Because We Are All In This Together Surviving Corona-virus via Social Distancing is a Must
People may not realize how much worldwide social interaction there is across the globe but we surely do now. Here in Northern Jersey, it’s a dramatic change because as a musician, one day you are practicing and playing with a 50 piece Concert Big Band or travelling and hitting the live music circuit every night internationally and nationally. Locally your travels may have you hitting and performing at different venues sometimes 3 or 4 times in a day. All of a sudden the next day everything shuts down – literally. No plane trips, no bus rides, no joint car rides, nothing, nada.
Enter Social Distancing
NOW it’s all about social distancing which is driving stay at home and maybe work from home if you can but we all know that the bills and expenses keep coming in the door but the revenue stream has stopped. While this is all of a sudden, the realities of the day because folks are losing jobs and unemployment is headed thru the roof which reminds us we are all in this together.
Musicians Helping Musicians
Founders Candice Reyes and Abel Mireles are supporting local North Jersey and NYC full-time and part-time jazz artists with The Jazz Exchange Relief Fund! Their website states “Due to the COVID-19 we are raising money to support artists who are taking a huge financial hit because of this pandemic. Because of COVID-19 a lot of their performances, tours, teaching gigs, lessons and more have all been cancelled. The Jazz Exchange would like to raise funds to provide emergency and preventative resources to those at financial risk.”
The Jazz Exchange Relief Fund!
The primary purpose is that The Jazz Exchange seeks to provide support to full-time or part-time jazz artists whose livelihoods are being affected by this pandemic in NYC/NJ. The program states that upon musician application depending on the state of our funds will receive some financial help. Funds will go directly to the artists to counter any lost income incurred as a result of cancelled jobs, gigs, and illnesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the city.
Funds will be distributed through written check that will be mailed to you directly or through digital payment such as Venmo or PayPal. Applicants should note there is a prioritization process that for the most at-risk and in need at the time of application. And yes the Jazz Exchange is aware that there will be a high volume of musicians who will be affected by COVID-19 and if they do not have enough funds they will close the application. Jazz artists apply here Fundraiser by The Jazz Exchange : The Jazz Exchange Relief Fund. I highly recommend you help their cause, which helps us all as I know they are truly committed to the music and the long term cause.
Because We Are All In This Together”
Despite our differences we are all going around on this one world merry go-round together, I highly recommend you share and support these local musicians helping musicians. As I wrote in another article “Surviving Coronavirus Social Distancing Because We Are All In This Together” the only way we flatten the curve is for us to join together. The Jazz Exchange Relief Fund is focused on the aspect of financial hardship but we all know there also a major mental hardship which I will address in another piece also but we will all survive by helping each other.
Dr. Biddinger of Massachusetts General Hospital (Chief, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Director, Center for Disaster Medicine) stated this on the spread of Corona Virus: “I don’t think it’s possible to put the Genie back in the bottle. I think we’re going to continue to see rising numbers of cases, and I think a lot of our efforts, maybe all of our efforts, are focused at blunting the epidemic curve. ”
Because We Are All In This “One World” Together
Social Distancing – Flattening The Curve
Why Flatten the Curve? One way to slow the rate of spreading the Corona virus and flatten the curve is to keep people apart. The idea behind social distancing is just that and social distancing is proving …because we are seeing increasing rates of community transmission. Once the disease is in the community, especially because of the minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic spread but also because transmission can happen before patients have symptoms, it really takes root.”. The fewer opportunities there are for people to mingle with others, the less likely it will be that new cases of COVID-19 occur. More Info
Because We Are All In This Together Surviving Corona-virus via Social Distancing is a Must.
People may not realize how much worldwide social interaction there is across the globe but we surely do now. Here in Northern Jersey, It’s a dramatic change as a musician goes from one day you are practicing and playing with a 50 piece Concert Big Band or hitting the live music circuit every night internationally and nationally. Locally your travels may have you hitting different venues sometimes 3 or 4 times in a day. All of a sudden the next day everything shuts down – literally. No plane trips, bus rides, joint car rides, nothing, nada. That’s a tough hit mentally to take. The whole mindset of get up and go has been changed to get up and stay home and do what? But as the The Isley Brothers Song Say’s – we got “Work to Do!!!
