Summer 2014: Jazz in the Garden

In its 49th year, Jazz in the Garden concerts are five Thursday afternoons, rain or shine, from 12:15-1:45pm from July 10th through August 7 at the Newark Museum. Admission is $3, free to children and Museum members. Lunch is available for purchase, brown-baggers are welcome.
 

The 2014 Jazz in the Garden Schedule:

July 10 - Shirazette and the Experiment Jazztet
New York City-based drummer and composer Shirazette Tinnin is the leader of the Shirazette and the Experiment Jazztet. In addition, she is a frequent collaborator with many artists spanning Jazz, R&B, rock, pop and world genres. Shirazette's debut album "Humility: Purity of my Soul" was released February 2014 and was preceded by a project titled "How the Grove Stole Christmas" (November 2013). A Hot Tone Music artist, Shirazette is endorsed by Canopus Drums, Sabian, Vic Firth, LP, Beato Bags, and KickPort.

July 17 - Dave Stryker Quartet
Dave Stryker moved from his Omaha, Nebraska, to New York City in 1980, and quickly established himself in the local music scene. His career took a turn when he joined organist Jack McDuff's group. He has also had a distinguished career working with McDuff, Stanley Turrentine, Kevin Mahagony and other greats, as a leader Stryker has 24 CD's. His most recent, Eight Track on Striketone Records has toped the charts. Gary Giddins in the "Village Voice" calls him "one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years."

July 24 - Claudio Roditi Brazilian Jazz Quartet
Integrating post-bop elements and Brazilian rhythmic concepts into his palette with ease, Grammy-nominee Claudio Roditi plays with power and lyricism. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the versatile trumpeter is in demand as a performer, recording artist and teacher. With twenty-four critically acclaimed albums to his credit, Roditi continually develops his playing and compositions through new recording projects. His last release on the Resonance label, Bons Amigos (HCD 2010), features several Roditi originals (Bossa de Mank, Piccolo Samba, and the driving, straight-ahead tune, Levitation) framed by seven compositions written by Brazilian masters such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Alf, guitarist/composer Toninho Horta, and pianist Eliane Elias.

July 31 - Tessa Souter
Anglo-Trinidadian, Tessa Souter's penchant for exploring strikingly beautiful music mostly untouched by other singers, has set her apart. Over her four-CD career, starting with 2004's Flamenco-tinged Listen Love and up to her latest, Beyond the Blue (Motema, 2013), which was picked by the "Sunday Times" as one of the Top Ten Jazz CDs of 2013.

August 7 - Buster Williams Quartet "Something More"
Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis. This Camden, NJ resident has been a first call bassist since hitting the scene at age 20. A Grammy-nominated, NEA- awarded, prolific composer and arranger, before forming his group, "Something More" in 1990, Williams was a member of the seminal group, "Sphere" and the "Timeless Allstars." Since its inception, "Something More'' has had numerous tours throughout Europe, including the first International Jazz Festival in Moscow, tour of Japan and Australia, countless engagements throughout the U.S. and a CD soon to be released.