logan! How are things?

Logan Stahl: Hey, thanks for reaching out! I’m doing pretty well, all things considered.

Where are you currently based out of?

I live in Somerville, NJ.

What are your favorite mediums to work in?

I primarily work with felt-tipped pens for linework and photoshop for colors. They’re what I have the most experience using and they’re both cheap, quick, and clean to use. I regularly work with markers and colored pencils as well, and for a while I was taking oil painting classes until COVID got in the way. In general, I enjoy working in any medium, but I’m usually limited in my choices by time, money, and desk space haha.

You mention in your Patreon account bio that you are “hugely influenced by Moebius, Otomo, Wayne Barlowe and Miyazaki.” When I look at your work, I see these influences coming through — especially in the way your characters interact and in the colors and shading. How did you initially discover these artists? What works by them had the biggest impact on your style?

Wayne Barlowe I found first. I had An Alphabet of Dinosaurs as a kid, and I still think it’s one of the most superb collections of paleoart ever produced. I also had Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials and Expedition. Everything he does is just perfect — he brings the gravitasand drama of an artist like Thomas Cole or Jean-Léon Gérôme to illustrations of aliens and demons and dinosaurs. I never get tired of going back through his books.

Otomo I discovered in my tail end of high school — I think Akira was the first anime I ever actively sought out to watch and I was blown away. I tracked down the manga soon after that and devoured it. I find his art almost intimidating — the soaring cityscapes and labyrinthine industrial depths his characters inhabit are daunting in their scale and complexity, and no details are ever sacrificed for convenience or simplicity in his work.

Moebius I found my freshman year of college, around the time I started drawing seriously. For quite a while I didn’t know anything about him or his comics — I just kept finding more and more drawings by him on the internet, each one more evocative and bizarre than the last. The color, the linework, the designs — all of it enchanted me and still does. He’s definitely the artist I’ve spent the most time trying to emulate.

Miyazaki I discovered when one of my best friends brought over a DVD of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Nausicaä to me is just perfect — I couldn’t ask for anything more in a story. In style it’s like a pastiche of all the 60s/70s/80s sci-fi / fantasy novels I grew up reading and in substance it’s pretty darn heavy. Over the years I’ve been working my way through the rest of the Ghibli canon, but Nausicaä will always be my favorite. Fun fact: Moebius actually named his daughter Nausicaä, after Miyazaki’s titular princess, and Miyazki has said he “directed Nausicaa under Moebius’s influence.”

Your bio also mentions that you’ve been published in “RPG zines.” The hands-on, DIY process of making zines is so crucial to the foundations of underground art and music scenes. I love that they’re still prevalent today. With that being said, I’ve never heard of that specific kind of zine. What exactly is an RPG zine? How did your collaborations with these RPG zine-makers come about?

Well, you’re in good company because I hadn’t heard of RPG zines either before I started working on them haha. The gist of it is this: RPG zines are fan-made supplements for tabletop role-playing games (“TTRPG”s or “RPG”s), such as Dungeons & Dragons. Usually they’ll contain homebrewed settings, adventures, or gameplay rules and they’re pretty short in length. The first art commission I ever did was when someone online reached out to me to ask if I could illustrate a zine for them. Since then my work has been featured in a few relatively successful zines, and I guess my name’s been spreading through the RPG community because I’ve had pretty steady work doing those kinds of illustrations for the last year or so. I myself don’t play TTRPGs too often (from a lack of experience and time, not from a lack of interest or enjoyment), but I’ve gotten to meet a lot of really cool people doing this kind of work!

Also, to respond to what you said about art and music zines — I would love to work on more stuff like that. I’m really into the Jersey DIY music scene and I actually did cover art for a split EP between a couple local bands a few years back but unfortunately nothing more since that.

What is your favorite part about your artistic process?

I love being able to visually represent something that started out as an idea in my head. It’s incredibly satisfying to look down at a piece of paper and see a picture of something that I had only imagined before. It’s the same thing that’s kept me drawing since I was a kid and it never gets old.

Do you have a favorite project or piece in recent memory that you’d like to talk about?

From 2018 to late 2020, I wrote and illustrated a sci-fi / fantasy book written in the form of a travel journal. It’s called Coelum and I put a lot of love and effort into it. The art and writing is all complete, I’m just working with my publisher to actually put it out there, so hopefully that should be available digitally in about a month or so and, if everything goes according to plan, we want to do a physical release at some point as well. Aside from that, I’m currently working on an RPG zine called Desert Moon of Karth written by Joel Hines that’s all about space cowboys and aliens slugging it out on a desert planet. It’s delightful to illustrate and it made over 40 times its funding goal on Kickstarter, so that’s something to check out if you get a chance. Heavily inspired by Dune, Cowboy Bebop and Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom books — all stuff that I love dearly.

What are you working on now? Where can we follow you and find your art?

Right now in addition to Karth I’m working on more RPG zines and lots of smaller commissions here and there and that’s probably going to take up most of my time over the next couple months. I’ve also been working a bit on a collaborative book with a few of my friends who are also illustrators. It’s going to be a faux buyer’s guide to space mercenaries, with each of us designing and illustrating a bunch of sci-fi bounty hunters and writing up stories for them. That’s kind of on hold at the moment as we’ve all been (fortunately!) busy with commissions, but it’s something I look forward to getting back to down the line.

If you want, you can follow me on twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr:
https://twitter.com/Lil_Tachyon
https://www.instagram.com/liltachyon/
https://lil-tachyon.tumblr.com/

Thank you so much for speaking to me, it’s been a pleasure!

Idle Wave - "Party Guy" Album Release. Interview with Guy Battaglia

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, February 24, 2021

After their self-titled debut in 2018, Idle Wave are back with their latest release, aptly titled “Party Guy.” While the project remains spearheaded by singer-songwriter Guy Battaglia, he enlisted a new cast of fantastic musicians to help bring his ideas to fruition. This record includes the catchy melodies listeners will remember from their first release, adding a focus on Battaglia’s lyrics and vocals with the track's sometimes sparse instrumentation.  After a delay with the original release date due to the pandemic, “Party Guy” was officially released to the world February 19th, after much anticipation. I recently reached out to Guy to ask him about the creation of this new record and releasing music during a time where live shows are unfeasible.  

When did you first start writing for “Party Guy”? Are these all new songs?

“Party Guy” first began with the song “Home.”

In the Spring of 2019, I’d go for regular walks around my neighborhood, that of which were often accompanied by my own voice, humming along to the spontaneous melodies crafted in my mind. Sometimes these melodies would follow me all the way home, so I’d repeat them out loud and then store them as voice memos in my cell phone. Curating these melodies not only became as habitual as my daily walks, but a way to process my life experience during that time.

Having recently left a suffocating job, I was without a doubt relieved, yet perplexed by what was to come; the next chapter of my life dawned on me as an unsettling and haunting mystery. Through these revelations, I gathered my senses, sat myself down on my bed and pressed record on my phone. Beginning with a two-chord progression and an improvisation of lyrics, one of the spontaneous melodies came adrift. This voice memo would ironically be saved as “Home 44”, as it was one of the many drafts that my voice memo app would default the title name as my phone’s location.

After recording a raw acoustic version of “Home”, I sent the “Home 44” memo to Erik Kase Romero (The Front Bottoms, Stillhungry) and asked him to cut the track with me. Since we were overdue to work on a record together, Erik kindly accepted the project and I began gathering new material. Throughout the Summer, Erik and I reworked the two most Pop-Punk influenced tracks on the record (“Happy” and “Stay”) which were first demoed with Idle Wave’s former band members and respected friends — Joseph Enright, Matthew Herman, Kevin Houston, and Chris Russo. Even though these two songs were originally demoed elsewhere, they needed to be completely reconstructed with Erik to the styles of “Home” and the new Indie-Alternative genre that we were naturally gravitating towards. (You can hear the original demos of “Happy” and “Stay” when you download the deluxe version of “Party Guy,” only on Bandcamp).

By the Fall, most of “Diet”, “All Night”, “My End”, “Sex/Tape”, and “Space” were mapped out or tracked with Erik, and it only took a few more sessions into the Winter to finalize the album. In the several months that carried the recording process from Fall to Winter, we experimented with tape loops, shuffled between guest musicians, and even changed studio locations. Anyhow, as  “Happy” and “Stay” constitute as new songs, despite of their original format, “Sex/Tape” does not. “Sex/Tape” was borrowed from my former Alternative project “Flammable Animals” and was instrumentally reimagined to create a darker and deeper experience then it’s original counterpart, “American Counterpoint.”

For those who are interested, “My End” was the last song to be written for the album. Beginning as just another melody on the acoustic guitar, “My End” startled my own thoughts with feelings of nostalgia. I foresaw “the sounds of my childhood”, and reflected on the sounds of Indie-Rock bands from the 90’s. After listening to the final instrumentation back for the first time, I felt something indescribably large about the song; I knew I’d make it “track 7” on the album from that moment on.

Who did you work with when recording “Party Guy”? Have you worked with these people before? How did that affect the music?

This was my first time collaborating with Erik on my own music. For years I have sat in on sessions with him during college classes or when I was just hanging out at his studio and playing shows with him.

Erik and I were both determined to enter a realm of sounds I’ve never been a part of before. I was particularly inspired by Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” and how it was an acoustic driven record with distorted bass and raw drums that just took you away lyrically to a bizarre fantasy land. Although I went in not knowing what to expect, one thing was for certain; I wanted this to be a full-length record.

Featured musicians included either close friends of mine or other talented musicians that I had crossed paths with in the Asbury Park scene. Not only did Erik produce this record with me, but he helped craft bass lines, piano embellishments, and drum machines. I hired two incredibly talented drummers (one of which is a longtime friend of mine), and even did a vocal feature with my friend Brittany Byrne (singer of Skyeline). My long-term friend Samir Bunty Tawalare played drums on the latter half of the record while Chris Donofrio (formerly of Deal Casino), was commissioned during the early Summer sessions. 

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting process?

I’ve spoken to a number of songwriters I look up to who have been cursed with “writer’s block” this year. I am happy to say that has not happened to me (knock on wood). In fact, once we were given a go on proper public safety precautions, my friend Connor Hanson and I began meeting up to work on a follow up record over the summer.  

What has it been like setting up a virtual release show opposed to one in person? Any benefits/drawbacks you feel strongly about?

Honestly, nothing will ever beat a live show. In this Black Mirror era of civilization, live shows are where I meet the people that see the world eye to eye with me; the ones who don’t mind being alone on a Friday night and aren’t afraid to scream their heart out to their favorite songs.

I feel eternally grateful to all who have tuned in to our previous livestreams, and we are making a point to deliver this time; four 4K cameras, a new studio space, a full five-piece band, and some of the most exceptional musicians and engineers I have ever worked with.

Nobody is satisfied with the current state of things, but I’m beyond lucky and thankful for being able to get in a room with people and track 11 songs in one day for this supportive community to experience. I am not exaggerating when I say it blows away some of our previous streams.

Who will be joining you/playing with Idle Wave at the release shows?

For the upcoming ”Party Guy” release show, my extraordinary band will feature:

Connor Hanson (Cloud Hands)

Jon Chang-Soon (J C Soon)

Samir Tawalare (Talk to Plants)                                                            

Brittany Byrne (Skyeline)

Erik Kase Romero (Stillhungry, The Front Bottoms)

Personal favorite part of the record to you? 

I do love all eight of the songs, but “Diet” and “Space” are the ones I’m most excited for people to hear.

You can purchase “Party Guy” by Idle Wave here!

Shakespeare@ Home's Julius Caesar Streams Tonight at 7pm

PRESS RELEASE | Posted Monday, February 22, 2021

The Acclaimed  Shakespeare@, Jersey City’s Premier Classical Theater Company,
Presents The Third Installment Of Their All Free ‘RADIO PLAY’ Season

William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar  Starring PATRICK PAGE 

With Actors from Broadway and The West End:
 Jordan Barbour, Keith Hamilton Cobb, Sky Lakota-Lynch
Jamie Ballard, James Howard, Jonathan Forbes,
  Aria Shaghasemi, Ashlie Atkinson
 and David Hargreaves

Episode One, Available to Download and Stream
Monday, February 22nd at 7pm EST

Actors from Broadway and London’s West End team up for the Shakespeare@ Home, all-free radio play Julius Caesar, which launches Monday February 22nd at 7pm EST. The Tony Nominated actor Patrick Page (Hadestown) stars in the title role with Jordan Barbour (Broadway’s The Inheritance) as Brutus, Sky Lakota Lynch (Dear Evan Hansen) as Lucius, and Keith Hamilton Cobb (American Moor) as Cassius.