We all Got Work To Do Music helps � Reflecting back before Corona- Average White Band at Sony Hall, NYC 5/25/19 Alan Gorrie, Onnie McIntyre, Brent Carter, Rocky Bryant, Rob Aries, Fred Vigdor, Cliff Lyons.Having worked in the office for years and then as a traveling IT consultant / Telecommunications worker for 25 years, getting up and going was the norm. When I left the corporate day to day world and started my work-from-home online IT business for a few years, I can tell you normal routines matter even more. You succeed because of discipline, routines, interaction with others, systems, and many other activities that become the basis of your staying focus and keeping your eye on the prize. You don’t get taught any of this in school or anywhere really, and in the past there certainly have been many times that I slacked off and procrastinated, telling myself “I’ll do it after I binge watch – all 90 episodes of my favorite show Homeland on Netflix”.It’s easy to fall into this state of procrastination especially in this fast-moving and unprecedented Corona virus situation. Who wants to hear the continually negative news, not me and it’s easier to not have to think about it or worst think about it and end up in a distracted state of anxiety. We then become unproductive, become disconnected and forget that life does go on and on.
A Mindset Change is Definitely Required to Survive
Working from home has its challenges because the mindset is very different. Staying home for some of us implies: You have your sofa to kick back and relax on and watch your favorite show on Netflix. And yes food and snacks are waiting in your pantry, and or your child/children are begging for your attention and taking a nap seems so natural. In a lot of cases it’s not a case of waking to go to work, its a case of waking to wait out the current crisis without a possibility of an income stream. Not a pleasant thought but it’s real. Knowing its one world with all of us in it, knowing the virus needs to be controlled, knowing social distancing is the major tool we have to flatten the curve, what left is being a responsible citizen and learning how work from home.
Change Your Mind Change Your Life
Having re-invented myself as a live music events producer, I can assure you change is not easy but if you change your mind, you can change your life. Everybody can learn new tricks and here’s a few ways I’ve found from my past. I also list resources below because I have been inspired by some of my friends, musicians and others who have been affected by the Corona Virus events and yet they are are helping out the community also. This is obviously not an all encompassing list and I will probably add more folks on as we get through this pandemic together. So please stay focused, disciplined and use what you can from below to work from home an or just mentally control your environment. Free yourself from distractions and if you are doing something that helps you, let me know as we are all in this together and as they say this too shall past.
Working From Home Resources
1. Eat a Live Frog
Considering I am primarily addressing the live music community this one seems appropriate. Yes it appears you are no longer needed, however your fans are still waiting. You should be practicing, learning a new tune or skill to be ready when a break comes so yes EAT A LIVE FROG. In one of my favorite Brian Tracy books, Eat That Frog from way back in the day the basic concept still applies. When you eat a live frog the first thing in the morning, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that it’s probably the worst thing you’ll do all day.
The lesson is perform your most difficult tasks first. So hate practicing or learning Zoom teleconferencing then do whatever it takes to practice or learn to keep it going for you and your fans and your family. Do the one activity that requires more of your creativity, focus and problem solving and the one with the biggest benefit. In addition know your best time to work. Find out whether you work better in the morning, day or night. I find I am more productive from 6 AM to 2 PM, so I make sure I eat the ugliest frog at the beginning of my peak hours so I can leave less creative work for later in the day.
2. Apply Parkinson’s Law
What the Parkinson law simply means in a practical sense is that if you give yourself 3 hours to complete a task, most of the time you’ll get it done within that time. If you give yourself a week, then you’ll do it in a week. You can reduce your work hours dramatically by prioritizing and locking in the benefits of a particular activity and then just doing it.
You will notice that before you never had enough time. Now you have way to much time. Because it’s to much time so you have to look at it realistically and not see it as never ending. “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. Otherwise you end up like some folks that try and do to many things at once but you don’t accomplish what you must do to be successful.
3. Use a Project Management System.
Project management is important because it ensures proper expectations are set around what can be delivered, by when, and for how much. You are doing it anyway, now just plan it, track it and keep track to follow up efficiently.
Trello and or Asana are just a few tools for listing and prioritizing your tasks.
Asana – Task manager software to keep track of individual and team tasks and get them done faster with Asana. Though many project management tools include to-do lists, no one can hold much of a candle to Asana. Not only does Asana make creating and managing tasks exceptionally easy, it also makes sharing to-do lists with your colleagues a breeze. Its simple and easy to work with so go Try Asana for free.
