Mark your calendar now to ensure you don’t miss any of this extraordinary evening, filled with incredible musicians and an exceptional jazz performance.

Drummer Richard Baratta Latin Jazz Band

Richard Baratta was born into a musically oriented family in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1950. He began his musical journey at the age 12, playing saxophone, flute and drums, and eventually, exclusively drums. He played mostly jazz all through his teens.

After earning a BA in History from Wagner College in 1973, and after studying with Jack DeJohnette, Bob Moses and Steve Haas he moved to NYC in 1975 to pursue his musical career. From 1975 to 1984 Baratta played gigs and recorded in and out of NYC. Some of his bandmates and associations were with John Stubblefield, Joe Ford, Frank Strozier, Hal Galper, Mike Richmond, Saheb Sarbib, Dennis Irwin, Vernon Reid, Billy Bang, Jack Wilkens, Ryo Kawasaki, Jessica Hagedorn and the Gangster Choir, Guilherme Franco, Pe De Boi, Cyro Baptista, and a very memorable one day hit with Hank Mobley and then Johnny Hartman.

In 1984, Baratta decided to dramatically alter paths, and pursued a career in movie production. “Money was tight, the gigs were hard to come by, and I was getting married and wanted to raise a family. It was just time for a very difficult decision that had to be made. I looked back many times and terribly missed the joy in playing and the camaraderie with the musicians. It was a total about face, but I have no regrets, except missing the live performance.”

Since working on his his first film, Desperately Seeking Susan in 1984, Baratta has worked on over 50 movies, first as a Location Manager, then Unit Production Manager, and for the past 15 years as a Co-Producer and Executive Producer. A small sampling of his filmography includes, Academy Award nominated Joker Joaquin Phoenix winning the Best Actor Award, Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award nominated The Irishman, Dr.Strange, The Wolf of Wall Street, five Spiderman movies,Too Big To Fail, Smurfs, Taking Pelham 123, Across the Universe, Donnie Brasco, Working Girl, and Big.

For a full listing of Baratta’s film credits, visit IMDb:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0053102/

From December 2016 to the present he has played with Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring, Walter Blanding, Marcus Printup, Bruce Harris, Gerald Cannon, Bill O’Connell, Emmett Cohen, Jeb Patton, Steve Ash, Chris Pattishal, Mike LeDonne, Ray Gallon, Dave Kikoski Danny Nimmer, Jerry Weldon, Rogerio Bocatto, Paul Bollenback, Dave Stryker, Mike Goetz, Essiet Essiet, Yoshi Waki, and many others.

Joining Richard Baratta Trio for this performance will be:

Bill O’Connell Keys and Michael Goetz on bass. I

Clements Place Jazz

Don’t miss this upcoming session featuring these talented musicians, all hosted by Rutgers IJS and Gregory Burrus Productions. This one-of-a-kind event is a must-see, where you can experience extraordinary local talent firsthand. With each session offering something unique, be sure to cheer on your favorite singer or show support for the entire lineup.

Mark your calendar now to ensure you don’t miss any of these extraordinary singer showcase evenings, filled with incredible and exceptional jazz performances.

Clements Place Jazz

Experience the best of live jazz music at Clements Place, located in the iconic Rutgers University Ruth Bader Ginsburg Building in Newark, New Jersey. Step into our intimate cabaret-style venue and immerse yourself in a warm and cozy atmosphere. With excellent natural acoustics and a top-notch sound system, every note comes alive in this enchanting listening room.

World Class Musicians

We have handpicked talented singers and musicians from New York, New Jersey, and beyond, including both established artists and up-and-coming musicians who dream of playing alongside and with their musical idols.

Experience the magic of the Clements Place Jazz sessions, where top-notch musicians in the House Man conduct a swinging jazz session, collaborate with local up-and-coming singers. Come immerse yourself in a phenomenal listening environment like no other.

Ultimate Jazz Listening Experience

Adorned with jazz memorials honoring its namesake, this beautifully appointed space is a haven for jazz enthusiasts. Our dedicated and friendly staff is always ready to assist, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish.