The Alternative Press

WEST ORANGE, NJ - The 10th Anniversary of the OSPAC Jazz Festival and  Art Show

Presents One Full of Day of Quintessential Jazz

Saturday, September 22, rain date Sept 23 Sunday

  OUTDOOR EVENT - bring a chair, blanket and a bottle of wine

Sponsored by, Arts Global,  Millennium Homes, WBGO-FM 88.3  and PNC Bank  

The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center (OSPAC)announces the 10 Year Anniversary Annual Jazz Festival and Art show co presented with the West Orange Arts Council  will take place Saturday, September 22th from 12:30pm to 9pm at the spectacular OSPAC Amphitheaterat Crystal Lake, 4 Boland Drive, West Orange. This event is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Children are free. Admission is taken at the entrance.  Rain date is Sunday September 23.

  For the 10th consecutive year, the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center will present a weekend of world-class jazz entertainment emceed by WBGO's Gary Walker, in an open-air setting, complete with international food vendors, artisans and crafts, health spa center, and entertainment and activities for children. Saturday will also include "Paint the Music" led by Nitza Horner, teaching artist and freelance educator affiliated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where patrons will paint what they hear. This year the West Orange Arts Council partners with  us with an Art as In and Art Show where vendors can show and sell their work. "The West Orange Arts Council is excited to be part of the 10th anniversary Jazz Fest,"  says Heidi Sussman, immediate past-president of the arts council.  "Those attending  this fantastic event  will not only enjoy a great day and evening  of  music, but will have the opportunity  to buy art from many accomplished local  artists  including  arts council board members Mansa Mussa, Carol Black Lemon and Gina Rivas-Velazquez. In addition, a number of township commissions and non-profit organizations  will be on hand to offer information about all the good things West Orange has to offer. Attending  Jazz Fest is a great way to come together as a community and learn how to play a part in the arts." 

"The OSPAC Jazz Festival has grown in the past 10 years to be the most talked-about jazz event in the area," said internationally renowned jazz singer and OSPAC Producer, Kate Baker.  " Because of the Anniversary  (10 years)  we decided to bring back all the world renown musicians that are part of our OSPAC family  for the celebration".  It will be more spectacular than ever.  Our lineup of artists is an international mix of quintessential jazz and world music stylists and modern and cultural jazz interpreters that you can also stomp your feet to."

"What makes this venue special is not only the beautiful surroundings where you can stroll around the lake, but the superb sound that you can hear from every location and get to meet all the performers," said Vic Juris (Jazz musician and guitarist). 

This year's stellar lineup includes: Grammy award winner  Nat Adderley, Jr. Quartet featuring Don Braden on Sax, Vince Ector on Drums, Greg Jones on Bass and special guest Bob Devos; Grammy nominee Roseanna Vitro Quintet featuring Mark Soskin, piano, Sara Caswell, Violin, Dean Johnson, bass, Tim Horner, drums. world-renowned pianist Bill Charlap and his trio; Kate Baker with World Music sounds with Kevin Burke, Rachel Z, Harvie S featuring Cafe, and others, World Renown Guitarist Vic Juris with Steve Wilson, Ed Howard and Anthony PInciotti, Dave Stryker and the North Jersey All Stars features Bill Hart, Bruce Williams, Steve Slagle, Chris Berger, Oscar Perez,  The Great American Songbook featuring great singers such as Holli Ross, Judi Silvano, Tessa Sutter, Melissa Hamilton, Phyllis Blanford, Lynette Sheard,  Enrico Granafei, and others.   The festival will also present The  Arts Global Young Lions of Jazz and more.

"OSPAC is considered New Jersey's premier outdoor theater, and we are proud of the great performances, like the Jazz Festival, that take place here," says Gary Walker of WBGO-FM.  "I encourage everyone to come out to OSPAC and enjoy the beautiful surroundings at Crystal Lake and experience the season's signature event."

OSPAC 10th Annual Jazz Festival is sponsored by, Arts Global,  Millennium Homes, WBGO-FM 88.3 and PNC Bank.

 Schedule of Events

Saturday September 22

12:30 pm                Arts Global Young Lions including Marcus Miller. Amanda Barise, Lilly Dukich and more

1:00 pm                 Great American Songbook with Holli Ross, Tessa Souter, Judi Silvano, Lynette Sheard,  Phyllis Blanford, Kristine Massari, Lula, Kat Lee,  John Dukich,  Enrico Granafei and more.........

2:00 pm                 Bill Charlap 

3:00 pm                 Nat Adderley Jr. with Don Braden on sax, Vince Ector on drums and Greg Jones on bass special guest Bob DeVos

4:00 pm                 Kate Baker and Kevin Burke, with  World Music Sounds including Rachel Z on piano Harvie S on bass, Café and other guests

5:00 pm                 Vic Juris Quartet featuring on sax Steve Wilson, Ed Howard bass,  Anthony Pinciotti drums

6:00 pm                 Dave Stryker and the North Jersey All Stars featuring Billy Hart, Oscar Perez, Steve Slagle, Bruce Williams, and Chris Berger

7:00 pm                 Grammy nominee Roseanna Vitro Quintet featuring Mark Soskin, piano, Sara Caswell,  Violin, Dean Johnson, bass, Tim Horner on drums

AFTER Party at Trumpets Jazz Club and Restaurant featuring Enrico Granafei quintet special Festival discount for Trumpets only $5.00 .