Trello – Like the to-do list, a workflow tool isn’t all that complex, but it can be invaluable over the course of a project. A workflow tool that helps you track tasks and projects as they move through various stages of your process. Trello is simple as it’s designed to preserve sanity by transferring as much information as possible out of spreadsheets/emails and into a visual format that makes task management palatable. Trello lets you work more collaboratively and get more done. Click and see for yourself.When its not a heavy duty operation or project I personally use a pen and paper and google docs for myself and for collaborating with my team. So if apps are too complex? Write a list of things you need to do today on a piece of paper. Any tasks you don’t complete moves on to the next day or gets eliminated. There’s nothing more satisfying than crossing out a list.
4. Create a Routine and a Schedule
It’s more important now to not get lost in bad news because we all want and pray for this to be a temporary situation. For now you still need a new schedule.Accept that your thinking needs adjusting. You had a schedule when you could go out everyday so roll out a new schedule and a new routine. Change your mind. Set your work hours and days and let yourself and others know your schedule. You have to value your time and share your new mindset with others, let them know you going for the gold. Be strict with others around you and they will adjust, just as you will adjust to their schedule.
5. Stay Healthy and Achieve Your Goals
All these productivity strategies and tactics are useless unless you take care of your physical health. Make time to follow the Corona Self care tips for your health which I will not repeat here as they are literally everywhere on the internet.
South Mountain Yoga
For some physical stimulation why not try yoga. If you want to be invigorated, there is the wonderful South Mountain Yoga. They have a great space and great prices. They say “their first priority is your safety, and their second is your joy–we want you to leave class feeling strong, resilient, relaxed, and empowered.” Check them out SMY
6. Fuel Your Passion – Empower Yourself
There’s no denying, we’re all anxious and stressed about the situation of the global pandemic. It’s happening and it’s more reason to take care of yourself. The only way to change your mindset is to evaluate your positive and negative patterns. Look at your belief systems and patterns and see what limits you from reaching your goals. Then, find outside influences, such as positive personalities, inspirational books or mentors to help you on your path. More important, look at your goals and identify what you need to personally change to get better results. Our new lifestyle means we need to calm the mind, and you may want to join a like minded group of individuals.
We can’t change what already is, but we can choose what to do with the given circumstances. At the end of the day, you control how you play. You control whether to make the most of your work days. You control whether to stream hours of productive or nonproductive YouTube videos or invest your hours into growing your business.
Be Positive – Yes viewing productive video is doing what my musician buddies Peter Lin and Abel Mireles are doing over at Yardbird Entertainment. They have taken the positive path and are uniting the country with musicians performing some truly quality live music from coast to coast.
These cats are ingenious in that not only have they taking their role from playing music in-person and now are moving it to the online world, they are also educating musicians about starting their music business via their Jazzbiz 101 channel video series. This very informative and helpful series helps musicians through the basics of getting their business setup and how to keep it alive in these trying times. Subscribe today and learn more. Jazz Biz 101 Channel
8. You Are Not Alone – Just Breath -Mental Health
“The problem with having problems is that ‘someone’ always has it worse.” “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.
Consider your mental emotional health during these trying times. We can all get through it together. Feeling stressed, another good buddy and fabulous musician is Lynette Sheard a Director of the New Jersey Mental Health Players. The MHANJ’s NJ Mental Health Players (NJMHP) is a highly successful, interactive community education program. It is the longest-running program of its type in the state made up of volunteers who are trained to depict realistic scenarios. They are here to listen and offer emotional support and information. Please Share and Check out the attached info from my good friend Lynette Sheard. You’re not alone!
New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative Just Breath Mental Health Players Lynette Sheard from Gregory Burrus on Vimeo. Lynette Sheard will be one of the guest speakers at NJCAC’s virtual Artists Forum: A Community Conversation on Coping with COVID-19 on April 2, 8 pm edt. Lynette is a Community Education Coordinator and Director of the New Jersey Mental Health Players which is a highly successful, interactive community education program.
9. The Jazz Exchange Relief Fund
Founders Candice Reyes and Abel Mireles who like all artists are taking a huge financial hit because of this pandemic. Because of COVID-19 a lot of their performances, tours, teaching gigs, lessons and more have all been cancelled just like all musicians across the world. I highly recommend you help their cause, which helps us all as I know they are truly committed to the music and the long term cause.
Abel Mireless and Candice Reyes both up from El Paso have been playing in the area and have always been supporting the cause and now have taken it one major step further with The Jazz Exchange Relief Fund. They are using The Jazz Exchange to raise funds to provide emergency and preventative resources to those musicians at financial risk. They recognize that we need to stay afloat and focused on what works to keep us healthy and at the same time financially help musicians stay focused on their end state goals.
