July 8, 2023 – 12 Noon – 8 PM
2023 Artist Information
Food Truck and Jazz Festival – Artist Info 2023
This Essex County Free Summer Music Concert Series offers a diverse lineup of performers who will take center stage throughout the day. We look forward to meeting you in the park.
JAZZ – JAZZ – JAZZ – AND MORE JAZZ
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Lance Bryant and Shout Big Band
This full sixteen piece big band performs compositions and arrangements by Lance and occasionally arrangements of his colleagues. Lance has been arranging for other artists and bands for over twenty five years, starting with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. “Lionel Hampton always encouraged me to keep writing,” Lance says of the iconic Jazz legend. “I found that when commissioned to write for artists or band leaders there was often some level of restrictions or parameters to adhere to.” That was until Lance was commissioned to write a program of arrangements to be performed live by vocalist Carla Cook and the NDR Big Band in Hamburg, Germany in 2002. Given ample freedom to create by Carla, Lance wrote nine arrangements forr the program. “I was so pleased with the results, I never forgot that feeling.” In the Spring of 2022 Lance finally decided to start his own band. “For me there’s nothing like that range of power and expression we can achieve with sixteen great musicians. Not to mention the sense of community and family that we enjoy working as a big band.”
Regular Members:
Trumpets: Nathan Eklund, Reggie Pittman, Ted Chubb, Bill Mobley.
Trombones: Jason Jackson, Dan Harkins, James Borowski.
Saxes: Matt Hong, Zoe Obadia, Craig Rivers, Lance Bryant, Dave Schumacher.
Rhythm: Roberta Piket – Keys, Tom DiCarlo – Bass and Steve Johns – Drums
Iconic Bassist John-Lee-and-Friends
FROM DIZZY GILLESPIE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN, JOHN LEE IS A SOUTH ORANGE JAZZ ALL-STAR The bass player and Grammy-winning producer knows how to play it local. By Donny Levit
John Lee – From 1984 thru 1993, John Lee was Dizzy Gillespie’s bassist. Performing and recording in the trumpet master’s various bands including the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, and Dizzy’s Grammy Award winning United Nation Orchestra. After Dizzy’s passing, his family asked John to create an ongoing tribute to the great man and his music—and the concept for the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars was born. John is the bassist and director ofthe Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience.
John has also worked in the bands of Gary Bartz, Larry Coryell, Jon Faddis, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Gambarini, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Gregory Hines, Miriam Makeba, James Moody, Claudio Roditi, Sonny Rollins, and McCoy Tyner. John is also a Grammy Award winning record producer and audio engineer. He has produced over 100 recordings.
Abelita Mateus – A native of Brazil, singer-songwriter and pianist Abelita Mateus is in the vanguard of 21stcentury Brazilian music. Soulful, sexy and hypnotic, the next wave of Brazil’s contribution to great music is poised to launch in the artistic hands of Abelita Mateus.
Living in the NYC area since 2012, Abelita Mateus has taken a remarkable path. She released her debut album Vivenda in 2017 with co-producer Romero Lubambo who also contributed as featured guitarist. Remarkably, Vivenda reached the 24th position on the Jazz Week Charts.
Mateus is currently the pianist for the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, directed by Dizzy Gillespie alumni John Lee. She has performed with such notables as Paquito D’Rivera, John Lee, The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Antonio Hart, Eric Alexander, Larry Coryell, Claudio Roditi, Raul de Souza, Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Stryker, Romero Lubambo, and Portinho. Mateus plays at international venues such as the Blue Note New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco, Ronnie Scott’s in London, and Bird’s Basement in Melbourne, Australia. In December 2017, Mateus was invited to perform alongside Helen Sung, Marcia Ball and Joanne Brackeen for NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas at the Kennedy Center.
