Category Archives: Jazz Cafe

October 2018 – Jazz Cafe

Sustainable Jazz

Friday October 5th

South Brunswick Municipal Complex
540 Route 522, Monmouth Junction
Admission $6 at the door – Light refreshments included
Doors open 7:30pm – No reservations, no advance ticket sales

     

 

Stephen Hiltner and Sustainable Jazz

 

Taking his inspiration from the giants of jazz and the endless inventiveness and beauty of nature, composer, saxophonist and clarinetist Steve Hiltner brings a fresh melodic and rhythmic sensibility to a broad range of styles. Keyboardist Phil Orr, host of the popular Jazz on Broad series in Hopewell, adds his mastery and deep groove to an original repertoire that spans jazz and latin, funk and tango. Lars Wendt mixes power and a rich sound on trumpet and trombone. Jason Harris will be joining in on bass.

 

April 2018 • Jazz Café

APRIL 6 • 8 – 10 PM
JERRY TOPINKA’S GROOVE 13
Jerry Topinka – Guitar
Kameelah Samar – Vocalist
Pete Corallo – Percussion
Cosmo Gallaro – Bass

G13 is a Jersey Shore contemporary Jazz band
playing standards, smooth jazz & pop.

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March 2018 • Jazz Café

March 2 • 8 – 10 PM
The John Bianculli Trio with Jackie Jones

John Bianculli – piano
Sue Williams – bass
Tom Baker – drums

SPECIAL GUEST…
Vocalist Jackie Jones

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December 2017 • Jazz Café

DECEMBER 8, 8PMBLUES IN DISGUISE

TJ Nix & Paul Plumeri

TJ Nix & Paul Plumeri

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November 2017 • Jazz Café

The Jazz Café

NOVEMBER 3, 8PMRADAM SCHWARTZ QUARTET

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October 2017 • Jazz Café

The Jazz Café

OCTOBER 6, 8PMBLUE JERSEY BAND

John Burton, Ellen Ruck and Frank Ruck

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September 2017 • Jazz Café

The Jazz Café

SEPTEMBER 8, 8PMSHIKANTAZA (BYOB)

Skikantaza

Shikantaza

The musical group Shikantaza (Doug Miller, piano, Bernhard Geiger, acoustic bass, Brandon Lewin, percussion) explores the jazz canon and songs from “The Great American Songbook.” They make familiar works uniquely their own, as well as performing original compositions developed improvisationally. Their eclectic repertoire draws inspiration not just from jazz and popular music, but also from folk, classical, gospel, rock, and even country western genres.

Doug Miller (piano), along with Brandon Lewin, is a founding member of the jazz trio Shikantaza. When not performing, he devotes himself to musical research, composition, and production of recorded music.

Brandon Lewin (percussion) has evolved a light, nuanced style through over 40 years of professional performing. His spiritual pulse provides the “centering point” of the ensemble’s sound. He is also a Coach of Mindfulness Meditation with ‘Ease and Lightness.’

Bernhard Geiger (acoustic bass) hails from the Black Forest region of Germany. From the age of ten he studied piano and organ, then at twenty, he started playing the double bass. He has performed with numerous jazz ensembles and big bands both in the States and in Europe. By day he is a patent developer.

The word shikantaza refers to a form of Japanese ZenBuddhist meditation. It literally translates as just sitting.  The flow that is Shikantaza’s trademark is punctuated by precise dynamic and rhythmic movements. Its music is saturated with meaning, melody, and haunting harmonies.

For more information, visit shikantazamusic.org.

October 6 – Blue Jersey Band

Herb Eckert Auditorium in the Senior Center
South Brunswick Municipal Complex
540 Route 522, Monmouth Junction
Admission $6 at the door
Doors open 7:30pm, 732.329.4000 x7635 • arts@sbtnj.net
No reservations, no advance ticket sales

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May 2017 • Jazz Café

The Jazz Café

Herb Eckert Auditorium in the Senior Center
South Brunswick Municipal Complex
540 Route 522, Monmouth Junction
Admission $6 at the door
Doors open 7:30pm, 732.329.4000 x7635 • arts@sbtnj.net
No reservations, no advance ticket sales

MAY 5, 8PMTHE CAROL HAMERSMA TRIO

The Carol Hamersma trio includes Carol on guitar and vocals, husband Steve Burke on bass, and Glenn Weber on drums. The group has been performing together for over 15 years. They have recorded 2 CDs “Out of My Head” and “Comes Love”. The CDs were premiered at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair where the group performs regularly.The band has been very active in the metropolitan area, playing clubs, restaurants, concerts and festivals.The group most recently appeared on the annual Seton Hall jazz faculty concert at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. In addition, each has their own freelance careers playing with various bands in a variety of venues. Carol also performs classical repertoire with the Metropolitan Guitar Trio as well as in orchestras for musical productions, which have included Ragtime, Man of La Mancha and most recently Godspell. She received her Bachelor’s in classical guitar from the Mannes College of Music in NYC and her Master’s in Jazz Studies from Queen’s College. She is currently adjunct faculty for County College of Morris and Seton Hall University.

The concert will include original arrangements of jazz standards by composers such as Gershwin, Porter, and Lennon/McCartney as well as Antonio Carlos Jobim of Brazil. Carol will also sing some Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian, to the infectious rhythms of bossa nova, salsa and swing. Come out for an entertaining evening of romantic and exciting music.

September 8 – Shikantaza (BYOB)

October 6 – Blue Jersey Band

November 3 – Radam Schwartz

December 8 – To Be Announced

April 2017 • Jazz Café

April 7, 8PMTHE VOODUDES BYOB

VooDUDES_homepageshot_SherryRubelLighter

The VooDUDES are (l to r) Gary Ambrosy- Vocals and Guitar; Andy B!- Vocals, Harmonica, Percussion and Rubboard; Dave Ambrosy- Vocals and Drums; Fred Saunders- Bass and Beads; John Pittas- Keys and Accordion

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December 2016 • Jazz Café

DECEMBER 9, 8 -10PM • ADELANTE

J. Jody Janetta, Paul “Woz” Woznicki and Sheila Hershey

Music Without Boundaries • Fusing Jazz-World-Roots-Americana-Classical-Funk-Ambient-Electronica-Trance •
An Eclectic Musical Melange
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