10. When Success Is Mandatory
Over to you, what have you found works for you when working from home? If you are a local musician or fan from around this area, you can see from some of the resources listed above, that you are not alone in this. Many cats are doing some wonderful things to help us and you get through these truly devastating times. Need some help?
How have you been able to juggle work-life given the current situation? Lets us know below what you doing and thinking. Stay Safe Out There.
Jazzy Nights Joins Lady Got Chops Festival Presents an Empowered Women’s History Month Celebration
Presenting Jazzy Nights in South Orange, NJ
We are very happy to announce that Jazzy Nights is part of the 18th Annual Lady Got Chops Festival. Even more happy to announce our music activities will have the Founder of the Lady Got Chops Festival and Internationally Acclaimed Bassist Kim Clarke in our Jazzy Nights Celebration.
The Lady Got Chops Women Month Jazz Festival, is an annual March celebration of women Month which was conceived in 2003 by The Jazz Spot club owners Lillithe Meyers, Tiecha Merritt and female bassist Kim Clarke. It was created to give woman performers and band leaders a chance to be recognized for their valuable contributions to the arts. For seven years the festival was hosted at the Legendary Jazz Spot in Brooklyn New York until The Jazz Spot closed its doors in 2009. The festival included a dance troupe in 2010 and had been renamed the LADY GOT CHOPS Women’s History Month Music and Arts Festival. The festival still continues every March under the leadership of Kim Clarke.
All are encouraged to come join us as Jazzy Nights Presents an Empowered 2020 Womens History Month Celebration for another Jazzy Night of sophisticated live music and more in the beautifully appointed speakeasy styled Essex Room located in The Fox and Falcon South Orange restaurant.
Jazzy Nights March 2020 Agenda
Come have fun with us as we recreate some of the summer as we move thru the fall and into the jazzy smooth nights of winter in the inviting and warm cozy confines of The Fox and Falcon’s Essex room.
New York-based Kim A. Clarke is an internationally acclaimed multifaceted bassist, composer and educator, who counts her father, Henry Clarke, and her late Guyanese-born grandfather, trombonist/bassist Henry “Hy” Clarke, Sr., as her personal jazz heroes.” Kim plays the Acoustic Bass, Electric Upright and four and five-stringed Electric Bass Guitar. Her electric Bass playing has been described as soulful, funky, rich & tight.
For more than 20 years Kim has performed with some of the world’s leading jazz musicians around the globe. Her heritage, education and training have also contributed to her success. Through a series of scholarships from the National Endowment for the Arts she was able to study with Ron Carter, Lyle Atkinson, and Barry Harris at the Jazzmobile Program. She later attended and still studies with jazz master Dr Barry Harris.
While at City College, Kim bought an acoustic bass from a fellow student. This bass, a turn-of-the-century German flat-back bass was one of the first used in a radio recording in the United States. Kim holds B.A’s in Communications and Music from City College and Long Island University, respectively, and is a 3-time recipient of the coveted NEA Jazz Study Fellowship.
Kim’s first international tour experience was to Guyana in 1975 with the National Black Theatre of Harlem’s show Soul Journey into Truth. Soon thereafter, she joined the Yusef Lateef Quartet for a two-month tour of the West Coast. She later became the house bassist for the Jazz Cultural Theater’s “Art Blakey Breakfast Jam” where she was performed with a large number of jazz notables such as Philly Joe Jones, Eddie Harris, Tommy Flanagan, C Sharpe, Joe Jones Jr., Clifford Barbaro, Charlie Rouse, Walter Davis, and then up and coming artists such as Rodney Kendrick, Kuni Mikami, Craig Haynes and Vince Herring. She also was the house bassist in NYC and Brooklyn Jazz Clubs notably The Blue Note and Pumpkins.
Throughout her career, Kim has had the opportunity to work with other leading names in the jazz world. Among them are sax men Joe Henderson, George Braith, Charles Davis, Jimmy Heath and Branford Marsalis; trumpeter Lester Bowie; Arvell Shaw – Louis Armstrong’s bass player; drummers Art Blakey and Louis Hayes; pianists Dr Billy Taylor, Gilly Coggins, Bertha Hope, Geri Allen, Danny Mixon, Enos Payne (Guyanese educator), George Gruntz and Rachel Z; vibraphonists Lionel Hampton and Bryan Carrott; gospels Edwin Hawkins, Pop Stars: Cindy Lauper, Robert Palmer; bluesman Screamin Jay Hawkins; vocalists Teri Thornton, Sheila Jordan, Leon Thomas, and Andy Bey; poets Trazana Beverly, Ntozake Shange and Sekou Sundiata. She has also performed with tap dancers Tina Pratt, Roxanne Butterfly and recorded with and has arranger’s credits on a song written by Rapper/Actress/Singer Queen Latifah.