Produced by Jersey City's Shakespeare@, this audio production is the third installment of the season, produced and adapted by Artistic Director Sean Hagerty. Acclaimed West End actors Jamie Ballard and James Howard also star. Mr. Howard played Draco Malfoy to Ballard’s Harry Potter in the West End production of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, prior to the shutdown. 

Julius Caesar features original music and sound design and is free to download and stream. Hagerty has crafted the production into four weekly parts and partnered with the Emmy-winning team at Sonic Designs to capture the lost art and thrill of radio drama all without leaving the confines of quarantine.

Shakespeare@ made an auspicious live debut in 2019 with Hamlet starring Jonathan Forbes and released their first two ‘radio’ plays of the season with Richard II and The Tempest for their newly created Shakespeare@ Home series in 2020.  To listen to Julius Caesar online, visit www.shakespeare-at.org. The production will also be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. The performance is free to all listeners on all platforms. Previous episodes of the season (Richard II and The Tempest) are also available to download.

Patrick Page (Broadway’s Hadestown) — Julius Caesar. Photo by Nathan Johnson

Jordan Barbour (Broadway’s The Inheritance) — Brutus

Debut dates for parts 2, 3 and 4 of Julius Caesar are subsequent Mondays at 7pm EST on March 1st, and March 8th, with the final episode airing March 15th—the “Ides of March” (the day Caesar was assassinated).  

Sky Lakota-Lynch (Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen) — Lucius

In order to best serve quarantined audiences, Shakespeare@ has specialized, for now, on reviving radio drama and programming Shakespeare@ Home. The distinguished cast features acclaimed talent from the New York Stage, and London’s West End and stars Tony-nominee Patrick Page (Broadway’s Hadestown) as Julius Caesar, Jordan Barbour (Broadway’s The Inheritance) as Brutus, Keith Hamilton Cobb (American Moor)  as Cassius, Jamie Ballard (Harry Potter in Harry Potter in the West End) as Mark Antony, James Howard (Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter in the West End) as Metellus Cimber, Sky Lakota-Lynch (Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen) as Lucius, Ashlie Atkinson (Mr. Robot, BlacKkKlansman) as Portia, Jonathan Forbes (Amazon's Catastrophe) as Casca, and Aria Shahghasemi (CW's Legacies) as Octavius. Rounding out the rest of the cast are RSC and National Theatre veteran, David Hargreaves, Mark Torres, Thia Stephan, Francis Mateo, and Mark J. Quiles.

Keith Hamilton Cobb (American Moor)  — Cassius

Julius Caesar is one of Shakespeare’s best known and most often quoted plays, chronicling the political and moral crisis of Brutus and his fellow conspirators as they plot to murder Caesar to prevent a dictatorship. First performed in 1599, this timeless play examines the razor-thin line between power and corruption, duty and ambition, and the perils of a state divided. 

Jamie Ballard (Harry Potter in Harry Potter in the West End) — Mark Antony. Photo by Ross Ferguson.

Shakespeare@ was founded to deliver accessible interpretations of classic works with a focus on international and cross-cultural exchange.  Its live performance debut, a lush 2019 production of Hamlet starring Jonathan Forbes, garnered rave reviews and was hailed as “theatrical perfection," selling out its run at Grace Church Van Vorst in Jersey City.  Hagerty says, “After our 2020 season was lost, we re-structured our format to continue productions, employ artists, and serve our mission." He conceived the all-sonic performance project, Shakespeare@ Home, to recapture the great heyday of serialized radio drama of the 1930’s and 40’s. The first two productions, Richard II and The Tempest received accolades from critics and audiences alike.

James Howard (Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter in the West End) — Metellus Cimber

Director Sean Hagerty views the play as incredibly timely, explaining “In our current fractured, hostile, and divided discourse, I have always felt the play particularly resonant. But in the past few months alone, as we have watched our nation slip perilously close to the cliff-edge of democracy, I can think of few better plays that cry out to be heard.”

Ashlie Atkinson (Mr. Robot, BlacKkKlansman) — Portia

In addition to launching their third all-free, all-audio drama, Shakespeare@ has partnered with Robert Young, the former Director of Education at the world-renowned Folger Shakespeare Library and a team of educators, to launch their Education Initiative with dynamic, multi-media study guides to accompany each of their radio plays. Featuring activities and lesson plans designed to be used in a classroom or virtual setting, the guides feature cast and crew interviews, with in-depth audio and video tracks highlighting different aspects of the play, the artistic choices, and history. These study guides are free to schools and qualifying educational institutions. For more information visit the website or email education@shakespeare-at.org.

Jonathan Forbes (Amazon's Catastrophe) — Casca

Julius Caesar features original music composed by Joan Melton with sound design by the Emmy-winning team of Dan Gerhard and Ellen Fitton of Sonic Designs. Justin Goldner is the music producer and supervisor, and casting is by Robin Carus. Sydney Steele serves as the Associate Producer. 

Aria Shahghasemi (CW's Legacies) — Octavius

Rounding out the rest of the cast are RSC and National Theatre veteran, David Hargreaves, Mark Torres, Thia Stephan, Francis Mateo, and Mark J. Quiles.

* *     * * *

About Shakespeare@

Shakespeare@, Jersey City's premier classical theatre, tells epic stories in intimate and unique spaces, with a mission to revitalize the performance, education and audience for Shakespeare and classic drama. Shakespeare@ is committed to international and cross-cultural exchange in its productions, reflecting the diversity and roots of the community they serve. In response to the pandemic, the company formed Shakespeare@ Home, the all-sonic performance project, to recapture the great heyday of serialized radio drama of the 1930’s and 40’s.

 Sean Hagerty (Artistic Director) trained under Sanford Meisner and studied classical theatre at the renowned Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He holds a Masters Degree in Shakespeare and Theatre from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he graduated with Distinction. Sean has worked as an actor, teacher, director and producer regionally and internationally for many years. Credits include: New York Classical Theatre, The Lord Chamberlain's Men, The Group Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, The Bath Shakespeare Festival, The New Vic, Theatre Royal Bristol, and BBC Radio, among others. Previously, Sean was the resident Shakespeare and Style teacher at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre for over 14 years and was the Associate Artistic Director for New York Classical Theatre. He has served as the chair of Education & Training for the international Shakespeare Theatre Association and as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.

www.shakespeare-at.org

Follow and Like:

Facebook and Instagram: @shakespeare.at and @shakespeare.at

Twitter: @shakespeare_at

No Great Pretender Releases Debut Album, "The Piano Project"

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Friday, February 19, 2021

If you’re craving tunes with an indie/folk, singer/songwriter vibe, look no further than No Great Pretender’s debut album "The Piano Project,” which was released today on Spotify and other streaming platforms (via Mint 400 Records). No Great Pretender is the solo project of Eric Sosler (Union City, NJ), who also is a member of the band The Racer. The first music video for the album ("Comfort") also premiered earlier this week on Blood Makes Noise. Check out our interview with Eric, below, to learn more about the inspiration behind his album, what it’s like to solo-crew a music video, and more.

Congratulations on the release of your debut album "The Piano Project" and your music video, "Comfort"! What can you tell us about the inspiration behind this album? How long has it been in the works?

Thank you! I started writing for this album in the beginning of the pandemic. I lost my job as a bartender and had all this extra time and decided this was a great opportunity to start doing something I had been wanting to do for a while. Write and sing my own songs. My own ideas. Being in the band The Racer, it's always been great to be able to write songs in a group setting and all the ideas get molded together, but this was a chance to do something completely on my own. So as bad as the pandemic and quarantining was and is, I am grateful for the opportunity it allowed for me as a songwriter.

Where did you record? Who did you record with?

I am fortunate enough to have a best friend in The Racer, Michael Esserman, who was able to carve out some time to record these songs for me. It was interesting as I was able to send him all the piano tracks in email that were recorded on GarageBand (I have very limited knowledge on all these programs), and he was able to transfer to his ProTools sessions. I was then able to record vocals in his studio, which we did in only a few takes. I am new to singing as a lead vocalist, and I also did not want to strive for perfection on these vocals. I wanted them to flow naturally and for Mike to capture what came out without singing a hundred takes. Of course, I rehearsed and had a game plan for it, but I was curious to see what would come out in real time.

I think Mike did a really good job of enhancing the intimacy of the project. In his words, his vision when presented with the songs was to make it sound like I walked into an empty room and played on an old dusty piano. I am grateful for his work on this!

What was the music-video-making process like?

So, I love making music videos! We have a bunch of videos for The Racer that I love being involved in. The biggest challenge is always what can be done on basically zero budget. The “Comfort” video is a perfect example of this. The goal was to just try and capture all the emotions, uneasiness, discomfort, comfort, pressure of being in front of a camera when trying to perform or interview, or just attempting to stay sane in your own mind.

I was by myself doing this video, so that was unusual and a little weird but still fun (like looking around for someone to laugh with after I just did one of the angry emotion takes). But I just cleared out a section in my home of all the furniture and set a tripod up with my iPhone11 and let loose with all the ideas and went with the flow.

I'm also very proud of this video since I was able to do everything myself, especially the editing. Technology has really advanced in the sense of being user-friendly for people that aren’t the most tech savvy, and something I've been able to do over the course of the pandemic is learn just enough to edit a simple video such as “Comfort” using the iMovie App and VideoLeap App on my phone.

Tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What has your journey been like?

I’m originally from Monroe, NY and always grew up with that New Yorker sense of pride and New Jersey is gross mentality! I moved to Jersey City almost 7 years ago and boy was I wrong. I now consider myself so lucky to be part of this Jersey music community, and I like to think I have made it to the point where I can say I represent New Jersey now! It feels like home to me.

There’s so much going on here with all the arts and music, which has really influenced me in growing as an artist. It’s allowed for me to develop my own ideas and venture off into this solo adventure. Up until now The Racer, the band that I am in and have been in since 2001, has been my only real creative outlet.

The idea of No Great Pretender and me finally writing my own songs came to fruition in the beginning of the pandemic. The name is from the song off of The Roots’ 1996 album, Illadeph Halflife. I love what that name conjures up for me. The imagination. The possibilities of it all. So I don’t want this to be just about music. I want it to represent a creative practicing lifestyle, and I want to continuously grow with it.

How would you describe your musical style? Who are your influences?

I don’t want to be beholden to any one style. I just want it to be me. For “The Piano Project” there’s a ton of influences in the songs. Most notably Gregory Alan Isakov, Justin Vernon, The National, Frightened Rabbit to name a few. I love the sad, melancholy type vibes and it definitely showed up in the songs. I think “indie folk singer songwriter” is what I put down for this album, but the idea of No Great Pretender is ever evolving. I want to collaborate with artists. Do all different types of music. I have really been getting into Jazz and Blues and trying to learn that as much as I can, but I'm open to anything.

Do you have a favorite song on "The Piano Project" and if so, what is it about?

“Hardly Anymore” was the first song I wrote for this solo idea. So in the beginning, I was just so proud of it and kept playing it all the time so I wouldn’t forget it and of course loved it for that purpose alone.

Over time, “Comfort” has stepped into a nice role for me. I think the video enhanced it for me. I really let that vulnerability feeling out on that one so it’s developed into something special personally for me. I'm not used to being the focal point.

What are your goals, personally or professionally, for 2021? What are you most looking forward to?

I just want to keep growing as an artist. Keep improving and learning from others. I’ve learned a lot during this pandemic time period and mostly that I don’t know a lot! So I just want to keep improving and keep creating as much as possible. I’m looking forward to playing live music in whatever capacity. Although, I am worried about my nerves getting the best of me, so I will have to rehearse a lot for it!

Finally, how can people find you?

You can find me at:
www.instagram.com/no_great_pretender
www.nogreatpretender.com

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

“Cause I'm the soul avenger, remember I'm no great pretender” - Lyrics from “No Great Pretender” by The Roots’ Illadelph Halflife. I love that line in the song.

20-Year-Old Atlantic City Entrepreneur Presents Atlantic City Talent Showcase (February 20, 2021)

PRESS RELEASE | Posted Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Axel Castillo, a 20-year-old entrepreneur from Atlantic City, NJ, has launched a talent showcase, in conjunction with Dirty Politics Studio & Apparel. The event includes music artists of various genres from the tri-state area. Judges include Billboard recording artist Lovari, among others. The event takes place on February 20, 2021.

Under the umbrella of his Cherry Bomb Entertainment promotional team, the February 20th event, a mere few blocks from the Atlantic Ocean seashore, will include some of Atlantic City's established artists on the scene, along with artists from the tri-state area. The event will be held at Dirty Politics Studio & Apparel (4403 Atlantic Avenue), an independently owned recording studio and clothing boutique, helmed by Jersey Shore natives Benjamin "Benji" Howard and Deron "Strandz" Leggete. This event will be the first of several by Mr. Castillo that will be produced throughout the year.