This event is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Children are free. Admission is taken at the entrance. The amphitheater is located at Crystal Lake, 4 Boland Drive in West Orange N.J.  Audience members should bring blankets or chairs to enjoy the relaxed outdoor setting.  Rain date is Septmber 23rd.

On our 10th year anniversary OSPAC honors Gwen Calvier, President/Managing Editor Hot House Magazine and Heather de Haes, President and Founder, Arts Global, Inc. for their support and commitment to Jazz.

For bios or event information, please visit:  www.ospac.org, or call  917-885-0084 for live person or for recording and updated information regarding times, weather and directions call 973-669-7385.  For high res press photos please email Katebakerjazz@gmail.com.

The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center is a non-profit organization located at 4 Boland Drive in West Orange, N.J. Its mission is to bring performances of the highest caliber for free or at minimal cost to the public while maintaining a strong commitment to arts education through its annual Jazz and World Music Workshop. 

 Porter, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, and many others will be sung by the finest Jazz singers and special guests including Tessa Sutter, Holli Ross, Judi Silvano, Melissa Hamilton, Kristina Massari.

2:00 pm - Bill Charlap.  One of the world's premier jazz pianists, Bill Charlap has performed and recorded with many leading artists of our time, ranging from jazz masters Phil Woods and Wynton Marsalis to singers Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand.  Since 1997, he has led the Bill Charlap Trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, now recognized as one of the leading groups in jazz.  Charlap is the artistic director of New York City's Jazz in July Festival at the 92nd Street Y, and he has produced concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center, the JVC Jazz Festival and the Hollywood Bowl.  A two-time GRAMMY nominee, Charlap is married to renowned jazz pianist Renee Rosnes.  In the Spring of 2010, Charlap and Rosnes released Double Portrait, a duo piano recording on the Blue Note labelHouston So Nice, isscheduled for October 2011 release.

3:00 pm Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet featuring Don Braden,  Greg Jones on bass and Vince Ector on drums featuring Bob DeVos. Nat Adderley Jr. is best known for his work as producer, arranger, songwriter and long-time pianist and musical director for Luther Vandross.  His compositions include "Stop to Love," "Wait for Love" and the GRAMMY-nominated "Give Me the Reason."  His many arrangements for Vandross include "Superstar," "If Only for One Night," "Creepin'" and the GRAMMY-winning "Here and Now."  He produced numerous recordings for Vandross, including "My Favorite Things," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and the GRAMMY-winning duet with Beyoncé, "The Closer I Get to You" as well as Luther Live at Radio City Music Hall.  He has also written arrangements for Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick.  Adderley has also served as musical director for Ashford and Simpson and worked with Melba More and Angie Bofill.

Don Braden World-class saxophonist, flutist, composer and educator Don Braden has toured and recorded with the very best in Jazz (including Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis and Tony Williams) and worked for years as composer for Bill Cosby. He also runs educational programs for Montclair State University and NJPAC. He revisits his Jazz/Funk roots in his latest CD (his 16th as a leader), "Big Fun(k) Live", recorded live at Cecil's Jazz Club.  See www.DonBraden.com for more!

 Bob Devos  has played with a who's who of jazz legends both in and outside of the Hammond B3 organ genre, including Richard "Groove" Holmes-Sonny Stitt, Jimmy McGriff-Hank-Crawford, and The Charles Earland Band with Eric Alexander, as well as many modern players. In recent years he has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, the Kitano, SMOKE, plus many national & international festivals. Critics hail Bob as "the thinking man's guitar hero, a brilliant, knowing bebop player," and dig his "infectious, funky groove."

4:00 pm Kate Baker and Kevin Burke with World Music Sounds  with Rachel Z, Harvie S, Café and other special guests.   Kate teams up with singer Kevin Burke.  Kate is known for her sultry warm sound, her distinctive phrasing and lyrical interpretation has made her one of today's most sought after singers. She combines the music of Jazz, Brazilian and popular song to make it her own with a world music band.  Kate is an internationally renowned jazz singer and educator who has performed at the Blue Note, Birdland, Euromeet Jazz festival,  Carini Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival and more. Kate also performs with Richie Cole's Alto Madness Orchestra, in a duo with Vic Juris along with her own band.  "Kate Baker's phrasing and rhythmic concept are brilliant." - Newsday

Kevin Burke: Vocalist, composer, and music producer Kevin Fitzgerald Burke has worked with, among others, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Count Basie Orchestra, Manhattan Transfer, and poet Sekou Sundiata. As a vocalist he has appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, NPR Live from Lincoln Center, the Arsenio Hall Show, and WBGO Jazz Brunch. He was an original cast member of Jon Hendrick's jazz musical, "Reminiscing in Tempo" and  was featured in Hendrick's "Evolution of the Blues", along with Joe Williams, Mavis Staples, and Diane Reeves.  His solo album "Full Moon Risin'" is due for release in Fall 2008.