In addition to being a jazz musician, Kim is an accomplished funk bassist, and for many years she was the bass player for the innovative jazz/funk/fusion band Defunkt. She has recorded 11 albums with the band.
Kim’s press exposure includes 1990 entry in the Who’s Who In the Performing Arts,, Bass Player Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine, Germany’s Jazzdimensions Online Magazine, a number of European magazines and several books on Women in Jazz. She also was photographed in the late 1980’s historic Jazz Musicians on the Roof Project and was one of the Michael Locker’s New York Jazz Musicians Project in 2002.
Kim is actively engaged in paying homage to the women of jazz and nurturing the current and emerging generation. She is particularly proud of the work with the Kit McClure Big Band (Kim has been a member since 1986) to honour the International Sweethearts of Rhythm; this band has recreated and released the album The Sweethearts Project. She is also actively engaged with a group of female musicians that she describes as the “notables on the other end of the link.” These include “alto saxophonists Tia Fuller and Lakecia Benjamin, and fiery drummer Kim Thompson who is currently performing with master Jazz pianist Kenny Barron and the phenomenal guitarist Mike Stern as well as Jazz String Quartet Sojourner, cellist Akua Dixon and Sherry Maricle and the Diva Big Band.”
Kim’s career demonstrates a commitment to excellence – a quality she acquired from her grandparents and parents. She remains interested in Guyanese culture and society and advises Guyanese musicians to be focused, control their egos and to remember there is always something new to learner. https://guyanesegirlsrock.com/…
Bronx New York Native Drummer Lucianna Padmore has been praised by Modern Drummer magazine for the “Deep grooves and serious fusion chops.” She has been playing the Drums since the age of nine. Her musical playing styles range from Jazz and Hip -Hop, to Funk and Rock Fusion. Lucianna is an alumnus of LaGuardia High School for Music and the Performing Arts as well as the New School University. While in school, she received awards from Jazz at Lincoln center and BMI for outstanding soloing /jazz improvisation. An active drummer on stage and in the studio, Lucianna has been involved in many different projects in the New York scene. Miss Padmore currently plays in the rock fusion band Stratospheerius with electric violinist Joe Deninzon, appearing on their last two CD’s,”Live Wires” and “Headspace” as well as their latest release “The Next World”.
She also plays with the Primordial Jazz Funktet, and on their current album, “We are Here”. Lucianna plays in the new york based Japanese Lead group called Neo Blues Maki. Neo Blues Maki is a modern Nyc influenced take on traditional Japanese Incca Music. Miss Padmore also does Jazz outreach and education in elementary and high schools in the NewYork City Area. To keep Jazz Music as well as Music Appreciation Alive! Performing highlights include performances with Jazz tuba player Bob Stewart. opening for performing with or on the same bill with such names as Chico Debarge, Amel Larrieux, Kelis, James Spaulding,Shirely Horn, Bertha Hope, Mimi Jones, Pat Tandy Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones,Sun Ra Archestra, Josh Rosemen Quintet, Oscar Peterson trio, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, to name a few. Lucianna has toured in Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Morocco and Haiti, as well as in and around the U.s.
Lucianna was featured in a book about drummers called “Sticks and Skins”. Miss Padmore is also a endorser of Soul Tone Cymbals.
“Yayoi is a wonder, than comes along very rarely in each generation. A big intellect, with a big emotional spectrum, and totally unique sound… She can do anything she thinks or feels” Gil Goldstein (arranger/pianist) Born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised musically in New York, Yayoi Ikawa is a pianist/composer/ arranger currently living in Brooklyn, New York. Yayoi attended The New School University where she received the Henry and Gill Block scholarship. Being exposed to diverse music scene in New York, Yayoi started to work as a sideperson in Jazz, Gospel, Latin, R&B and hip hop groups since the early stage of her career. After completing her studies at New School, Yayoi was a faculty member at the International Jazz and Dance Academy in Slovenia along with her mentor Reggie Workman in 2003 and 2004.
After recording a straight ahead jazz piano trio on Nippon Crown release “Angel Eyes” in 2004, she self produced “Color of Dreams” displaying her original compositions. Yayoi has toured nationally as well as internationally with her groups, and appeared International Jazz festivals in Japan, Italy and Costa Rica. While working towards her master degree at NYU, Yayoi’s orchestra work for film was premiered at Lincoln Center in 2007. In 2008, Yayoi started “The Bridge Project” to create musical dialogue between New York and Tokyo musicians in an experimental environment.
