Jazz in the Garden
Summer Concert Series

Thursdays, June 28–August 2, 12:15–1:45 pm
(rain or shine)

Suggested Admission
Adults $3; Children and Museum members FREE  

For more than 40 years, the Newark Museum has presented all-star lineups of jazz greats during its annual Jazz in the Garden Summer Concert Series.  This year promises another wonderful season in the Museum's award-winning Alice Ransom Dreyfuss Memorial Garden, adding new musicians to the impressive list of such past performers as Andy Bey, Ron Carter, Will Calhoun and Carrie Smith.

Line-Up
              

June 28 Jeremy Pelt – trumpeter Haling from Los Angeles, Jeremy Pelt graduated from the Berklee School of Music and landed in New York City in 1988, where he was immediately noticed by leading musicians, which led to his gig with the Charles Mingus Big Band.  Voted “Rising Star” five years in a row by Down Beat Magazine and the Jazz Journalist Association, Pelt’s performances garner rave reviews.  At age 35, he enjoys ten successful recordings.  His most recent CD, Soul, has brought him further recognition. Pelt has an unmistakable sound and plays with a forward momentum, strength and clarity.  His band–featuring JD Allen, tenor sax; Danny Grissett, piano; Dwayne Burno, bass; Gerald Cleaver, drums–has a bright future with him at the helm.

July 5 Akua Dixon – cellist A cellist, composer, arranger and conductor, Dixon has finally come out of the shadows with her debut CD, Moving On, where she performs original works and arrangements of jazz classics.  Her authoritative, fresh and beautifully arranged recording highlights her many talents and illustrates that the cello can be effectively used to play jazz.  Growing up on New York City, she attended the School for Performing Arts.  Armed with the experience of working with the likes of Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Itzak Perlman, to name a few, Dixon lead the successful group, Quartette Indigo, and founded the Uptown String Quartet. In addition, she supplied the string arrangements for the five-Grammy award winning CD The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Aretha Franklin’s Grammy-nominated A Rose Is Still A Rose.

July 12 Steven Kroon – percussionist One of most exciting Latin jazz percussionist/band leaders, the “hard-hitting,” Kroon has been a professional musician for more than 35 years. Born in Harlem, he moved to St. Albans, Queens, with his family when he was nine.  Surrounded by great musicians Kroon soaked up all genres of music from R&B to jazz.  He began working with notables such as Luther Vandross from 1981 to 2001; from 1987 to 2004 he performed, recorded and traveled with bassist Ron Carter. In the past five years Kroon has been working on his solo career and has produced four highly acclaimed recordings under his label titled “Kroonatune Records, LLC.” In My Path, Senor Kroon, El Mas Alla, and newly released Without a Doubt.

July 19 Gregory Generet – vocalist A native New Yorker, Gregory Generet grew up listening to vocal legends such as Billy Eckstine, Jon Hendricks and Joe Williams.  Not locked into any genre Generet exemplifies that which makes a great vocalist.  Whether singing a ballad or a blues, he is captivating and swinging. Known as “Monsieur,” this crooner has re-imagined the Great American Songbook, adding his own unique vocal styling and flexibility.  Three Emmy Awards and 25 years later, Generet found himself artistically unfulfilled and the desire to hone his craft as a singer moved to the forefront.  The result is his 2009 debut CD (re)Generet-ion. Generet lives in Harlem with his wife, Tony Award winner, Tamara Tunie.

July 26 David Gibson "4tet" – The DG Organ 4tet* David Gibson has enjoyed a varied musical career that is deeply rooted in the genres of jazz and funk. Although he was reared in Oklahoma, Gibson’s musical journey steered him to New York City.   His early experience there had him performing with Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, James Moody and others. In 2003, he was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Trombone Competition and subsequently released several recordings as a leader.  Gibson’s newest recording, End of the Tunnel, is currently available from Posi-tone Records.  The CD is a set of music that evokes the essence of ‘60s Blue Note Soul-Jazz in combination with the modern elements expected from today’s current crop of jazz musicians.  Jared Gold-organ and Rudy Royston-drums will be on board.   *Sponsored by William Paterson University, Summer Jazz Program

August 2 Rhoda Scott - organist A Newark native, Rhoda Scott, has returned after making her home in France for more than 30 years.  A minister's daughter who was brought up in the classical music tradition, she was surrounded by traditional Afro-American music.  At the age of seven, Scott began playing the organ for the choir.  Later she attended Manhattan School of Music in New York.  Scott demonstrates a soulfulness, deep love and appreciation of music. Known as “The Barefoot Contessa,” she plays with grace and joy.  Her performances combine themes, original compositions, traditional jazz and gospel.