“Abelita Mateus has so many of the qualities that are important for any successful musician. Her piano artistry is remarkable, and she is a talented composer and vocalist. Abelita’s intelligence and heart are also expressed through her music. She is part of the next generation of great Brazilian musicians. With all this talent, Abelita is someone to really keep your eyes on! ~ Romero Lubambo
“Abelita Mateus has, in abundance, those indispensables of the musicians’ craft: sensitivity, creativity, and a prodigious technique. Most of all, she sparkles with refreshment – and for a Jazz musician to sound refreshing in 2017 is no ordinary thing!” ~John Lee
Matt Chertkoff Trio feat Saxophonist Houston Person
We are happy to present an icon of the tenor saxophone and soul jazz pioneer, Legendary Houston Person with the Matt Chertkoff Trio. Houston Person – Tenor Saxophone Matt Chertkoff – Guitar Matthew Parish – Bass Pete Van Nostrand – Drums
Guitarist Matt Chertkoff – has played his music in 9 countries and at jazz festivals and clubs all over the world. He has shared the stage with Jimmy Cobb, Freddy Cole, Grady Tate, Dee Bridgewater and Craig Handy among many others. He has performed on national and international TV shows on the Telemundo and Nippon networks as well as on German national TV. Matt is one of the most in demand and highly regarded guitarists on the New York scene today.
Saxophonist Houston Person. “With his robust sound and swinging style, tenor saxophonist Houston Person has kept the hard bop and organ-soaked soul-jazz traditions alive. Emerging from organist Johnny “Hammond” Smith’s group, Person established his reputation as one of the Big Boss tenors in the Gene Ammons style with albums like 1968’s Blue Odyssey, 1969’s Goodness!, and 1970’s Person to Person.”
Houston Person grew up in Florence, South Carolina, and first played piano before switching to tenor saxophone. He studied at South Carolina State College where he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1999. In the United States Air Force, he joined a service band stationed in West Germany, and played with Don Ellis, Eddie Harris, Cedar Walton, and Leo Wright. He later continued his studies at Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut. He first became known for a series of albums for the Prestige record label in the 1960s and help define and pioneer the popular soul jazz sound of that era.
He is most known for his long-time association with the iconic vocalist Etta Jones. Houston Person is one of the most recorded living jazz saxophonists having made over 100 records as a leader and appearing on more than 300 records total. He has recorded with Charles Brown, Ron Carter, Bill Charlap, Charles Earland, Lena Horne, Etta Jones, Lou Rawls, Janis Siegel, Horace Silver, Dakota Staton, Cedar Walton, Don Patterson, Grant Green, Sonny Phillips, Johnny “Hammond” Smith, Richard “Groove” Holmes and many others.
Blues-People
BLUES PEOPLE is a NY/NJ band featuring KELTON COOPER (vocals/guitar), MIKE GRIOT (bass), RON THOMPSON (keys) and GENE LAKE (drums).
Inspired by Amiri Baraka’s (LeRoi Jones) seminal study of Afro-American music, Blues People musically explores the effects of the blues on American culture on many different levels.
They band believes that its “Neo-Blues” is a modern chronicle of four real-life blues brothers living in THIS time in America. Their music ranges from the Meters, Luther Allison, Keb Mo’ with a dash of Earth Wind & Fire and Kool and the Gang. The band is currently in the studio completing their much-anticipated 2023 debut album “The Skin I’m In”.
With a diverse range of artists, each with their unique style and sound, this all-star lineup includes:
Gene Lake – drums (Maxwell/Henry Threadgill/Joe Zawinul/Marcus Miller, David Sanborn)
Kelton Cooper – lead vocals and guitar (Kool & the Gang/Black Widow Blues)
Ron Thompson – Organ/Keyboards
Mike Griot – bass (Sue Foley, Michael Hill, Omar [Lyefooke], Deborah Coleman, Russell Gunn).
Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich history of blues music, as we bring together some of the most talented blues musicians in the industry.
Victor-Jones Orchestrio
Victor Jones, considered a visionary in today’s music business, is a new breed of Drummer/Bandleader bringing new and exciting ideas to the world of jazz and world music.
No stranger to traditional or modern jazz, Victor E. Jones started his career as a teen-age musician playing in local bands in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey and touring world-wide with Lou Donaldson. In his early twenties he toured the world with Stan Getz. Later tours were with James Moody, Michel Petrucciani, Joe, Olivia, Stanley Clarke,, Phyllis Hyman,, Dizzy Gillespie and Chaka Khan as well as others.
Victor played on the Grammy nominated EMI Korean recording, Second Moon, which won Record of the Year in 2006. Victor also was featured on the Best Latin Jazz recording in 2008 with Papo Vasquez. When asked about his greatest achievement he replied, “My greatest achievement in life was having five children with my wife Ane Jones.”