Yayoi has worked with such artists as Reggie Workman, Michael Carvin, Howard Johnson, Lenny Pickett, Frank Lacy, Butch Morris, Emeline Michel, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Blitz the Ambassador etc. She co-leads an improvisational duo Go-Zee-Lah with a vocalist Kyoko Kitamura.
Yayoi was a music coordinator at St Paul Baptist Church in Montclair NJ until 2013. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan.
Sheena Collum came to Seton Hall University as a student in 2002 with a scholarship for the Brownson Speech and Debate team and immediately saw the potential in the South Orange community. She had traveled from her home in Starkville, Mississippi to her birthplace in New Jersey with goals that were tangible in her mind. Collum began pursuing her passion for politics early in life, attending South Orange board of trustees meetings by age 17.
Sheena Collum was elected in May 2015 as the 49th Village President of Township of South Orange Village. She is the first female to hold this role and in 2015 was the second youngest female municipal executive in the State of New Jersey. Sheena is totally committed to her role as Village President and this full-time role overlaps with her very busy full-time position as the Executive Director of the American Planning Association – New Jersey Chapter.
In 2018, Insider NJ named Sheena to the top 100 millennial’s. Sheena recently received the distinction of being listed as a Power Player in Real Estate on the 2018 ROI Influencers List – one of 10 women statewide to be recognize. A proud alumnus of Seton Hall University, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in public policy.
In her spare time, Sheena loves spicy Korean food, playing golf, performing a mean air-guitar to loud music when no one is watching, and animals.
CC Minton is a Lifestyle Empowerment Strategist, author, media contributor, and CEO of The Lifestyle Empowerment Group and President at Stevenson and Moses Boxing for Life.
A President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Community Leadership Award recipient, CC Minton along with a team of passionate professionals drives the lifestyle brand which empowers the real estate, investing, health and lifestyle goals of individuals and communities.
Her various projects include working with the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama, Whole Foods Market, providing healthy eats at NFL’s NY/NJ Superbowl games tailgate event, Apollo Theater, managing Newark’s school Olympic Day Committee and was the Lifestyle Editor for Harlem World Magazine. CC now runs the Passion Power Women Podcast Show for Harlem World Magazine which since 2003 has over 83,000 weekly readers from around the block and around the world annually. She currently spends her time securing real estate properties, honing her skills as a brand ambassador, fundraiser, and fitness instructor.
CC Minton is the President of the Board at Stevenson Moses Boxing for Life where she provides strategic leadership by working with the Board and other management to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies. She oversees the organization and strategically guides the development of the organization and develops community-based programming. Stevenson and Moses Boxing for Life was founded by the 2016 Olympic Silver Boxing Medalist/Professional Boxer Shakur Stevenson, former Olympic and NJ Hall of Fame Boxing Coach Wali Moses and Robyn Moses.
Angela Adderley has been an entrepreneur in the fast food industry for over twenty five (25) years. She currently owns and operates seven McDonald’s franchises in Northern and Central New Jersey with over 350 employees. Prior to becoming a McDonald’s Franchisee, Angela was employed at IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY and Boca Raton, FL for ten (10) years. While at IBM, she worked as a Financial Analyst, and finished up her career as an Accounting Manager.
Angela is involved in the communities where she does business. She supports the schools by hosting Ronald McDonald shows (healthy eating, bullying, and fire safety), McTeacher’s Night, and sport teams sponsorship’s. She has also hosted juvenile diabetes awareness programs at her restaurants. Angela is very passionate about her charity of choice – Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) where she served as a board trustee for eight years. She has supported the charity as well as the Ronald McDonald Houses via 5K annual ”Walk with Ronald” at Six Flags, scholarship fundraisers, and sponsored community organizations who have applied for community grant through RMHC. Additionally, Angela is an advocate for young entrepreneurs. She was a sponsor and attended the “I Have A Dream Youth Entrepreneur Summit” at the White House in 2016.