DJs Neff, Stev, and Mav provide the sounds. Guest judges include Lovari, who recently hit Billboard's Top 25 Dance Charts and iTunes Top 10 Pop Electronica Album charts, along with Adam Letnom, Nat Cruz, and Dirty Politic's Strandz. Hosted by Rook.

Scheduled to perform: omgxreem, NDETE (Skreechy/E2High/Yoshi), Kingoak, Young Cholo, Johnny Seed, FBN Kappo, Julio Fuaego, 28 Young G, Adonis YBC, Sway Valentine, Lil Ess, Zay TheSmoker, Rome Rose, Tony Newbury, Mophead TBC, E Class, Hoodiequel, Zuback.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-showcase-atlantic-city-edition-presented-by-cherry-bomb-concerts-tickets-138099325801

For more information, please contact cherrybombconcerts@yahoo.com

Every Damn Day Releases 30th Anniversary Single

PRESS RELEASE | Posted Monday, February 15, 2021

Every Damn Day celebrat[ed] its 30th Anniversary by releasing a digital single, “Audio,” on February 12, 2021. The instrumental tracks for the song, recorded 30 years ago, were recently discovered via a transfer from tape to digital. Vocals and additional guitars were added late last year. The song pays homage to a high school senior with a cool nickname, a fake ID and a sense of adventure. [Check it out] it on Spotify!

Founded in 1991, EDD became a staple of the Hoboken, New Jersey music scene, appearing frequently at the downtown club Live Tonight! and later Maxwell’s. They also performed in New York at CBGB, the Hard Rock Café, The Cat Club, Desmond’s Tavern, Kenny’s Castaways, Bond Street Café and the Lion’s Den; in Asbury Park at The Stone Pony and The Fast Lane; Brighton Bar in Long Branch; and The Court Tavern in New Brunswick.

Every Damn Day recorded two full-length CDs and several EPs before going on hiatus in 2007 due to scheduling conflicts.

For more information, visit MikeDaly.com or EveryDamnDay.com.

Interview with Walt Blau, Host of Walt's Kitchen Table Podcast

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Friday, February 12, 2021

In April 2020, the first episode of Walt’s Kitchen Table Podcast made its debut on YouTube, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and other streaming outlets. It featured the host, Walt Blau, interviewing “the OG of storytelling,” his own father. “Hearing all sorts of crazy stories growing up created my thirst for knowledge and [joy] of hearing people's stories on where they have been and how they got to where they are,” Walt writes in the caption for the first episode.

For anyone who likes telling stories — and learning from other people’s stories — Walt’s Kitchen Table Podcast is a destination. From the founders of Jersey nonprofits, to the owners of Jersey breweries, it seems like everyone’s been on Walt’s podcast, and if you haven’t been on it yet, well… you should!

Check out our interview with podcast creator, Walt Blau, below, to learn more about the mission behind the podcast, and, of course, don’t forget to follow Walt’s Kitchen Table Podcast on social media.

What’s your name, where are you from, what do you do?

Walt Blau, from CO, and I am an Area Field Manager for U-Haul.

Tell us about your podcast, Walt’s Kitchen Table. What’s the focus of the podcast? Who do you have as guests?

When you gather with friends and family, where do you get together?... In the kitchen! Everyone you meet knows something you don't. I invite people on to share what they know that I don't. As for guests, I believe that everyone is extraordinary and accomplishes amazing things every day. I invite anyone to join me and share stories, good conversations, laughs, tears, and life experiences with me.

What inspired you to start this podcast?

I started this podcast project due to my unquenchable thirst for knowledge and conversation.

What do you hope listeners and guests will get out of each episode?

That they, too, accomplish amazing things every day, and you do not have to be a rock star or famous or whatever to be extraordinary. This world is made up of awesome people, and don't sell yourself short!

Finally, how can people get in touch with you? (Links)

Website: https://waltskitchentable.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/wktpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4WxRxeR3uPpnGCBG6oSJYg

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/213350080343983

Interview with Andrew Gialanella of Shore Points Records, Asbury Park

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021

On January 29th, Shore Points Records, a new independent record label based in Asbury Park (housed at Lakehouse Recording Studios), released a compilation called “Shore Points Records: Locals Only Vol. 1” which features 10 NJ-based artists and bands - Sonic Blume, Lance Ambrose, 8dayzstr8, Drew the Recluse, stillhungry, Rick Barry, Jackson Pines, Phoneboy, Shoobies, and Georgia Owen.

Check out our interview with Andrew Gialanella, Manager, A&R of Shore Points Records, below, to learn about the label’s mission, how you can get a hold of their new compilation, and words of advice for aspiring artists.

What inspired the formation of Shore Point Records? What's your mission?

Shore Points was founded by Jon Leidersdorff (Lakehouse Music owner) and Rich Christina (SVP of A&R at Warner/Chappell Music). Jon, Rich, and I are all proud NJ residents, and we strongly believe in the musical talent here. The label's mission is to elevate local talent, and help up and coming artists of all types to grow and achieve their goals professionally and creatively.

Congratulations on the release of your “Locals Only Vol. 1" compilation! Where can people listen to it?

Thank you! You can listen to the compilation on all streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc. There is also limited vinyl pressed.

How did you find the bands that are on it?

We found these artists through our personal networks, word of mouth recommendations from music professionals in our community, and through A&R research focused on NJ talent.

Do you plan on releasing more compilations in the future?

We plan to do more projects like this in the future, as well as put out new music from some of the great artists we've discovered since the label's formation.

What are you looking forward to in 2021?

I'm definitely looking forward to continuing to discover and meet more artists from the area, and hopefully continue to bring the NJ music community together.

What words of advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own record label?

My advice to anyone planning to start a record label would be to really gain a broad understanding of today's recorded music industry. Take a look at other independent artists and labels that are succeeding. How are they connecting with their listeners? And what is it about their release strategies that seem to be working? And most importantly, be patient and form relationships with great artists. As a brand new label, you have to invest a tremendous amount of time and effort into a select few artists who are just starting out.

What words of advice would you give to artists who are trying to survive and grow in NJ?

To any artists who are working to make a career out of music, just remember that you have more power today than you ever would have in the past. With digital distribution and streaming, the playing field is actually more level than it ever was. And you have more freedom to take risks, release more music, and connect with fans more directly. Take advantage of it! And of course, strive to make great music every day. Finding someone who will give you honest feedback on your work is invaluable (as uncomfortable as it might make you feel at first).

Finally, how can people connect with you?

People can follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and stream our compilation "Shore Points Records: Locals Only Vol. 1" on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and more.

Downtown New Jersey Placemaking Award to SOVCA, Holiday Open Air Market and The Fox and Falcon Restaurant

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Monday, February 8, 2021

In 2020, helping small businesses survive and thrive has been a challenge during this Coronavirus Pandemic. Here in South Orange, the South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) went into action supporting small businesses by hosting a Summer Long Outdoor Live Music Series titled Summer Saturdays Live Music and also hosted a wonderful beautiful and now award-winning Holiday Open-Air Market.

South Orange Holiday Open-Air Holiday Market 

Considering SOVCA always has many other initiatives in pipeline, pulling off the Holiday Open-Air Market was a major undertaking. This project included setting up a fully functional temporary outdoor retail marketplace, power heat and all. Products and services offered were finely crafted jewelry, apparel, accessories, art and gift items made by many of the area’s finest local artisans and craftspeople. The market was held in the South Orange, NJ’s Sloan Street Parking Lot and had to be set up every week and emptied every Thursday before setting up the market again. This occurred for 7 consecutive weeks.

Under the guidance and direction of the SOVCA Leadership – Exec Dir. Julie Doran and Ops Mgr Melissa Hodge, they pulled it all together. The Open-Air market was located between some wonderful restaurants and also offered up some lovely live music entertainment. The South Orange Holiday Open Air Market was enjoyed tremendously by local folks and visitors from all over. Positive comments came in from all over and every night from numerous participants.

We’re happy to see that the SOVCA hard work paid off, and they are now the recipients of the Downtown New Jersey Placemaking Award for taking innovative steps for keeping our town surviving and thriving. The awards were presented at a virtual ceremony during the New Jersey Downtown Conference.

DNJ’s Executive Director, Courtenay Mercer said, “Since we could not do a larger program this year, we wanted to recognize excellent placemaking projects and initiatives helping small business cope with the economic strain of COVID-19.” Joining Downtown New Jersey in recognizing excellence in placemaking was AARP New Jersey, who sponsored the event because these community efforts align with their own Livable Communities initiative. 

Forget The Whale at The Fox and Falcon Restaurant

Forget The Whale performs at Holiday Market at The Fox and Falcon Restaurant.

Additionally, the article states, “The Fox and Falcon was recognized with an Early Action/Merchant award for creating an attractive and engaging outdoor space that spurred more restaurants to follow and the area became known as Restaurant Row.”

Anybody who was around knows David Massoni, the owner of The Fox and Falcon, as David was everywhere working and conversing with customers and staff. He design a wonderful outdoor space, with beautiful settings, fireplace tables, rocking chairs, heaters, live music lights, very happy customers, and my favorite, Alex and her Hot Toddies.

Live Music – Gregory Burrus Productions

Harmonic Convergence Alex Desivires The Fox and Falcon South Orange NJ from Gregory Burrus on Vimeo. Alex Desivires @alleycatsax.

Of course, Gregory Burrus Productions was happy to provide live music experience throughout the summer, fall and the Holiday Open-Air Market which ran all the way to Christmas Eve. As long as the weather cooperated, then we were outdoors live with multiple live music bands every weekend.

When they say it takes a village, well, my live music village consisted of my folks out volunteering in full support with Chelsea Burrus on site handling cameras, video and social media, and G2BProductions handling the home studio live stream capabilities. The audience was in full support. Audience members donated profusely to the live music bands, helped lay wires when power disappeared, helped open and close our temporary parking lot, run lights and so much more. In addition. we had full support of a photography crew taking pictures and creating history along with drone videos also. I want to thank each and everyone of them that came out every week.

South Orange Village Center Alliance Making It Happen

As Executive Director Julie Doran stated, “It’s always nice to have our efforts recognized, and this year even more so.” Also, as I like to say, it takes a village, well once again it’s so true as Julie Doran stated, “We’re very grateful for support from our many small businesses, the South Orange Parking Authority, Main Street New Jersey and Gregory Burrus Productions.

Outdoor shopping, dining and live music events have become the norm for all of us this year and with good weather, some serious social distancing, masks and an audience that adheres to health guidelines, we will continue on under their excellent leadership.

DOWNTOWN NEW JERSEY – DNJ is a non-profit membership organization of individuals, businesses, developers, government agencies, and local and regional entities that are passionate about downtowns. Downtowns reflect our communities’ unique identities, provide a focal point, a convenient local place of commerce, and offer a sense of place where people can gather and truly be a community. DNJ provides advocacy, education, and technical assistance resources dedicated to ensuring the vitality of our downtowns. For more information, visit www.downtownnj.com.

The South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) is the not-for-profit management entity of our village’s Special Improvement District. Founded in 1991 as Main Street South Orange, the organization is run by an Executive Director and a volunteer board of directors made up of property owners, business owners, residents and other stakeholders. We are not a part of the South Orange Village government but work closely with elected officials and Village staff as a separate 501(c)3 non-profit organization. https://www.sovillagecenter.org

Gregory Burrus Productions is a local live music ambassador, event developer and community partner that develops manages, promotes and documents local community events in the Greater New Jersey and New York Area. Originally from New York City, Gregory has been a New Jersey Resident for the past 30 years, books bands. produces, promotes, captures and records live music events. https://gregoryburrusproductions.com

The Fox & Falcon Restaurant – Located in the heart of downtown South Orange, you’ll find The Fox & Falcon, a culinary destination for the emerging food scene of Essex County, in which renowned restauranteur David Massoni has found a home. Embodying the diversity and uniqueness of SOMA (South Orange/Maplewood), The Fox & Falcon delivers to all guests a warm and inviting environment in which to gather and with passionate, caring individuals at the helm. https://www.thefoxandfalconnj.com

Junior League Montclair-Newark Host Homeless 2021 Sleep Out: Montclair Community Edition

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Tuesday, February 2, 2021

When it comes to creativity and committing to the cause, some groups like The Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc.​​ are adapting to the times and are back again for a second year to join the Covenant House Sleep Out: Montclair Community Edition on February 26, 2021. Over the years, Covenant House has found homeless sleeping under bridges, abandoned buildings, or riding the trains. Some try to stay with people they have met, often at a cost that no one should pay. As a society we have lost kids to human trafficking, substance abuse, gangs, jail, and even death. 

