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.
Kim Clarke Bassist
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/…
Lucianna Padmore Drummer
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 Ikawa Pianist
“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.
Opening Remarks – President/Mayor Sheena Collum
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.
Jazzy Nights Co-Host
CC Minton – Founder Lifestyle Empowerment Group
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.
Jazzy Night’s Honoree’s
In addition to Jazzy Nights being in The LADY GOT CHOPS Women’s History Month Music & Arts Festival 2020 we are also honoring a few very special empowered women that contribute to our local community. Co-hosting the evening’s events will be the Owner of CCMinton and Founder of Lifestyle Empowerment Group. This Womens History Month Celebration will honor:
- The Silent Entrepreneur Angela C. Adderley for Keeping Entrepreneurship Alive
- Fox and Falcon Executive Chef Ruby Curtis- Felix for Keeping the Food Alive
- Live Music Advocate Lee Boz May for Keeping South Orange Live Music Scene Alive
- Public Education Advocate Sandra Mordecai for Keeping Public Education Alive
Honoree – Angela C. Adderley – The Silent Entrepreneur
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.
Honoree – Ruby Felix-Curtis – Executive Chef
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.
Honoree – Lee – Boz – May – Live Music Ambassador
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.
Honoree – Sandra Mordecai – Public Education Advocate
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.
About Jazzy Nights South Orange, NJ
Jazzy Nights Live in South Orange NJ
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.
Share With Friends
Date And Time
Thu, March 12, 2020
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM EDT
Location
The Fox and Falcon
19 Valley St
South Orange, NJ 07079
Organizer of Jazzy Nights Empowered Women’s History Month Lady Got Chops Fest
Gregory Burrus – Live Music Ambassador
Gregory Burrus – Live Music Ambassador
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.
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.
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
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