Angela has received numerous awards and accolades over the years. Her success at McDonald’s has been because of her great employees. The infrastructure she has built through training and development of her staff (from crew to mid-management), has garnered her the recognition of seven “People First” awards in the last ten years. She also received the prestigious Ronald Award (An Operator who has made outstanding contributions to the development of the McDonald’s brand), Chamber of Commerce –Community Distinction Award, North Jersey Chapter of Jack and Jill – Outstanding Service Award, Distinguished Mother of the Year award, FAMU- Distinguished Alumni Award. Angela was just awarded (2020) from McDonald’s Corporation the Fred L. Turner Golden Arch Award. This award recognizes the top 1% of Owner/Operators around the world who delivers a superior customer and employee experience while passionately giving back to the community.
She currently holds membership in Jack and Jill of America (Life Member) as an Associate member, Florida A&M University National Alumni Association (Life Member) – NJ Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Life Member) – Beta Alpha ’77, Black McDonald’s Operators Association (Treasurer), Women Operators Association, RMHC (Treasurer) and St Paul Baptist Church (Montclair, NJ).
Angela has a B.S. in Accounting from Florida A&M University class of 1979 and a MBA in Finance from Florida Atlantic University in 1988. Tallahassee, Fl and currently resides in West Orange, NJ with her husband, Nathaniel Adderley and her son Elijah. She also has a daughter Alexa who resides in NYC.
Alongside owner and South Orange resident David Massoni, The Fox & Falcon’s executive chef, Ruby Felix-Curtis serves up a clean, modern dishes reflective of its seasonally driven, locally sourced menu that residents of South Orange and the surrounding communities have come to enjoy since its inception in fall 2018.
As one of New Jersey’s few female chefs, Ruby Felix-Curtis’ simplistic approach and finely-honed technique has served as her calling card within the culinary community. Rather than chase trends, Felix-Curtis is steadfast in her approach and belief that the basic tenets of cooking – salt, fat, acid, heat – when used correctly, churn out loud flavor, regardless of what corner of the globe serves as the dish’s origin.
Ruby brings a wealth of culture and knowledge to The Fox & Falcon. Drawing from her upbringing in the Philippines and professional experience – having worked in several notable kitchens including NYC’s The Standard Grill & Má Pêche and Jersey City’s Thirty Acres and TALDE, Felix-Curtis is constantly experimenting with new flavors and ingredients to appeal to a wide range of people and palates, keeping the restaurant’s menus fresh and relevant.
Lee Boswell May – Live Music Advocate – Wife of prolific bassist Earl May (RIP) who studied under Charles Mingus and played locally with Miles Davis, Lester Young, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, and Mercer Ellington. Lee May today keeps the Jazz alive via her roles in Jazz Vespers at Newark’s Bethany Baptist Church, in Maplewood 4th of July festival, in support of Downtown After Sundown Series and as stage manager of the 24 Hours of Music Jamboree.
jazzy nights in Lady Got Chops Festival by Gregory BurrusSandra Mordecai – A Public Education Advocate with a mission to strengthen Public Education and has spent 10 years as Vice President of the West Orange Board of Education. Board Member, Essex County Chapter of Jamaica Organization of New Jersey. She has participated in both West Orange and Montclair Conversations on Race programs, received the Kwanzaa Award of Excellence and the Women’s History Month Award for Outstanding Service to the West Orange Public Schools and Community.
South Orange NJ has live music scene that for a small town has a wonderful season of live outdoor music that runs from May thru September in various venues all over town. While Jazz is our love, Jazzy Nights is not only about extending the wonderful South Orange Live Music Scene which truly does runs all summer, but should continue int the fall and spring.
Jazzy Nights is not just jazz but all flavors of live music along with the mission of keeping the community of live music lovers entertained throughout the year. Since you didn’t go away, and your love for the music is always with you, we want to be here for you. Thanks to Fox and Falcon, we get a chance to explore this opportunity.
So no matter where you are, we hope you come on out and join us, meet old and new friends and have some fun with us in the speakeasy style Essex Room of the Fox and Falcon restaurant. It’s warm and cozy so join us.
jazzy nights in Lady Got Chops Festival by Gregory Burrus
Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner and community partner that curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local South Orange 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 Shakur’s Stevenson and Moses Boxing for Life Nonprofit.
In addition to producing events, Gregory also showcases, photographs, videotapes events annually such as the Annual NYC John Jay College Friends of Myrna Bain Scholarship Fundraiser, the Orange NJ Farmers Market, SOPAC Playing Around South Orange along with booking bands at various other local venues. Gregory Burrus has a passion for making live music happen anywhere and everywhere he can whether locally around town or around the world while living life everyday to the fullest. Learn more at :Gregory Burrus – Gregory Burrus Live Music Ambassador
South Orange, NJ, which is located just outside New York City and is just 3 miles wide, has a vibrant live music scene that benefits from the numerous professional musicians that live and play within the area. The South Orange live music scene offers numerous opportunities throughout the summer for the community to come together and enjoy live music outdoors. One such program is the South Orange Village Center Alliance’sDowntown After Sundown’s outdoor music series that runs from May through September in two venues all Around South Orange, NJ. It provides a free, wonderful environment outdoors under the stars that the community comes together to enjoy live music events.