Covenant House, New Jersey’s mission is to provide comprehensive residential care and related services to help New Jersey’s youth who have suffered from abuse, neglect, abandonment, homelessness and human trafficking. And now the world is moving through the COVID-19 pandemic along with experiencing a national recession, which clearly means these economic conditions will further drive increases in homelessness.  Since 2016, Homelessness has been increasing and the “Homelessness in 2021: Five Factors to Watch” report predicts that homelessness is on the rise among two distinct age groups, the very old and the relatively young. With 4.2 million kids facing homelessness in America every night and here in New Jersey there are about 3,000 kids that do not have a home, this situation still needs to be addressed.

Enter the Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc.​​ (JLMN) who have shown they are committed again to helping address this situation by participating in this year’s Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc​​ (JLMN) Sleep Out fundraiser. And of course the COVID-19 pandemic has required us all to get creative and alter our plans to meet this very necessary fundraising campaign.  

Normally held outdoors in a town parking lot, in the cold with other sleepers, this year's 2021 Sleep Out event is being adapted to our times. To ensure everyone's safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic, it has been decided to host this Sleep Out as a virtual event. For you to participate, a link will be sent out for you to join us live for an engaging program via your computer or smartphone. Then you will sleep inside your home, backyard, or porch! Folks can still fundraise, join a team and donate and still show their commitment to the cause. 

Clearly, the need to fund targeted strategies that reduce homelessness are still needed, and this annual fundraiser this year has the ambitious goal of surpassing last year's amount and is reaching $100,000 in 2021. To not have it would be devastating, especially since the proceeds of the last Junior League of Montclair-Newark fundraiser enabled Covenant House, NJ’s homeless youths to start building a life for themselves that is safe, healthy and good.

We hope you understand the need and can join us. Learn more. https://covenanthousenj.org/how-you-can-help/events/sleep-out/sleep-out-montclair. 

About The Junior League of Montclair Newark – The JLMN is a supportive, amazing organization of women whose mission is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve the community through trained volunteers. We are actively involved in supporting Foster Care initiatives and Human Trafficking legislation because we understand that our future depends on the flourishing of our communities’ children.  JLMN is creating better communities for a better future. The JLMN strives to promote the safety and well-being of the children in the Montclair-Newark area. Lean more at The Junior League of Montclair Newark and you can click here for their current programs: https://www.jlmn.org/.

About Covenant House New Jersey (CHNJ) – Covenant House New Jersey (CHNJ) provides sanctuary and support for youth ages 18-21 facing homelessness or human trafficking. We have seven locations across the state: Atlantic City, Newark, Jersey City, Camden, and Asbury Park, and specialized care in Montclair and Elizabeth. Across New Jersey, we are the New Jersey Human Traffic Provider of services to all Human Trafficking survivors and victims. At CHNJ’s Montclair-based program, Nancy’s House, young people with special mental health needs who are facing homelessness can get the attention they require.  We serve about 4,585 youth annually, and all our services are free. https://bit.ly/SleepOutwithHC

 About the writer Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a Passionate Community Advocate, Reporter, and Writer about local events In and Around South Orange, NJ. Showcasing, photographing, videotaping events and happenings as they occur around town while living life every day to the fullest, my mission is to help my customers which are community groups, live music bands and local nonprofits reach their goals and accomplish their missions while enjoying the day to day process of life.

Interview with David Ross Lawn. New EP, "Nocturnes"

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Tuesday, February 2, 2021

“Contemplative composer & performer with a penchant for the ethereal” David Ross Lawn (Asbury Park) is about to release his newest EP, entitled “Nocturnes.” We interviewed David a little over a year ago about his debut release, “Songs of the Sun,” and got an introduction to his influences and aesthetic. Check out our interview with David, below, to learn about his newest collection of compositions as well as his hopes for the future.

You have a new EP coming out. What can you tell us about the title and the meaning and inspirations behind it?

Indeed! I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my upcoming project with you. Thanks so much! “Nocturnes” are compositions that evoke & interpret feelings of the night. Many composers (such as Satie, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Debussy and Chopin) created collections of nocturnes, often employing notably beautiful melodies on the right hand, with timbral and rhythmical elements on the left. I decided to compose & release a small collection of nocturnes this year as a creative response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The world feels like it is on pause, and now (more than ever) I feel it is our time to go deeper inside ourselves, to answer all of the questions in the silences of our solitude. Our time to find light when all else feels dark. The current situation in the world has led to the motivation and inspiration of this release.

Where did you record / who did you record with?

I enlisted the help of Connor Hanson to record and master my performances of the collections.

Each piece was recorded on a beautiful Yamaha grand piano in the Palaia Theatre of Ocean Grove.

How does your new collection compare/contrast with your debut EP “Songs of the Sun” (2018)?

Throughout the “Songs of the Sun” collection, I was exploring and composing about the architectures of the human condition with four abstract (yet vivid to me) interactions that all have a somewhat “daylight” approach to them — “rising” and “flying, floating, falling” taking place under dreamy morning skies, “sanctuary” exploring the notion of a safe place to awaken, and “a conversation between lovers” as something present and bright. This is a pretty stark contrast to this next release, since “nocturnes” are pieces inspired by “the night” — so naturally these have a darker tonality and approach. For instance, there was a storm happening while Connor & I were recording, and I couldn’t hold back my excitement to get organic moments of “the dark windy night” in my recordings. With the nocturnes. I’m hoping people can feel a similarity in the timbral qualities of my performance aesthetics, but also can resonate with the “change in seasons,” musically-speaking.

Can you explain the meaning behind one of your songs?

Certainly! The opening track titled “Luna” is a waltz, meant to be almost like basking in soft moonlight — whether with a lover, or with yourself & nature. It is an open-ended piece that has such subtle & delicate movement. Not necessarily “happy” or “sad,” it is what one feels when they are in vast open space with the beauty of nature, perhaps loneliness; perhaps feeling slightly more vulnerable and ultimately smaller in the world. This piece came into my musical awareness after a long walk on the Asbury Park boardwalk during the lockdowns. I took a late night walk to clear my head, and I found myself humming the melody (which oftentimes is part of my creative process for “finding the sound” — a lot of the time it will come to me while I’m in the shower or on a walk!)

What are you looking forward to in 2021? Personally and/or professionally?

I hope we regain some semblance of normalcy in the world. If and when that happens, I am excited to perform again in-person rather than via a live stream. I’m excited to teach my students in physical form rather than over Zoom. I’m incredibly excited to be able to get back into entering composition competitions when they start back up again, too, as my heart and head are very much artistically ready for new opportunities and moments.

Finally, where can people find your music?

My solo piano collections can be found at “David Ross Lawn” on all major streaming platforms!

Interview with #Elevated. New Single, "Paradise"

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Friday, January 22, 2021

If you’re craving that old school, boy group sound of Boyz II Men, New Edition, and *NSYNC, then look no further than South Jersey’s own #Elevated, who just released their newest single, “Paradise,” on YouTube, Spotify, and other audio outlets. Check out our interview with the talented quintet, below, as they discuss how they’re “bringing back old school vibes with a modern twist.”

Congratulations on the release of your new single! What can you tell us about the title (“Paradise”) and the meaning behind it?

For some of us it is interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is "the beach and perfection." What we could do for a significant other is living a life that feels like a dream and live a life where we are content. Another interpretation is last year, we were struck with hardships such as the pandemic. We want to eventually reach that small spec of light at the end of the tunnel we call 'Paradise.’ This song is a soothing and uplifting song to help us go through our inner struggles that we have experienced during these hard times!

What inspired you to create this?

The winter feeling is always soothing, so we wanted to create a song that explores that feeling of calmness and joy.

Where did you record/who did you record with?

We recorded at Vince's (one of the #Elevated members) house. We self-produced everything and hired a mix engineer to mix and master!

Tell us about #Elevated. Who's in the group? Where are you from? How did you find each other? How would you describe your style? Who are your influences?

#Elevated is a 5 member guy group from South Jersey!

Kevin (baritone), Josh (tenor), Vince (baritone/countertenor), Will (bass/tenor), and Donovan (bass).

This group consists of two of Vince's friend groups: Will and Donovan were in Vince's high school choir and often sung together, and Kevin and Josh were in Vince's university and often jam and sing together in the piano room.

The group started with Kevin, Vince and Josh who performed for an event at Rutgers University. We decided to become a group right after. We later added Will and Donovan to make a 5 member group! Our music is old school with a modern twist. We grew up listening to old school R&B and pop such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, New Edition, Michael Jackson, etc. We also enjoy some of the modern artists as well such as Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth, Bruno Mars, etc. We miss boy bands or singing groups that can sing acapella like Boyz II Men, *NSYNC, etc., so we want to bring that sound back.

What are you looking forward to in 2021, personally and/or professionally?

We're looking forward to more opportunities and to a better year overall.

Finally, where can people find your music?

Follow us on Instagram: @hashtagelevated

Subscribe to us on YouTube: http://youtube.com/hashtagelevated

Check out our latest single, “Paradise”:

The song is available on all audio platforms!

Here is also a link tree to see our other content: https://linktr.ee/hashtagelevated

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

We have been growing a small fan base on YouTube through various contents such as reaction videos (2k subscribers).

RECAP: SUPER JAM 2019 with Gregory Burrus Around Town

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Tuesday, February 18, 2020

It was an absolutely wonderful night of live music at the Annual Myrna Bain Scholarship Fundraiser, 2019 Super Jam (August 16 2019, NY, NY).

For the last three years, Gregory Burrus Around Town has supplied photography, video services and has recommended creative artists from New Jersey to perform in this event.  This enables our artists to expand their reach and gain new audiences.

Myrna Bain Scholarship

The purpose of this concert was to raise funds for the Myrna Bain Scholarship.  Professor Bain inspired both students and colleagues to aspire to higher levels of academic excellence and scholarship.  Her energy and commitment to scholarship, both national and international, her special skills in mentoring and fostering growth in students, her peers and all others whose lives she touched, provided the basis for the success of countless others.  Prof. Myrna Bain taught at Hunter College (NY) and John Jay (NY) and was highly regarded by her students and colleagues until her passing of breast cancer in 2007.

Created in her spirit, The Myrna Bain Scholarship provides an annual financial award to an exemplary undergraduate student who has a strong commitment to community service and an interest in pursuing a career or further studies in African Diaspora studies, or including Social Justice, English, International Criminal Justice, International Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Gender Politics, History or Anthropology.  The fundraising objective is to reach their endowment goal so that Myrna Bain Scholarship recipients can continue her legacy for many years to come.  The performers last year are listed below:

JANET WINTER

 

Janet Winter in a very beautiful recap of an absolutely wonderful night of live music in NYC at the Annual Myrna Bain Scholarship Fundraiser, 2019 Super Jam.

Thank you Sherry Gibson and all who came out and supported the cause.

D’AMBROSE BOYD, MC

The multi-talented co-founder and host of “SINGERS SPACE presented by D'Ambrose Boyd” hosted the Myrna Bain Scholarship Concert Series for the first time.  His extensive credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’, Five Guys Named Moe, and A Christmas Carol.  He has also worked backstage at Book of Mormon.  

D’Ambrose also is a photographer at D’Ambrose Boyd Photography and accessory fashion designer at Boyd’s Apparel.

Bernie “Em” Mercer

Bernie sings locally on the NYC live music scene.  Learn more about Bernie right here.

SUE ROCK, VOCALS

 

Sue Rock has been a vocalist all her life, singing since childhood, enjoying the wonders of popular music and Broadway classics.  Sue Rock’s expressive, rich, and authentic singing comes straight from her heart to yours. Freely, she opens up to all influences - from classic jazz to funk-filled R&B. You can always count on Sue Rock for innovative re-working of your favorite songs as well as original tunes. She makes your favorites sound NEW again!

This was her second time performing in the Myrna Bain Scholarship Concert Series. She has also performed at Bar Thalia’s, Singers Space, Gammage Auditorium in Arizona, and in Naples, Italy. Sue has performed with the late great Phyllis Hyman, Jazz Bassist Fred Ho, and Jelly-Bean Benitez. Sue Rock Originals is her passion project. After losing a friend to domestic violence, she created Sue Rock Originals Everyone, Inc., a not-for-profit organization committed to providing textile skills and support to survivors of domestic violence who leave.

DEBORAH STEVENS, VOCALS

 

Deborah arrived from Memphis with a theatre background, but singing is a buried desire. A retired banker, she spends some of her time studying and singing. She performed in a limited run of Black Diamonds and White Pearls, written and produced by Vinnie Knight featuring the music of the Harlem Renaissance. Her favorite vocalists are Aretha Franklin, with whom she shares the same hometown and birthday, as well as Carmen McRae, Irene Reid, Etta James and Etta Jones. Her credo is “kindness matters.” 