Since 2003 he has been a Bandleader with his own World Music Band, Cultur-Versy, these days specializing in a new age type of music, a mix of dance music, hip-hop and electro pop. This group currently has three CDs out, the latest named Dance Floor 54.
Stan Getz said, “Victor is one top of the world caliber drummers and I don’t say that lightly.”
George Benson states,” Whether playing funk, rock or jazz, Victor Jones is one cat that gets it right.”
Dave Stryker Trio
Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker leading his own group (with 28 CD’s as a leader to date), co-leading The Stryker/Slagle Band, or as a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and many others, you know why the Village Voice calls him “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and moved to New York City in 1980. After establishing himself in the local music scene, he joined organist Jack McDuff’s group for two years 1984-85. When McDuff wasn’t on the road (literally traveling by van all over the country) they worked a steady four-night a week gig at Dude’s Lounge in Harlem. His first break, this turned out to be an invaluable experience, paying his dues night after night with the soulful jazz organist.
It was at Dude’s Lounge that Stryker met tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, who would occasionally sit in. After leaving McDuff, Turrentine asked Stryker to join his quintet. From 1986-1995 he played with the legendary saxophonist at all the major festivals, concert halls, and clubs throughout the world. He is featured on two Turrentine CD’s (Stanley recorded Stryker’s tune “Sidesteppin”). With Turrentine, Stryker was able to play with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie and Freddie Hubbard. The ten years playing alongside the tenor legend helped Stryker realize the importance of having his own sound. Dave continued to work with Stanley and was with him during his final week at the Blue Note in NYC, when he passed in Sept. 2000.
Sideman work has included vocalist Kevin Mahogany’s group, with Dave writing and arranging music for Kevin’s Telarc release “Pride and Joy” and “Another Time, Another Place” on Warner Bros and tours of Europe, Japan, Brazil, Poland and Carnegie Hall. He also has worked with Blue Note saxophonist Javon Jackson and pianist Eliane Elias. He has appeared on over 50 CD’s as a sideman. As a producer, Stryker compiled the CD “The Guitar Artistry of Billy Rogers” which is the only existing record of the brilliant jazz playing of the late underground legend who was his friend, former teacher and member of the Crusaders. He has also produced “A Tribute to Grant Green” on Evidence Music. Currently, Dave is the Adjunct Professor of Jazz guitar at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. He is passing along his experience by teaching privately and at The Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop, and The Litchfield Jazz Camp. His book “Dave Stryker’s Jazz Guitar Improvisation Method” (Mel Bay Publishing) is available here on his website at http://www.davestryker.com.
A favorite among fans and critics alike, Dave was recently voted into the 2017 Downbeat Critics and Readers Poll for the 10th time. Of his playing, jazz guitar great Pat Metheny has said “I have followed Dave Stryker’s playing since his early days in Omaha through his long stay with Stanley Turrentine and his longstanding relationship with the great alto player Steve Slagle (another undersung heavy out there) and he just gets better and better with one of the most joyous feels around.
A native of Dinwiddie County, Virginia has been a force on the jazz scene in the Northeastern U.S. for many years now. He has performed at a number of club, colleges and concert halls that include Birdland (NYC), Tavern on the Green (NYC), and the Beacon Theater (NYC). Bradford has performed in different musical settings with Jimmy Heath,
Al Grey, Cecil Payne, Rufus Reid, Ray Bryant, Winard Harper, Ben Riley, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Cecil Brooks III, Jerry Butler, and The Dells. Mr. Hayes has also opened for Chico Freeman, Betty Carter, Joe Henderson, Max Roach, Marlena Shaw, Pieces of A Dream, and Hilton Ruiz among others. In addition to leading his own band, Bradford performed with Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums of Passion Band for 15 years, serving as the Musical Director for the last 3 years until Mr. Olatunji’s passing. Bradford also performed with Mr. Olatunji at Yankee Stadium during Nelson Mandela’s 1st historical trip to the United States after his release from a South African prison. Recently, Bradford has also been performing with The Spirit of Life Ensemble.