About Jazzy Nights Live
Jazzy Nights South Orange, NJ is not just about jazz but all genres of jazzy live music. Jazzy Nights Live’s mission is focused on keeping the community of South Orange Summertime live music lovers enjoying live music throughout the Fall, Winter and Spring. Since their love for live music never stops, our listeners didn’t go away and kept asking for more, Jazzy Nights wants to be here for our listeners. Thanks to Fox and Falcon, we get a chance to explore this opportunity.
The objective of Jazzy Nights is to deliver to our patrons sophisticated live music in The Fox and Falcon’s beautifully appointed speakeasy styled Essex Room. We tap into our pool of South Orange’s Downtown After Sundown performers along with top notch professional musicians from Northern New Jersey and New York City to deliver engaging and extremely entertaining live music performances. So far, we have had the following events:
Jazzy Nights has so far enjoyed a number of wonderful performances from our local area musicians. Because of these very successful nights Jazzy Nights will continue celebrating with some of the following themes:
2/13 Jazzy Nights in the Essex Room Celebrating Black History Month
3/12 Jazzy Nights in the Essex Room Celebrating Women’s History Month
jazzy nights in Lady Got Chops Festival by Gregory Burrus
● 4/9 Jazzy Nights in the Essex Room Celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month
● 5/14 Jazzy Nights in the Essex Room Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month
● 6/11 Jazzy Nights in the Essex Room Celebrating Gregory Burrus Birthday
You should know that Jazzy Nights is free and open to the Public.
About Fox and Falcon
Located in the heart of downtown South Orange, you’ll find The Fox & Falcon, a culinary destination for the emerging food and entertainment scene of Essex County, in which renowned restaurateur David Massoni has found a home.
With more than twenty years of restaurant experience, Owner David Massoni started in the industry at the age of fifteen, working in his parents’ Zagat rated and Wine Spectator award-winning hotel and restaurant, the Imperial Hotel, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Since then, David has played a significant role in the opening, building and managing of numerous successful New York City restaurants.
Embodying the diversity and uniqueness of SOMA (South Orange/Maplewood), David took note of the need for a central location where people could come together and enjoy each other’s company, a high-quality meal and artisanal cocktails that also embodied the uniqueness and diversity of SOMA living.
They have also bought onboard Executive Chef Ruby Felix-Curtis who brings a wealth of culture and knowledge to The Fox & Falcon from her upbringing in the Philippines and her wealth of professional experiences at several prior notable kitchens.
The Fox & Falcon delivers to all guests a warm and inviting environment in which to gather in a multi-level space that offers several rooms, each reflecting its own mood, personality and purpose. From the traditional Irish pub setting of the Snug to the well-appointed dining room located on the main level, as well the speakeasy style Essex Room where we host the 2nd Thursday Jazzy Nights Live performances are held.
About Gregory Burrus Around Town
Gregory Burrus with legendary Trombonist Slide Hampton
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.
So no matter where you are, we hope you come on out and join us, meet old and new friends and have some fun with us in the speakeasy style Essex Room of the Fox and Falcon restaurant. It’s warm and cozy, so join us.
Please join us 2/13/2019 next Jazzy Nights a Black History Month Musical Celebration in Song Celebrate Langston Hughes in South Orange New Jersey
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Opening Remarks
Poetry and Song
Swing and Bee Bop
60’s Protest Song .
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Opening Remarks Trustee Summer Jones
Vocalists .Wendy Brown, Ellah Brown and .Lynette Sheard.
Darryl Clark – Bass, Brianne Ford -Piano and Eddie Brown – Drums.
.plus Special Guests .
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Celebrate with us for a good time of music, food, fun and enjoying the community. .
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#gregoryburrusaroundtown #2ndThursdays #livejazz #rnb #poetry #soulmusic #goodtimes #goodfood #celebrate #blues #art #blackhistorymonth #dcfusion #ellabrown #lynettesheardvocals #briannefotd #eddiebrowndrums #summerof67 #protestmusic #langstonhughespoetry #celebrateus #livemusicambassafor
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