DOUG DONOVAN, VOCALS:

 

Doug Donovan has been singing for 10 years throughout New York and New Jersey, in venues such as Triad Theatre and Trumpets. He’s performed with jazz singer Carrie Jackson and renowned jazz pianist Radam Schwartz. His favorite types of music are from the American Songbook—Jazz and Bossa Nova.

SCOUT FORD, VOCALS

 

Scout Ford is a singer, songwriter and actor based out of NYC. He’s also the Manager and Coordinator at Night Roads Entertainment, Inc. and the owner-and operator of GroundStone Music.

D’AMBROSE BOYD, MC, VOCALS

SHINUH HOLT, VOCALS

 

Shinuh Holt is a sultry vocalist from Brooklyn. She’s currently working on an EP titled Don’t Blame the Bartender. She’s traveled overseas, having residencies in Thailand & Sri Lanka. Shinuh began her musical journey only six years ago at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar on Nick Ashford’s Nuttin’ but The Blues night.

Follow Shinuh at #TheArtOfShinuh @madeinshinuh @theartofshinuh @dontblamethebartender “Live Yo Life!”

KATE BAKER

JO MARCHESE, VOCALS

 

Ms. Marchese, also known as The Queen of the New York open mic scene, has studied under Maestro Barry Harris and has performed at numerous NYC clubs including Singers Space at Bar Thalia, Cleopatra's Needle, Birdland, Parnell's, Jazz At Kitano's and Cobi's Jazz Club. Her unique vocals evoke the great singers of the big band era. Her favorite singer is Frank Sinatra. She says she loves everything he has recorded. She notes the excellence of his phrasing and points out that her phrasing is pretty good, too. She’s also still quite a fan of Tony Bennett and loves his song about San Francisco, as it takes her back to the time she worked there for the U.S. Marines.

BRIAN “ALEJANDRO” SCOTT, VOCALS

 

Brian "Alejandro" Scott, a Brit by way of Panama, had his first taste of singing onstage at Carnegie Hall as a soloist with the All City Chorus. He later went on to become a principal dancer with the Katherine Dunham-based Eugene James Dance Company performing on Broadway row and throughout NYC and internationally. Since putting his children's dance company "The Experimental Dance Group" on hiatus, Alejandro is working in the world of song and currently singing jazz standards, Broadway tunes with a little bit of pop at open mics throughout the NYC area, and had two recently sold out shows at Parnell's Bar & Restaurant. Alejandro has studied under Marilyn Maye, Gregory Hopkins, Jrome Andre, Samora Smith, Bill Zeffiro, David Pearl, Jonh Di Martino and Barbara Maier Gustern.

SUE ROCK AND D’AMBROSE BOYD

 

Sue and Damrose also performed as a duo.

KEITH ANTHONY FLUITT AND D’AMBROSE BOYD VOCALS

 

“Keith Anthony Fluitt, a New York City born and raised singer, has worked with many great artists of our time including Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. Keith also sings lead vocals. He went to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, graduated from talent unlimited program at Julia Richmond High School (graduating with: Lisa Lisa, Gene Anthony Ray from Fame, Brenda K. Starr, and a host of others). Keith has performed with many great stars including but not limited to: Patti LaBelle, Martha Wash, Will Downing, Ashford & Simpson, Lala Brooks, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson.” Read more at keithanthonyfluitt.com.

DARNELL WHITE QUARTET

 

SAADI ZAIN, BASS

Well-versed on both the double (upright) bass and electric bass and in a multitude of musical genres, New York City-based Saadi Zain has learned and refined his craft directly through frequent contact and close relationships with jazz masters, most notably Ron Carter. In April of this year, he performed the inaugural concert of the South Asian Symphony Orchestra in Mumbai, India as principal bassist. He was also part of the world premiere of “Little Girl Blue,” a musical about Nina Simone. For more info on Saadi, where he is playing and who he has played with, please visit his website at www.saadizain.com.

RICHARD FRANK, GUITAR

Richard Frank has been a resource to the New York City music community since 1965.  He’s recorded and/or toured with such artists as Neil Diamond, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Paul Anka, Patti LaBelle, Janis Ian, Peter Allen and Mary Travers (Peter, Paul & Mary). As a Studio Musician, he’s played on numerous records including "Turn the Beat Around" by Vicki Sue Robinson and all the music for "The Archies" cartoon series as well as jingles. 

JARRETT WALSER, DRUMMER

Jarrett Walser is a musician that brings vibrant sensitivity and rich nuances to an expressive style on the drums that is refreshing. His ease and versatility in several genres (jazz, rock, R&B, the blues, and funk) has made him a highly sought-after drummer.  As the indelible mainstay drummer for Amigos, Amigos! (Prog-Rock Band), The Goddess Lakshmi (Indie Rock Band), and Future Rising (Contemporary Jazz Band), he brings a dynamic brilliancy to the stage. He is an artful musician that is only at the genesis of his career. The best is yet to come.

SHERRY GIBSON CHAIRPERSON

 

Sherry Taylor Gibson (M.P.A. ’92) (with the hat in front row) is Administrative Manager and Executive Assistant to the Chief Information Officer, Department of Information Technology.

Happy After Super Jam performers

This was my 3rd year covering the Myrna Bain scholarship event, and every year it gets better. Anyone interested in performing in this volunteer event should contact me. The event location can change each year. It’s a beautiful experience, so come join us. You can learn more about it here: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofmyrnabainscholarship/

Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians and local art exhibitions. On a regular basis he promotes art, music, business, government and documents local community events all around New Jersey and New York. Greg provides support  through videography, photography, social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photo journalism. Greg is having fun living life while helping others. L earn more at gregoryburrusproductions.com

TAGS: myrna bain scholarship, fundraiser, ladies night, sherry gibson, vocalists, female vocalists, john jay college, gregory burrus, gregory burrus around town, videography, photography, north jersey music

Grin & Bear - "Be Gentle" (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Thursday, February 13, 2020

Be Gentle is the latest record from Wall Township’s Grin & Bear. Forming in 2014, the group has undergone line up changes throughout the years, leading to this latest effort from Brian Perrino. This album, while under the name Grin & Bear, has become more of a collaborative/solo project for Perrino. The record is an absolute powerhouse and a favorite of mine to come out this year. Be Gentle is self reflective and positive, perfect timing for we could all use a little extra positivity today.  I reached out to Brian to pick his brain about the making of this record and he was kind enough to do an interview. Thank you again, Brian!

When did Grin and Bear first form?

Grin & Bear first formed in 2014 during a time when we (Brian, Chris, Will, and Gavin) were all in college spread out over a few different states. I had been working on some songs, and we all naturally started sending ideas back and forth, and it turned into our first release "Range Wars" which ended up being a massively group-oriented effort. We self-recorded and released it in 2015.

How has the band changed over the years?

Since starting the band, we never ended up living in the same place at the same time. We met up when we could and played when we could. We operated that way for a few years and released "Range Wars" and "Everything is Gravy." I had been writing so much and in an effort to get more music out there started recording some acoustic tracks, which turned into "Hair Shirt Pt 1" and shortly after that release, Gavin (bass) made a long-term move to Georgia and we made the decision to end the band.

One day in 2018, I got back into writing and ended up with a few songs that I really loved and wanted to hear full band, so I reached back out to the band to ask if I could transition Grin & Bear into more of a solo project/collaborative effort. That is when Be Gentle began.

When did you start writing for Be Gentle?

In September of 2018, I wrote the songs "India" and "Not Bad" and became 100% sure I wanted to write an album. Every song (with the exception of “First Reaction”) came after that . We went into the studio in July of 2019 and were writing up until the day we left for the studio.

What is your songwriting process like?

Every song started with an acoustic guitar. I would mess around until something caught my interest, and then I would immediately start trying to sing whatever words and melody came out (sometimes using a note in my phone, mostly just trying to see what happens on the spot. There's so much boppin’ around up there, sometimes a pleasing guitar part draws something potent out). If I liked it enough, I would record a demo and then walk around my neighborhood listening to it until I heard something new, and then I would run into my house and record the new part.

This was the most fun I have ever had writing music (I remind myself often that those experiences in themselves are all I need to "get" out of this album). I heard a lot more than just my demos, so I reached out to a lot of my friends to see who was interested and had time to contribute. Some came over and we wrote together, some wrote totally on their own, and one part I didn't even hear until the second to last day of recording. These contributions made the album what it is. They kept it light and fun. I called the album Be Gentle because gentleness made this album possible. I had to remind myself to be gentle a whole lot (and still do).

Who did you record the album with and what was that experience like?

We recorded Be Gentle in Bayonne with Adam Cichocki at Timber Studios. It was the absolute best! Adam's studio is furnished with 2 dogs, 2 bean bags, extremely kind engineers and hosts, and is in close proximity to vegan "chicken" wings that are absolutely fire. Adam is so good at the technical aspect of recording an album that he's able to put you in a creative, stress-free, and positive environment right off the bat. This is not a paid ad for Timber Studios. Be Gentle would not sound the way it does without Adam and I love him!!

Who played on this release?

Okay, here we go.
Your boy (Brian) played a little of everything.
Chris Calabrese (drums, a little vocals)
Gavin Fischer (bass, a lot of backup vocals)
Will Avon (bass, lead guitar)
Matt Baker (bass, keyboard, backup vocals)
Nigel Whitley (bass)
Zach Henry (guest vocals)
Connor Mcarthur (guest vocals)
Stephen Kelly (guest vocals)
Tim Mullooly (guest vocals)
Grace Fox (trumpet)
Adam Cichocki (random stuff here and there, sleigh bells, post track clapping)
Bowser (double bean)

Favorite track on Be Gentle?

I think my favorite track is "India." The bass line at the end (Gavin wrote it) is my favorite part on the album. I danced a lot writing it and lyrically dug into a personal hang-up (pride) that has kept me from enjoying some important aspects of my life.

Upcoming plans?

Working to be more kind and gentle with myself and everyone else. And writing more music with my friends/biggest influences/people I love.

RECAP - Jazz On Sloan - 3rd Annual 24 Hours Of Music Jamboree, Sept 7-8, 2019

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Imagine 24 Hours of Live Jazz, all day and all night performed by some of the best local jazz musicians around.  That was the goal, and last year for the South Orange 24 Hours of Music Jamboree we attempted once again to fill the Jazz On Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo venue with live Jazz music all day, all night, and yes, all of the next morning, too.

Our Promotional materials encouraged local residents and the general public to come visit South Orange, shop, and frequent local businesses.  Town residents were encouraged to tweak their daily routines to take advantage of the live music all around South Orange.  Event announcements were promoted by genre and by time-of-day, so prospective attendees were aware that whether they headed out for the morning, afternoon or evening, they should take advantage of the opportunity to listen to live music over the entire 24 hours.

24 Hours Of Music Lineup

Normally held in May each year, last year, due to inclement weather, it was conducted in the month of September.   From the first event at noon on Sept. 7th to the last event, starting at noon on Sept. 8th, the live music performances ran for 24 consecutive hours.

The entry process to 24 Hours of Music was through an Open Call announced about 2 months before the date, where we solicited volunteer musicians and they were asked to perform at the following locations:  

1.       Jazz on Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo,

2.       Sounds in Spiotta Park or

3.       Outdoor business location Around South Orange.

The process of matching artist to performance location is usually on a first come, first served placement . Of course, a venue or a perfumer can request a specific location and if there is space, we assign them to their first choice. 

The Jazz On Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo venue came about from the summer-long concert, Downtown After Sundown, and needing a way to focus and draw in potential attendees based on a specific agenda.  We have a high concentration of Jazz Musicians in the area.  This venue is smaller, more intimate, holds about 30 plus seats, and has lots of standing room, so it became a dedicated venue for Jazz.

Gazebo Fly Balloon Designs by Jacqueline Harmon Johnson

Jacqueline Harmon Johnson, the founder of Fly Balloon Designs, has for the second year in a row mastered the technique of using balloons to make venues look fabulous by creating balloon designs.  It was a fitting beautiful design.

Jazz On Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo

Johnathan Fritz, Flamenco Guitarist

Jonathan Fritz is both a passionate stage performer and sought after session guitar player from New York City.  As a self-taught player, he has mastered many guitar stylings.  Jonathan travels the world playing for a wide range of audiences.  He has toured with a diverse range of artists such as Lionel Richie and Richie Havens, and has performed with John Mayer, Josh Stone, Gavin Degraw, Rachel Platten, Billy Joel, Van Morrison and Jimmy Buffet, to name a few. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fritz-304937b

Lynette Sheard, Vocalist

Lynette Sheard has shared the stage with Grammy-winning musicians and Broadway stars including those in The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera.  She is a multi-talented and versatile vocalist with a five octave range and perfect pitch.  She acts, produces, directs and is also a vocal coach.  Her performances have been acknowledged in numerous publications including The NY Times, Broadway World, The Record, Hot House, The Patch and The Chronicle.  The Star Ledger proclaimed that, “Her voice reaches deep into one’s soul and finds a soft spot.”

