WBGO PRESENTS ‘ALL THAT JAZZ’ CONCERT SERIES AT UCPAC FOR APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE
RAHWAY, NJ — Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) is calling all jazz enthusiasts! For the upcoming months of April, May, and June, there will be a unique jazz performance each month at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage hosted by WBGO, a publicly-funded and non-profit arts and cultural institution.
The first show to kick off the concert series—a partnership between UCPAC, WBGO, and Smooth Jazz NJ—is on Saturday, April 4, which features two performances from jazz saxophonist and visual artist Marion Meadows. Meadows is a respected jazz performer whose musical journey began when he was just nine years old, and has performed alongside many other well-known musicians like Brook Benton, Jean Carne, and Michael Bolton. 1990 is when Meadows began his solo career.
The second performer as part of WBGO’s “All That Jazz” series is saxophonist Eric Darius, who will perform two shows on Saturday, May 9. Darius, New Jersey-native, has eight highly acclaimed albums to his name and has appeared on several TV shows including Fox’s “The X-Factor” and TNT’s “Mob City.” He has even shared the stage with world-renowned artists such as Prince, Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige, and David Foster, to name a few. In an authentic and energetic performance, Darius provides a raw and original musical celebration!
Thirdly, The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars with John Lee and Paquito D’Rivera will take on Hamilton Stage on Saturday, June 6. The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars is a group of musicians who used to work with Gillespie and is known for their performances of 40s and 50s music as ensembles of 6-8, including tunes such as “A Night In Tunisia,” “Con Alma,” and “Dizzy Atmosphere.”
John Lee was Gillespie’s bassist from 1984 to 1993 and created the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars as a tribute band for Gillespie after his passing. Lee is now both the bassist and director of the musical group. In the past, Lee has worked with the bands of Aretha Franklin, Larry Coryell, and Jimmy Heath and has, in fact, won a Grammy award as record producer and audio engineer!
Special guest Paquito D’Rivera will accompany Lee and his tribute band on June 6. D’Rivera is a saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, writer, and winner of more than a dozen awards, including the Grammys and Latin Grammys. Born in Havana, Cuba, D’Rivera is a musical powerhouse that is inspired by jazz, classical, Brazilian, and rumba music, where he integrates all of these sounds together. D’Rivera is undoubtedly a cultural pioneer within the Latin jazz industry!
If you and your family are free one of these Saturday nights–or all—then secure your tickets today! Each event will provide an art exhibit, an array of cocktails, and live piano performances prior to the shows. Each initial show begins at 5 p.m. and the second shows all begin at 8 p.m., with the doors opening an hour before each show. Ticket prices range from $67 to $77, and we can’t forget to mention that these events are eligible for the buy 3 shows and receive 25% off promotion! All tickets are available now through the links above.
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating the Main Stage, built in 1928 and listed in both the State and National Register of Historic Places, at 1601 Irving St., and the modern and intimate Hamilton Stage, at 360 Hamilton St., in the heart of Rahway, New Jersey’s Arts District. To learn more, visit ucpac.org.
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