In October 2003, Bradford along with 4 other musicians became the subjects of a photograph taken by the late, legendary jazz photographer William Gottlieb. This was the first photo of musicians taken by Mr. Gottlieb since 1948. In addition to this photo session Bradford and the other musicians selected, are also featured as part of a soon to be released PBS documentary about Mr. Gottlieb. Bradford also recently composed and recorded music for an upcoming documentary about cartoonist Will Eisner.
According to Dorthaan Kirk at WBGO-FM in Newark, NJ, “Bradford is a young man who deserves more recognition”. Mr. Hayes has also been a successful music educator in the Newark, New Jersey Public Schools for 30 years. This connection to education, and his knowledge of jazz, makes him an excellent clinician.
JD Warren and the Rudiment
Jeremy Warren, born and raised in North Little Rock, AR was heavily exposed to music growing up. His mother is an organist/pianist where she played at his grandfather’s and now currently his father’s church in Little Rock & North Little Rock, AR. Upon graduating from high school in 2003, he received a full jazz scholarship to The University of Memphis in Memphis, TN. He received dual Bachelor Degrees in Jazz Studies and Music Education with license in May 2012. Memphis is where he credits his musical growth as a musician performing with many local/national artists as well as leading his own band whom performed every Saturday night on the famous Beale St. for two years.
Jeremy received his Master’s Degree in Music from New York University in May 2015. While juggling a busy performance schedule, Warren teaches music at KIPP-NJ at Rise Academy. He holds the drum chair for world renown saxophonist Don Braden and the Don Braden Quartet. Jeremy can be heard on Braden’s highly acclaimed album “Earth, Wind, & Wonder.” In 2016, Jeremy released his debut album with his band JD Warren & The Rudiment which he co-leads with his wife Dermel Warren, titled “I Can Do All Things.” The album was named #85 on the Top 100 Jazz Albums for 2016 on the Roots Music Charts for radio play. Warren has also performed and/or recorded with artists such as GZA-Wu-Tang, Deanna Martin (Daughter of Dean Martin), Andy Milne, Lenny Pickett, John Scofield, Tom Scott, NYU Combo Nuvo, and many more. Jeremy plays Soul Tone Cymbals.
Dermel Warren was born and raised in Memphis, TN, where she grew up singing in her mother’s church. At church, she received her vocal training from Kelley Muller-Smith, first lady of Miracle Temple Ministries, Inc. She has performed background and lead vocals for Donald Lawrence, Richard Smallwood, Karen Clark-Sheard, Lisa Page Brooks, Beverly Crawford, Kurt Karr, Yolanda Adams, Ernest Pugh, Josh Milan (House Music Artist), jazz drummer Winard Harper, the amazing Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson, and many more. Dermel has toured with Blues artists, the late Sergio Davis and Mel Waiters opening up for artists such as The Manhattans, Shirley Brown, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Bobby Womack, and Lenny Williams. She also opened up for Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, & Mint Condition as a solo artist at the Budweiser Summer Fest Tour in 2011. She is currently based out of New Jersey, collaborating with producers on their projects, and working on her debut album, “My Life’s Journey.”
Peter-Lin-Quartet
Joining Peter on the bandstand:
Alvester Garnett on Drums – Brandon McCune on Piano and Tom Di Carlo on Bass
Peter Lin is a Taiwanese-American trombonist, producer, and educator based in New Jersey/New York City. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and raised in northern New Jersey, Peter played violin and piano before picking up the trombone at 10 years old. His love for music continued, motivating him to pursue a jazz studies degree at the esteemed music programs of William Paterson University (undergraduate) and Rutgers University (graduate). Since then, he has become an integral part of the music scene, performing and sharing the stage with renowned artists including Slide Hampton, Winard Harper, Charli Persip, Valerie Ponomarev, JD Allen, and Radam Schwartz.
He also spent a considerable amount of time studying with his influences, including trombone masters Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Conrad Herwig, Robin Eubanks, Steve Davis, and Frank Lacy. He continues to perform prolifically as both a leader and sideman at established venues such as Blue Note, Dizzy’s, Birdland, Smalls, Fat Cat, Zinc Bar, and Candlelight Lounge.
Talent lineup and schedule subject to change without notice.
Festival held rain or shine.
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This event is co-sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the City of Orange Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Gregory Burrus Productions.
Intro 2023 – Main 2023 – Artist Line up 2023 – Artist Bands – Artist Info – Artist Schedule 2023 – Press – 2022 Lookback
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