Tim Rodner and Bruce Tyler

Bruce Tyler explains that his love affair with the arts began at an early age.  Born and raised in Montclair, Tyler pursued Music at Essex County College, graduating with an Associate’s Degree.  He then studied drums with Carl Wolff, Andre Strobert, Freddie Waits, Charlie Per and many others at Jazz Mobile in New York.  He later went on to graduate with a BA in Anthropology from Montclair State University.

To learn more about Tim Rodner, visit https://www.facebook.com/tim.rodner.

Sherry Gibson and Friends from NYC

Sherry Gibson and Friends from NYC Jamming in South Orange, NJ.

To learn more about Sherry Gibson, visit https://www.facebook.com/staylorgibson.

Jacquelyn Harmon Johnson Jazz Jam

Jamming with Jacquelyn Harmon Johnson. https://www.facebook.com/jacquejazzjohnson

Keeping the music alive all night were a number of late-night folks who last year and the year before loved to play in the wee hours of the morning… 

Ian Eisenzweig Group

Ian Eisenzweig https://www.facebook.com/ilan.eisenzweig

Alex De Lazzari Group

Due to Darkness Stock photo from Giants of Jazz 22 at South Orange Performing Arts Center.

For the 2nd year in a row, Alex De Lazzari (Sax), Hank Allen-Barfield (Drums) and Griffin Fink (Bass) carried us overnight from 3 AM to 6 AM.  Thank you, guys.

Alex De Lazzari (Sax) - Originally from Italy but growing up in the D.C. area, saxophonist and composer Alex De Lazzari brings his quintet for his debut performance at Germanos.  Alex first picked up the saxophone at age 12, and, shortly after hearing a few John Coltrane records, was hooked.  Now he is a freshman at William Paterson University where he studies with famed saxophonist Vincent Herring.

Griffin Fink (Bass) – Ridgewood, NJ, RHS senior Griffin Fink was recently selected as a Merit Winner by the National YoungArts Foundation for Jazz/Double Bass.  Selected from a very competitive pool of applicants from 47 states, YoungArts winners gain access to one of the most comprehensive programs for emerging artists in the United States.  Griffin plans to continue studying music at William Paterson University. 

Band Of Strays - Lou Ledesma - Rhythm guitar

Band of Strays. “What's our story? Well, it remarkably similar for each of us. We each had been involved in music in our teens and it was always a strong undercurrent in our lives after we chose to dedicate most of our time to our families and careers. Now with kids grown and experiencing the need for creative expression - we turned back to music.” Read more from their Facebook page, here.

Patricia Walton

“Born in Germany, raised in New York and currently residing in New Jersey, Patricia Walton 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.  Currently, she performs both as a featured artist (Jazz) and as lead vocalist of MPack Band!”  Read more here.

Jazz Breakfast Music - Hassenfeld’s

Closing out Jazz events at Jazz On Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo. https://www.facebook.com/barbara.hassenfeld
https://www.facebook.com/james.hassenfeld.1

Sponsor Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS)

This year, thank you to the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS).  The IJS is extending their community engagement mission of building and sharing jazz with us right here in South Orange, NJ.

Support South Orange Rescue Squad

This year, the nonstop music jamboree was hoping to bring town wide awareness to the current needs of the South Orange Rescue Squad.  Most folks do not know that the South Orange Rescue Squad is a completely volunteer organization.  These folks are a full-time support organization, providing selfless service and are always there when we need them.  All are invited to contribute to the South Orange Rescue Squad by making a donation at https://www.southorangerescuesquad.org.

Thank You

And now thank you to all of you who performed in the 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music.  Over 120 musicians performed in 31 events across 16 musical genres to a couple hundred visitors that came to town and had some fun with us.  It was a blast and we hope we can do it again next year.  See you all around South Orange, NJ.  Thanks to South Orange Village Center Alliance, South Orange Village, the musicians, supporters and volunteers that helped make it happen.

About Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner, live music ambassador and community partner who curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local SOMA (South Orange, Maplewood) community, Northern NJ and New York Area. Gregory Burrus sits on a number of local boards and committees and is currently serving as a Board Member of Maplewood Community Music and is Vice President of Communications for Stevenson and Moses Boxing for Life nonprofit.

Year-round, Gregory Burrus also curates and produces: the Jazz973 live music jazz series at Clements Place Jazz for the Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies, the Jazzy Nights Live Music performances at the Speakeasy Style Essex Room of The Fox and Falcon Restaurant in South Orange, NJ and produces Live Music entertainment for South Orange’s Inkosi Cafe. During the Summer months, Gregory manages and promotes the South Orange Downtown After Sundown summer long live music concerts, the annual South Orange 24 Hours of Music Festival, and the June thru October South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam.

Tags: Gregory Burrus Around Town, 24 Hours of Music, Persaud Entertainment LLC, South Orange Village Center , Alliance, Live Music Ambassador, South Orange Rescue Squad, CC Minton.Jazz On Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo,  jazz, blues , 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music

RECAP - Spiotta Park - 3rd Annual 24 Hours Of Music Jamboree, Sept 7-8, 2019

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The 24 Hours of Music Jamboree, in its 3rd year, is a nonstop live music event that is much anticipated by the local music community, performers, supporters, volunteers and attendees from the community. 

The community was encouraged to come on out and enjoy this 24 Hour Non Stop Music Jamboree that happened all across South Orange, NJ from 12 Noon on Saturday to 12 Noon Sunday, September 2019.

24 Hour of Music Line-Up

Two months prior to the event, an Open Call was conducted, asking for volunteer musicians who wanted to perform in our jamboree at one of the following locations:

1.       Jazz on Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo,

2.       Sounds in Spiotta Park or

3.       Somewhere Around South Orange.

Musicians and other performers were slotted into the various locations; an overall lineup was developed and released. The Sounds in Spiotta Park schedule for last year’s 2019 performances was a good one. 

The Sounds in Spiotta Park venue has a larger stage presence and so it became a venue for bands small and large. Bands from three-piece bands to 20-piece big bands can be accommodated very easily. The park can also hold over a 100 folks and can accommodate families with children and those who want to spread out. This venue also has built-in natural seating from rock seats, to the steps, to a surrounding wall, and of course lots of grass to sit upon and enjoy the live music performances.

Sounds in Spiotta Park Events

Spiotta Park, South Orange, NJ

New Jersey DJ Services

We started off the event in Spiotta Park with New Jersey DJ Services arriving early at 11 AM. DJ Jimmy Buttros was spinning the vinyl and warming us for the 12 noon opening. New Jersey DJ Services stayed onsite all day, spun tunes between performances, and kept us moving and grooving all day long.

Soul Xpressiion School of Dance

The festivities started at noon as Kenyani Shanai Henderson of Soul Xpressiion School of Dance was live in Spiotta Park. Kenyani led a Free ZUMBA Dance Session which was designed to get folks up, working out and feeling good. It was a great way to kick off the Sounds In Spiotta park 24 Hour Live Music Jamboree.

Grupo Liberdade de Capoeira

It was absolutely wonderful for the 2nd year in a row to have Grupo Liberdade de Capoeira join us in the 3rd Annual 24 Hour of Music Jamboree. If you don’t know, Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. It is known for its acrobatic and complex maneuvers, often involving hands on the ground and inverted kicks. Capoeira is known to give your body physical strength, power and flexibility and your mind self-confidence, concentration, courage and creativity. When you watch Professora Amazonas leading the group, it is simply beautiful and everyone, especially the children, grow and become confident while all enjoy themselves.

Dan Ogden Music

The music was a beautiful mixture of rock, funk, jazz and more.  Click to listen to Dan Oden Live.

Party Girl Yoga NY

It’s yoga-time, it’s party time, according to the The Tvrnvp Gawd who, according to her Instagram profile, is known for providing networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and socialites in the entertainment industry. For 24 Hours of Music, Party Girl YOGA NY provided a Yoga to Music session. Her mission, from the dance floor to the yoga mat, is to focus, breathe and feel the heat. The goal is to allow students to experience the same excitement and energy they have when they hit the dance floor. Attendees reported that they enjoyed themselves tremendously.

During this event, SOMA TV was out on site and Dustin Dumas of Dustin’s Kaleidoscope interviewed the owner of Party Girl Yoga. You can watch the interview at here:

Howlin’ Poets

As the afternoon progressed, we enjoyed performances by a popular local favorite band, Howlin’ Poets. They are a funky collective of musicians which started out as a weekly get together for local musicians, playing almost every genre imaginable, and developed into a more coherent band focused on funk and funky takes of classic reggae, rock, R&B, and disco tunes, with the occasional original thrown in to boot. They tag themselves as: TO MAKE ROCK AND MAKE IT FUNKY!! They funked it up and the audience loved it.

Carlos Frias and Circulo Social

To Listen, click Carlos Frias and Circulo Social.

Later, we connected with some Latin Music from Carlos Frias. With roots in the Dominican Republic, Carlos Frias is a singer, songwriter, visual artist, drummer, percussionist, and the front man of the world music band, Carlos Frías & Circulo Social. Based out of Bloomfield, NJ, they play mostly original music that’s blended with rock, jazz and Latin rhythms. In their music you can hear the heart of the Caribbean, the peasant chant, and the voices of those speaking against injustice accompanied by Afro Caribbean rhythms.

With Diego Lopez on Drums, Ben Rubens on bass, Yaram Eilam on guitar and led by Carlos Frias on voice and percussion, these cats made some sweet Latin sounds. The performance was a hit with all as Circulo Social put out the perfect sound waves on a beautiful summer night. 

Black Wax Band

Vid 1 Black Wax 1 - Vid 2 Black Wax 2. Black Wax Band Dancers kicking it during the 24 Hours Of Music Jamboree in South Orange Spiotta Park. Thank You @Victoria A for coming out and thank you Asad Waheed for bringing a great performance. #24hoursofmusicjamboree #southorangenj

The main event of the evening was produced by Black Wax Band. From live music sets led by Bandleader Asad Waheed, to his DJs with Freestyle dancers, rappers and more, they had us toe tapping and dancing while enjoying some awesome R&B music. We danced the night away, and our attendees enjoyed themselves tremendously.

Vin Mott Rhythm and Blues

Bright and early at 10 AM Sunday morning, Vin Mott of Vin Mott Rhythm and Blues Band came on stage and performed some down home New Orleans harmonica, vocals, and drums.

Andy Lackow and Mess Around Band

Closing out the festival at 11 AM was our very own Blues Jam Master Andy Lackow of the Andy Lackow and Mess Around Band. He was joined today by drummer Jim Hart and bass player Coo Moe Jhee. They played some wonderful tunes and closed out the 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree in Spiotta Park with a bang.

Sponsor Persaud Entertainment LLC

We give a big thanks to Persaud Entertainment LLC and CEO Valerie Persaud in helping make this event happen in the park this year. It should be noted that the Ricky Persaud Jr. band always attracts the largest Downtown After Sundown audience when they hit our stage..

Support South Orange Rescue Squad

Last year, the nonstop music jamboree hoped to bring town-wide awareness to the needs of the South Orange Rescue Squad. Most folks do not know that the South Orange Rescue Squad is a completely volunteer organization. These folks are a full-time support organization, providing selfless service, and are always there when we need them. All are invited to contribute to the South Orange Rescue Squad by making a donation at https://www.southorangerescuesquad.org.

And now thank you to all of you who performed in the 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music. Over 120 musicians performed in 31 events across 16 musical genres to a couple hundred visitors that came to town and had some fun with us. It was a blast and we hope we can do it again next year. See you all around South Orange, NJ. Thanks to South Orange Village Center Alliance, South Orange Village, the musicians, supporters and volunteers that helped make it happen.

About Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner, live music ambassador and  community partner that curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local SOMA (South Orange, Maplewood) community, Northern NJ and New York Area. Year-round Gregory Burrus also curates and produces: the Jazz973 live music jazz series at Clements Place Jazz for the Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies,  the Jazzy Nights Live Music performances at the Speakeasy Style Essex Room of The Fox and Falcon Restaurant in South Orange NJ and produces Live Music entertainment for South Orange’s Inkosi Cafe. During the Summer months Gregory manages and promotes the South Orange Downtown After Sundown summer long live music concerts, the annual South Orange 24 Hours of Music Festival and the June thru October South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam.