Rachel Z graduated from the New England Conservatory. She has performed with Bob Moses, Miroslav Vitous, George Garzone, Saxman Najee and co-wrote album Tokyo Blue. While performing and recording steadily with the classic fusion band Steps Ahead from 1988 through 1996, she also worked with Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, Special EFX, and Angela Bofill, Mike Mainieri. Mainieri. She has won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for her CD 'High Life'.

5:00 pm -Vic Juris Quartet featuring Steve Wilson sax, Ed Howard bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums. Vic Juris is one of the world's premier jazz guitarists and voted top 5 guitarists by the Jazz Critics. Since his emergence on the scene in the 1970s, his international career has included associations with Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Michel Legrand, Chico Hamilton, Freddie Hubbard, Gary Peacock, Richie Cole, Mel Torme, Eddie Jefferson, Bireli LaGrene, and, since 1991, the renowned David Liebman Group.  Juris is also one of the leading jazz educators in the world and has written two highly regarded guitar books published by Mel Bay.  He currently teaches at The New School and Rutgers University and has conducted clinics throughout the U.S. and Europe.   Vic Juris is a Steeple Chase Recording Artist with 8 Recordings as a leader. 

Steve Wilson:A musician's musician, Wilson has brought his distinctive sound to more than 100 recordings led by such celebrated and wide-ranging artists as Chick Corea, George Duke, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, Bill Bruford, Gerald Wilson, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd, Billy Childs, Karrin Allyson, Don Byron, Bill Stewart, James Williams, and Mulgrew Miller among many others. Wilson has seven recordings under his own name, leading and collaborating with such stellar musicians as Lewis Nash, Carl Allen, Steve Nelson, Cyrus Chestnut, Greg Hutchinson, Dennis Irwin, James Genus, Larry Grenadier, Ray Drummond, Ben Riley, and Nicholas Payton. He co leads an elegant trio with pianist Renee Rosnes and bassist Peter Washington, and is a touring member of the Grammy-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra, Christian McBride & Inside Straight as well as McBride's Grammy-winning Big Band, Buster Williams Quartet, and Mulgrew Miller's Wingspan.

Ed Howard joined forces with the brilliant drummer Roy Haynes in the early '80s and has been featured on three discs created by the Haynes group, including the 1986 " True Or False".Ed was a member of the Haynes group for fifteen years.. Howard played in Clifford Jordan's own quartet from 1983 through 1992. It was in this context that the bassist had his first chance to record, a session that also featured pianist Jaki Byard, yet another of the major Mingus, Pat Matheny and Shirley Horn. Ed has also performed and/or recorded with Herbie Hancock,Wayne Shorter,Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Ivan Lins, Bob Berg, Eddie Henderson, Steve Wilson, Marc Copland, David Kikoski,George Cables, Victor Lewis, Joe Locke, Billy Hart, Al Foster, and Seamus Blake, to name a few.

6:00 Dave Stryker's North Jersey Allstars with Steve Slagle, Bruce Williams, Oscar Perez, Chris Berger and Bill Hart on drums brings together world-class musicians who just happen to call North Jersey home. Dave Stryker Guitarist Dave Stryker, voted a "Rising Star" for the fifth time in the 2008 Downbeat Critics Poll, has released 20 CDs under his own name.  He has also been a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff and Kevin Mahogany.  Gary Giddons in the Village Voice calls him one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.  He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, moved to New York City in 1980, and joined organist Jack McDuffs group, traveling all over the U.S. for two years in the mid-'80s.  From '86 to '95 and from '98 to 2000 Stryker played with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, performing at festivals, concert halls and clubs throughout the world.  He currently co-leads the Stryker/Slagle Band with saxophonist Steve Slagle as well as his own trio, the Dave Stryker Organ Trio. He has also performed with Freddie Hubbard, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Eliane Elias, Joe Lovano and many others. Cuban-American pianist Oscar Perez new CD is Afropean Affair has played with Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon and George Garzone.  Billy Hart has played with everyone from Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Stan Getz, and Wes Montgomery.  His new ECM CD is called "All Our Reasons".  Steve Slagle has played with Carla Bley, Milton Nascimento, Charlie Haden, Ray Barretto and co-leads the Stryker/Slagle Band with Dave Stryker. Bruce Williams plays with Roy Hargrove and leads his own band. Chris Berger has played with Joe Lovano, Maria Schneider and John Abercrombie and his new CD is called "Conversations.

7:00 pm 2011 Grammy Nominated Vocalist; Roseanna Vitro and the RNP Band.   A singer blessed with an unmistakeable spirit and a sound, playing selections by Ellington, Nascimento and Newman.  " From her sultry low end to her belting high notes, Vocalist, Roseanna Vitro is a passionate, expressive singer whose emotional streak never overrides her musicality. "  Downbeat - 4 1/2 Stars - Kirk Silsbee (The Music of Randy Newman)  Mark Soskin, piano, Sara Caswell, Violin, Dean Johnson, bass, Tim Horner, drums.