Tags: Gregory Burrus Around Town, 24 Hours of Music, Persaud Entertainment LLC, South Orange Village Center Alliance, Live Music Ambassador, South Orange Rescue Squad, CC Minton.Jazz On Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo,  jazz, blues , 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music

RECAP: Around South Orange - 3rd Annual 24 Hours Of Music Jamboree, Sept 7-8th, 2019

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Thursday, February 6, 2020

Last year, we were very happy that Andrew Byrd from The Sentonian of Seton Hall University came out and reported on our 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree.  He interviewed a number of folks and described the jamboree this way: “South Orange Village hosts 24-hour music jamboree. The 24 Hours of Live Music jamboree was held throughout the South Orange Village. For 24 hours, each location included live music spanning all genres of music. Performers were encouraged to perform other art forms, such as spoken word and dance routines.”  And yes, from 12 Noon on Saturday to 12 Noon on Sunday, we had live music all Around South Orange, NJ.  

All were told that they should connect with family and friends and enjoy the live music performances for a few minutes or a few hours. They were reminded that it’s really “24 Hours of Music” and as such, when headed out for lunch, the evening, or coming home from the club in the wee hours of the morning, they could enjoy live music somewhere in South Orange, NJ.

The 24 Hours of Music Fest has two concentrated locations for the live music. We then solicit local businesses to lend their storefronts for a live music performance. We can do as many or as few as the number of musicians available.

24 Hours Of Music Lineup

These Around South Orange locations provide a number of unique venues for the musicians to perform outdoors to the business locations customers and event attendees:

1.      Jazz on Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo, 

2.      Sounds in Spiotta Park or

3.      Some outdoor business location Around South Orange. 

The scheduled artist and locations for 2019 were as follows:

The Around South Orange venue is really a multitude of locations outdoors in front of local business that are located all across the business districts of South Orange, NJ. Stores, restaurants, etc. are encourage to sign up and let us place bands in front of their locations. Suitable public spaces also become candidates during this event.

Last year, more restaurants and stores joined us in supporting our 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree, and we truly had live music performances all Around South Orange.

Live Music Around South Orange

Elitist Coffee Shop. This wonderful newly opened South Orange gathering spot serves coffee, danish and more. With a warm inviting interior on this warm weather day, their outdoor patrons were treated to a few unique performances by:

Flamenco Dancer Jennifer Jasenky

Whether in Seville Spain or in South Orange, NJ, Jennifer Jasenky is one very energetic person. She is a freelance writer, Math Tutor, and apprentice/professional flamenco dancer (www.instagram.com/dance_with_jj). She is an amateur polymath, an outgoing homebody, and a perpetual idealist whose love of learning knows no bounds.  We were very happy to have Jennifer grace us with her beautiful dancing. Check her out at https://watchmomtry.com/author/jennifer/.

Danielle Perrotta Duo - Ukulele Players

SIP in SOMA is a podcast in Maplewood and South Orange, NJ featuring interviews with local residents and is hosted by Danielle Perrotta. Besides being a Mom and community advocate, Danielle also plays the Ukulele and runs Ukulele jams. Hence, I was happy to have her come on out on a warm Sunday morning and play some tunes with her Ukulele partner to the delight of the early morning coffee patrons at Elitist Coffee shop. Check her out at https://sipinsoma.com/.

Inkosi Cafe Trumpet Man Bruno Lee

Live Jazz and R&B performance by Trumpet Man Bruno Lee and Guitarist Craig Mictchell.

Inkosi Cafe is a local dining spot off the beaten path on Irvington Ave in South Orange. Servicing the local Seton Hall College and Seton Village residents, Bruno and Craig served up some beautiful Hit Tunes during the early afternoon. 

Cafe Word Bookstore Performers

This inspirational Christian Bookstore at the edge of the South Orange downtown shopping district welcomed residents and visitors coming into town with live music for a few hours during Saturday afternoon. Live Gospel and R&B performances by Cafe Word Bookstore participants, with a sound system provided by New Jersey DJ services and backed up Trumpet Man Bruno Lee and Guitarist Craig Mitchell.

The next day, all were invited to an early Sunday morning inspirational service provided by Reverend Sheila Campbell.

Forget The Whale at the Village Diner  

Folks at this centrally located Village Diner in the heart of South Orange had a performance by a wildly successful local band, Forget The Whale, led by members Alishia Taiping (lead vocals, bass), Dan Pieraccini (bass, keys, vocals), and Peter Durning (guitar, harmonica). From blues to rock, alternative, R&B, country, funk and nu-metal, they all become ingredients, or, as it has been said, Forget the Whale is a “veritable witches’ brew” of musical genres. Fans new and old reported that they loved Forget the Whale’s performance.

Restaurant and Store Live Music Venues

Here are regular South Orange Saturday night live music locations with events:

The Fox and Falcon - hosting its very popular Karaoke Night.

Papillon 25 - entertaining its customers with returning favorite MPACK music band.

South Orange Performing Arts Center - had the wildly popular Ragtime, The Musical on its main stage.

Café Word Bookstore - early Sunday morning Inspiration session.

Shoutouts

Deadful Greats

“Deadful Greats in Spiotta Park in the 24 Hours of Music Jamboree.” That was the headline. 24 Hours was rescheduled. However, these cats wanted to play and perform — and they did, playing the best of the 70’s Grateful Dead and helping to keep the band’s legacy and music alive, well and vibrant. We thank them because their performance was great, and if they could have moved to September they would have. So, thanks for volunteering and putting on a really nice late night concert!

The Fox and Falcon

Thank you again and again to our official restroom hospitality location, The Fox and Falcon. You made folks feel very welcome.

Thank you Town Hall Deli and Grid Iron Waffle for agreeing to join us, but we ran out of musicians due to scheduling conflicts. 

Other South Orange Visitor Musical Attractions

Folks were invited to visit our musical attractions as they wandered amongst the live music venues.

South Orange NJ Gateway Residence Murals

The Gateway Residence in South Orange completed a mural project for the wall along the NJ Transit rail line that faces a luxury development. Some of our local musicians were honored by being included in some of these commissioned murals. Attendees were encouraged when walking around South Orange to stop by and see this mural along with the others on this wall throughout the day. 

The Musical Walkway 

Pedestrian corridor between South Orange Avenue and Sloan Street Parking Lot.

The South Orange Village Center Alliance, the Village of South Orange, the South Orange Arts Advisory Council announced The Music Walk Mural Project and put out a call for proposals for the new music walk artwork. The first phase of the project was done the day of our event. It was finished and is beautiful.

In the News

Seton Hall University - The Sentonian

South Orange Village hosts 24-hour music jamboree.
Andrew Byrd can be reached at andrew.byrd@student.shu.edu.

“The 24 Hours of Live Music jamboree was held throughout the South Orange Village. For 24 hours, each location included live music spanning all genres of music. Performers were encouraged to perform other art forms, such as spoken word and dance routines.  Gregory Burrus, a member of the South Orange Village Center Alliance and music coordinator for the jamboree, said that this event is about community.”

Read more here: http://www.thesetonian.com/2019/09/12/south-orange-village-hosts-24-hour-music-jamboree/   

SOMA TV - Dustin’s Kaleidoscope

During the 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music, Dustin Dumas of Dustin's Kaleidoscope TV Show spoke with Chelsea Burrus, who is a fitness and yoga brand manager of the Tvrnvp Company.  You can listen to this interview here at Dustin's Kaleidoscope.

Essex County — blog — Jersey Indie

Nov 13, 2019 - What's Happening in the 3rd Annual "24 Hours Of Music Jamboree" ... Thanks to South Orange Village Center Alliance, South Orange Village. https://www.jerseyindie.com/blog/tag/Essex+County

S.O. Patch - Come Listen or Perform in the Annual 24 Hours of Music

“We have booked 24 Hours of Music all Around South Orange starting Noon Sept. 7. all day, all night and Sunday Sept. 8 too!!!. Like the last two years, it's going to be a great day of live music performances…”  

Sponsor - CC Minton

Many of the events on the avenue were supported in part by Lifestyle Advocate CC Minton who is also President of Stevenson Moses Boxing For Life. CC coaching programs and her team empower individuals to focus on your desires, wants, and needs.  The Lifestyle Empowerment Group is a team of passionate professionals who will engage and support you on your transformational journey from a diamond in the rough to a sparkling gem! http://ccminton.com.

Support South Orange Rescue Squad

This year, the nonstop music jamboree was to bring awareness to the current needs of the South Orange Rescue Squad, as most folks do not know that the South Orange Rescue Squad is a completely volunteer organization. These folks are a full-time support organization, providing selfless service and are always there when we need them. All are invited to contribute to the South Orange Rescue Squad by making a donation at https://www.southorangerescuesquad.org.

And now, thank you. Thank you to all of you who performed in the 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music. Over 120 musicians performed in 31 events across 16 musical genres, performed to a couple hundred visitors that came to town, and had some fun with us. It was a blast and hope we can do it again next year. See you all around South Orange, NJ.

Thanks to South Orange Village Center Alliance and township of South Orange Village, the musicians and the supporters.

A big thank you to event day volunteers Jon McGriff, Teresa Ware, Donna Seidman, Chelsa Burrus and others who came out and helped make it happen.

About Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner, live music ambassador and community partner who curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local SOMA (South Orange, Maplewood) community, Northern NJ and New York Area. Gregory Burrus sits on a number of local boards and committees and is currently serving as a Board Member of Maplewood Community Music and is Vice President of Communications for Stevenson and Moses Boxing for Life nonprofit.

Year-round, Gregory Burrus also curates and produces: the Jazz973 live music jazz series at Clements Place Jazz for the Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies, the Jazzy Nights Live Music performances at the Speakeasy Style Essex Room of The Fox and Falcon Restaurant in South Orange, NJ and produces Live Music entertainment for South Orange’s Inkosi Cafe. During the Summer months, Gregory manages and promotes the South Orange Downtown After Sundown summer long live music concerts, the annual South Orange 24 Hours of Music Festival, and the June thru October South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam.

Tags: Gregory Burrus Around Town, 24 Hours of Music, Persaud Entertainment LLC, South Orange Village Center , Alliance, Live Music Ambassador, South Orange Rescue Squad, CC Minton.Jazz On Sloan at the South Orange Gazebo,  jazz, blues , 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music

Get Ready to Jam with Us During our 2020 Downtown After Sundown Live Music Season

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Sunday, February 2, 2020

A huge highlight of the 2019 South Orange Downtown After Sundown live music season was the addition of many more live music jam sessions. These sessions enabled more musicians and patrons to participate in our events. Here we look back at the bands that performed at some very successful performances during the 2019 season. Flashing back:

R and B Jamming with the MPACK Band

The first jam In May 2019 we had the Clarence Conover R&B band jamming  and conducting an Open Mic. It was swinging as MPack brought an explosive energy to the stage and they rocked the park all night long!

Gene Ghee and Friends Jazz Jam

On a rainy day in May ourDowntown After Sundown Jazz On Sloan program presented a Gene Ghee Jazz Jam.  Gene Ghee plays  saxophone, flute, clarinet and  is a long-time performer and educator. He graduated from NYU with a music education undergrad degree from the Manhattan School of Music with an MA for music performance and from Columbia University Teachers College with a Master of Education degree.

Gene Ghee is a highly in-demand saxophonist and has performed with loads of professionals such as Monguito Santamaria, Art Blakey Jr., Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Teddy Pendergrass, Anita Baker, B.T.Express, Arthur Prysock, Little Anthony and The Imperials. Add to that Etta Jones, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Benny Powell, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, and Barry Harris bplus the list goes on.  He's a performer on recordings of Stevie Wonder (Do I Do), played tenor saxophone and contracted the horn section for the session which included Frank Wess, Virgil Jones, Ron Tooley, Britt Woodman, Clifton Anderson, Victor Paz and others. Other cool recordings / performances with the likes of Evelyn “Champagne” King, The Village People, Candi Staton and T.S.Monk plus many many more national and international performers. A high caliber jazz musician like Gene Ghee is definitely on the list for a return performance in 2020.

Andy Lackow Outdoor Blues Jam

One of our very popular weekends was when Blues Man Andy Lackow ran our First 2019 Outdoor Blues Jam at Spiotta Park. It was truly a blast!!! 

Andy Lackow & Mess Around band is based in Northern New Jersey. While predominantly a blues band they play an eclectic mix that also includes blues-rock, roots-rock, soul, funk, New Orleans R&B and a little country as well.

Andy Lackow & Mess Around features Andy Lackow on guitar & vocals, Curtis Fowlkes on bass and Jim Hart on drums as a trio and as a quartet.  This was a great day, the weather was beautiful and lots of jammers came out and jammed with Andy to the delight of all the Downtown After Sundown attendees.

Al Gold‎ Blues Jam in Spiotta Park

Unfortunately rain canceled our Blues Jam in June that was to be conducted by  Al Gold.

Pianist James Austin, Jr. leads the NJPAC Jazz Jam for Jazz On Sloan Program 

This NJPAC Free Live Concert was held in the Heart of South Orange Village when New Jersey Performing Arts Center – NJPAC in partnership with “South Orange Village Center Alliance” presented a night of Jazz jamming led by Bandleader and pianist James Austin, Jr.

James Austin Jr has led the Rutgers, NJPAC Clements Place Jazz Jam in Newark for at least 5 years.  For at least 4 years at the wildly popular Clements Place Jazz sessions, Austin leads a number of jazz quartets composed of New Jersey musicians, performers affiliated with Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens and also the James Moody Jazz Orchestra which is  the acclaimed jazz program of NJPAC’s Department of Arts Education.

We were happy to have this ongoing very popular series hosted by New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Department of Community Engagement. This series of performances featured some of New Jersey’s finest jazz musicians.. The sessions are a major hit with most jazz listeners as well as musicians and definitely enhances NJPAC’s role as the state’s principal, year-round presenter of jazz.  We are very happy to have them extend their reach into the South Orange, NJ community.

Carrie Jackson Jazz Jam

Jazz On Sloan Presented one awesome season ending Carrie Jackson Jazz Jam in Sept to close the 2019 Downtown After Sundown season.

Carrie Jackson Jazz Jam and Open Mic at the South Orange Gazebo. Carrie is considered one of the most consistently interesting singers in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area and is one of the top Jazz artists around today performing classical performances of Jazz favorites, soulful sultry Pop, Blues and poignant mellow Gospel. She combines Jazz originals, standards, Pop/Blues tunes and open improvisation in an adventurous, genre-bending style that’s inspirational and original. With a focus on keeping the music alive we are working towards bringing Carrie back in 2020.

A big thank you to all of our 2019 Jam Leaders above and their bands. A big thank you goes out to our wonderful first time supporters like New Jersey Performing Arts Community Engagement - NJPAC, New Jersey Jazz Society- NJJS.org and Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies.

Finally, as you can imagine the goal of this upcoming 2020 live music season season is to bring back as many jam sessions as possible because Downtown After Sundown is is looking forward to jamming once again in 2020 all Around South Orange, NJ.

Gregory Burrus, Live Music Ambassador

Gregory Burrus with South Orange Trustee Bob Zuckerman and former Executive Director of SOVCA.

Downtown After Sundown is a program sponsored by the South Orange Village Center Alliance and the Town of South Orange. https://www.sovillagecenter.org/pub/event/story/2382/

Gregory Burrus curates and manages the South Orange Village Center Alliance's Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts. This SOMA resident arrived in South Orange, 23-year ago and just loves South Orange, NJ. Gregory enjoys all music genres but his first love jazz began as a boy when his mother and father played jazz on the good old record player at home and took him to clubs all over Manhattan. Greg was an executive in the telecommunications industry and has consulted on telecom, technology and operational business processes systems all over the world. Now he is putting his expertise, gain from his former business environment to work producing music, art and community events across South Orange, Maplewood, Newark and other towns around Northern New Jersey and New York.

#downtownaftersundown #jazzonsloan #soundsinspiottapark #sovca #southorange #southorangegazebo #njpac #genegheesax #andylackowguitarists #algoldbluesjam #eyeshsamarablenjpac #jamesaustinpianists #carriejacksonvocalist #gregoryburrusaroundtown #JerseyIndie

Dancing the Night Away During Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Sunday, February 2, 2020

Downtown After Sundown invited all to come out dance and dine the night away during the 2019 South Orange live music concerts. It was a great season as attendees reported it was an absolutely entertaining experience. Take a step back and enjoy what happened.

Flamenco Dancing with Toni Messina on Sunday in June

Whether you're a local, new in town, visiting from another town or just passing through all were invited to come on out because we knew our attendees would be sure to love the annual Flamenco dancers in our Downtown After Sundown Music Series.

Folks were invited to come on out and experience the spirit of Andalucia, Spain, the passion, sensuality and the power of flamenco dance, the plaintive cry from the heart of the cante (flamenco song) and the fire of virtuoso flamenco guitar – live on the Downtown After Sundown Spiotta Park stage.

Well our very own Viva Flamenco Leader, Director Antonia (Toni) Messina cooked up a spicy stew of Flamenco song and dance, jazz melodies and improv, along with some 'Flamenco puro' for the purists out there. OLE'!

Folks absolutely came out and join in our favorite Flamenco dancer Toni Messina who is a powerful force of life all by herself.  As this Mother, Lawyer and yes Flamenco Dancer does in all walks of life,  Toni motivates the folks in the audience, all ages,  to get up,  dance and start twirling on the dance floor.  Great event and good time had by all.

80’s DJ Dance Night with New Jersey DJ Services in July

If back in the day, you liked 80's dance music then the 80's was your time? We invited all to come on out to an 80’s Dance Night in Spiotta Park, where New Jersey DJ Services was spinning the popular tunes of the 80's and more.  Downtown After Sundown encouraged folks of all ages to bring their dancing shoes.

https://www.facebook.com/gregory.burrus/videos/10162154995620514/

And New Jersey DJ Services DJ James Buttros did not disappoint as we all got to watch him develop a beautiful soundscape of music, light, smoke and more while we danced the night away. 

Folks danced the night away .

https://www.facebook.com/gregory.burrus/videos/10162156638565514/UzpfSTE5MTg2MjY1MDk3NTA2NToxMjY0NTQ4NDczNzA2NDcy/

What a wonderful night of dancing.

NJPAC Inspirational Dance Night in July

If you wanted to be inspired, we invited the community to come on out and join us at the first ever New Jersey Performing Arts Center - NJPAC to show us how inspirational dance was done. NJPAC Director of Community Engagement energized her team and oh what a wonderful night it was. The NJPAC team bought in volunteers to help out, a DJ Booth and reached out to ten community dance groups to come on out and perform in our Downtown After Sundown music event. And come out they did as the folks descended upon South Orange and the park loaded up with folks from everywhere.  There was definitely a buzz in the air as the audience settled in to watch something special and we all enjoyed some beautiful dancing.

Director Eyesha Marable in a timely manner MC’d the night and moved the various groups on and off the stage all night in a timely manner. Each group performed a beautiful dance and Eyesha a professional dancer herself in some cases joined in the festivities with fellow participants and danced the night away.  They showed us dance then showed you how to do it as her team definitely got folks  up and involved.

Participants and audience alike expressed their sentiments and it was clear the event was a huge hit with all. We thank all involved an Eyesha Marable for her never ending energy in making it happen.

Our host Eyesah is a former professional dancer with Footprints Dance Company, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and Showtime at the Apollo, NJPAC Community Engagement Director Eyesha K. Marable - has shared the stage with LL Cool J, R. Kelly and gospel artists like Donnie McClurkin, Byron Cage, Donald Lawrence, Donald Malloy, and Helen Baylor. She founded the National Liturgical Dance Network, which trains and supports dance ministers and has spent 29 years of spreading the ministry of dance here and abroad.

Rev. Eyesha toured locally and nationally,  has performed in Central Park’s Midsummer Night Festival, Avery Fisher Hall, Symphony Space, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Symphony Hall, and Lincoln center.  She was a featured McDonald’s Gospel Fest and Apollo Showtime dancer for two seasons and is still seen in La Var Burton’s Mufaro Daughters Reading Rainbow PBS Series.  She attended LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and worked with notable choreographers like Abdel Salaam, Kevin Jeff, Chuck Davis, Fred Benjamin and George Faison.    

We also thank the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, N.J. which is America's most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey.

We had a great 2019 dancing in the park and am looking forward to what’s coming in 2020.

Gregory Burrus, Live Music Ambassador

Gregory Burrus with Eyesha Marable NJPAC

Gregory Burrus curates and manages the South Orange Village Center Alliance's Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts. This SOMA resident arrived in South Orange, 23-year ago and just loves South Orange, NJ. Gregory enjoys all music genres but his first love jazz began as a boy when his mother and father played jazz on the good old record player at home and took him to clubs all over Manhattan. Greg was an executive in the telecommunications industry and has consulted on telecom, technology and operational business processes systems all over the world. Now he is putting his expertise, gained from his former business environment to work producing music, art and community events across South Orange, Maplewood, Newark and other towns around Northern New Jersey and New York.

#downtownaftersundown #jazzonsloan #soundsinspiottapark #sovca #southorange #eyeshsamarablenjpac #inspireddance #njpac #gregoryburrusaroundtown #JerseyIndie #southorangenj #80sdj #newjerseydjservices #NewJerseyPerformingArtsCenter

Come Swing in South Orange With Our 2020 Downtown After Sundown Big Bands

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, January 29, 2020

South Orange Downtown After Sundown is planning on coming back for 2020 with a Big Bang from the sounds of more Big Bands in 2020. To see where we are headed in 2020, let’s look back at this past season and the big fun we had during 2019.

In 2019 More Big Bands!!! Oh Yeah!!

Like the Big Bands of the 20’s/40’s? Did you know that Big bands started as an accompaniment for dancing way back in 1910? Well this year instead of one big band for the 2019 Downtown After Sundown Season, we had one big band a month joining us for your dancing and listening pleasure. That’s right the Sounds in Spiotta Park were awesome with three big bands ranging in size from 12 to 19 pieces and playing some of the most swinging tunes ever for your dancing and listening pleasure.

Swing Town Big Band Led by Ben Williams

"It's important for professionals, who might start feeling like playing is just a job, to spend time with those who love to play." Ben Williams

Opening our Big Band Series this season will be one of our longest running  returning veteran big bands, the Swing Town Big Band of Maplewood Community Music. Under the direction of the professional trombonist and music director Ben Williams. They came back with their 19 Piece Big Band.  Their Big Band-style jazz ensemble features Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Rhythm Section, and Vocalists.

And oh what a swinging night of music it was as they played the classics, standards and more. This year they opened their performance with the South Mountain Squirrel Hunters and then swung into action with some of the best big band music around. Folks were encouraged to bring a lawn chair and they did and had a great time.

Another Big Band — Ed Palermo

"Ed Parlermo ...one of the greatest musicians and arrangers in the world." -- Christian McBride –

Another nice development in booking this years 2019 Downtown After Sundown season is the addition of Another Big Band thanks to a big supporter of live music, drummer Eddie Brown. Another Big Band consist of 12 musicians, including a vocalist, from the Jazz House Community Big Band. They are musicians of all levels and backgrounds, playing classic arrangements from the big band era. Another Big Band is under the direction of Ed Palermo, who is not just a dynamic saxophonist, he is also a prolific arranger, composer, educator and, since 1980, leader of Ed Palermo’s Big Band.

These Big Band played members their hearts out, had a heck of a good time playing with each other and the audience that came out and listened to some great music. The fun part is also for a good cause as these cats contribute what they receive to a nonprofit called the Jazz House Kids. Hailed by JazzTimes as “one of the most successful and respected jazz education programs in the country,” the NEA grant recipient, and award winning JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has inspired more than 45,000 young musicians since its launch and touched a growing, annual audience of 25,000.All so another young person can be introduced to this wonderful world of live music that we all enjoy. 

Big Beat Big Band - Caleb Rumley

BIG BEAT is a 19-piece big band that was formed in 2014 with one purpose - to make music that sounds good and feels good.

This year on our 2019 Final Downtown After Sundown Weekend we were happy to have Big Beat Big Band join us. The group consists of 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, guitar, piano, bass, drums, vocals and a conductor. This 19 piece R&B Orchestra was formed in 2014 with one purpose - to make music that sounds good and feels good. Founded by alumni of William Paterson University's vaunted jazz program, the band is steeped in the modern jazz tradition but they refuse to limit themselves to any particular genre.

They are an innovative band with a fresh big band sound so folks definitely came out and dined, danced and listened to the Big Bands in South Orange Spiotta Park.

This year come enjoy all of our swinging Big Bands during our 2020 Downtown After Sundown Season. South Orange Village Center invites you to dine, dance, listen and swing with us under the stars during the 2020 Downtown After Sundown Live Music Series.

Don't forget, along with the big bands above, we will also have more musician participation events like jazz jams and audience dance participation events too. All concerts kick off Memorial weekend 5/22/2020 through Labor Day, every Friday and Saturday evening and one Sunday a month from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the heart of Downtown South Orange. Check out www.sovillgecenter.org and facebook Downtown After Sundown for the new 2020  list of live music events.

About Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner, live music ambassador and community partner that curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local SOMA (South Orange,Maplewood) community, Northern NJ and New York Area.