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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260613T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260613T213000
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SUMMARY:LOW TICKET ALERT - VINCENT INGALA - WBGO PRESENTS ALL THAT JAZZ
DESCRIPTION:Vincent Ingala\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage\nSaturday\, June 13\nTwo Shows: 5 PM & 8 PM\nSINGLE TICKETS ONLY 5 PMLIMITED TICKETS 8 PM\nEnjoy cocktails & live piano from Leonieke Scheuble in the WBGO Piano Lounge before the show! Essex County College presents an art exhibition from Head of Arts Education at ECC & painter\, David DiPasquale in the Hamilton Lobby. Plus\, enjoy a viewing by jazz photographer Allison Brown. \nLobby opens at 4 PM & 7 PM for each showtime.\nTickets: $67-$77 (All-In Pricing)\n \nWBGO presents All That Jazz\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers! This month features multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala\, back by popular demand! This series is a partnership between UCPAC and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nEnjoy an evening of smooth jazz\, beginning in the WBGO Piano Lounge. Come early to enjoy cocktails and live piano music from the phenomenal Leonieke Scheuble on the Fazioli piano before the performance – doors open one hour before showtime. \nAbout Vincent Ingala\nVincent Ingala is a leading voice in contemporary jazz\, acclaimed for his polished musicianship and vibrant\, soulful sound. A multi-instrumentalist\, composer\, and producer\, Ingala released his debut album at just 17 and has since earned multiple Billboard No. 1 smooth-jazz hits. Raised in Connecticut and influenced by a wide range of R&B\, soul\, and pop traditions\, he brings a dynamic blend of melodic saxophone work and expertly crafted rhythms to his recordings and live performances. With his distinctive tone\, boundless energy\, and engaging style\, Ingala has established himself as one of the most compelling and versatile artists in today’s jazz landscape. \nIngala’s previous performances at Hamilton Stage were sell-outs\, so don’t wait; get your tickets today! \nBefore the Concert \nEssex County College Presents Artist David DiPasquale \nDiPasquale’s paintings will be on display in the Hamilton lobby for viewing before each performance.  \n  \nEnjoy a viewing from jazz photographer\, Allison Brown. \n  \n \nComing with a group of 10 or more? Request a Group Sale Discount \n \n \n Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/vincent-ingala-wbgo-presents-all-that-jazz/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series,FamiliesFirst
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260606T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260606T220000
DTSTAMP:20260527T142257Z
CREATED:20260324T160010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T142257Z
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SUMMARY:DIZZY GILLESPIE ALL STARS WITH PAQUITO D'RIVERA - WBGO PRESENTS ALL THAT JAZZ
DESCRIPTION:Dizzy Gillespie All Stars with Paquito D’Rivera\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage\nSaturday\, June 6\nTwo Shows: 5 PM & 8 PM\nEnjoy cocktails & live piano from Leonieke Scheuble in the WBGO Piano Lounge before the show! Essex County College also presents an art exhibition by artist Dino Gravado Commodore in the Hamilton Lobby.\nLobby and lounge open at 4 PM & 7 PM for each showtime. \nTickets: $67-$77 (All-In Pricing)\n \nWBGO presents All That Jazz concert series\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers\, featuring the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars with John Lee and special guest Paquito D’Rivera! This series is a partnership between WBGO\, UCPAC\, and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nAbout The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars \nThe Dizzy Gillespie All Stars perform the music of the 40s and 50s as an ensemble of 6-8\, including tunes such as “A Night In Tunisia\,” “Anthropology\,” “BeBop\,” “Birks Works\,” “Blue ‘N’ Boogie\,” “Con Alma\,” “Dizzy Atmosphere\,” “Groovin’ High\,” “Hot House\,” “Oop-Pop-Sh’-Bam\,” “Ow\,” “Salt Peanuts\,” and many more. \nThe line-up\, which varies\, includes some of the stellar musicians who used to work with Gillespie\, plus some of the best and brightest young up-and-comers of the next generation of jazz. \nAbout John Lee \nFrom 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. \nAfter Gillespie’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. \nLee is the bassist and director of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars\, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band\, and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience. \nLee has 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. Beyond bass\, Lee is also a GRAMMY award winning record producer and audio engineer who has produced over 100 recordings and is the co-founder of the record label JLP\, Jazz Legacy Productions. \nAbout Paquito D’Rivera \nSaxophonist\, clarinetist\, composer and writer Paquito D’ Rivera\, winner of 16 awards between GRAMMYs and Latin GRAMMYs\, has received numerous recognitions for his relevance in Latin Jazz and as a composer of classical music. Born in Marianao\, Havana\, Cuba\, El Paq-Man\, as he is known among his many friends\, colleagues\, and fans\, is passionate about both jazz and classical music\, Brazilian music\, rumba\, tangos\, and more. One of the main objectives of his work is to make them all an integral whole. \nHe was awarded the NEA Jazz Masters Award in 2005 and the National Medal of the Arts (2005)\, as well as the Kennedy Center’s Living Jazz Legend Award (2007). Among his recognitions are the Honoris Causa doctorate from the Berklee School in Boston\, the University of Pennsylvania\, and the Clarinetist of the Year award from the Jazz Journalist Association (2004 and 2006). In 2008\, he received the award from the Association for Jazz Education Present and the Frankfurter Musikpreis (Germany). \nIn 2010\, he was named Nelson A Rockefeller Honoree and given the Spelman College African American Classical Music Award. In 2011\, he received his eleventh GRAMMY award for ‘Panamericana Suite’ for Best Latin Album and Best Contemporary Classical Composition\, adding it to his previous GRAMMY awards for ‘Riberas’ (Best Classical Recording 2005) and ‘Funk Tango’ (Best Music Album) Latin Jazz 2008). His “Concerto Venezolano” for Symphony Orchestra\, written for trumpet extraordinaire Soloist Pacho Flores\, was awarded Best Contemporary Classical composition in 2023. \nD’Rivera is the first artist to win Latin Grammys in the classical music and Latin jazz categories\, for ‘Historia del Soldado’ (L’Histoire du Soldat)\, ‘Stravinsky’ (2003) and ‘Brazilian Dreams’ (2002) with The New York Voices. \nHe has been artistic director of the jazz program of the New Jersey Chamber Music Society\, the Jazz Patagonia of Chile\, and from 1996 to date has served as musical director of the prestigious International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este\, Uruguay\, presenting luminaries of the genre such as Benny Golson\, McCoy Tyner\, Michael Brecker\, Toots Thielemans\, Jon Faddis\, Lenny Andrade\, Kenny Burrell and many more artists. \nIn 1999\, the University of Alcalá de Henares\, in celebration of its 500 years of history\, presented D’Rivera with a special award that recognizes his contribution to the arts\, his human qualities and his defense of the rights and freedoms of artists around the world. The National Endowment for the Arts on its website highlights that Paquito “has become an accomplished multinational ambassador\, creating and promoting a musical interculturality that moves effortlessly between jazz\, Latin music and Mozart.” \nEssex County College Presents Artist Dino Gravado Commodore\nCommodore’s paintings will be on display in the Hamilton Lobby for viewing before each show!\n \nDon’t miss this opportunity to experience these incredible artists and musicians live in the intimate atmosphere of UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage!
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/dizzy-gillespie-all-stars/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series,FamiliesFirst,Hamilton Stage
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260509T213000
DTSTAMP:20260107T202518Z
CREATED:20251119T165822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T202518Z
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SUMMARY:ERIC DARIUS - WBGO PRESENTS ALL THAT JAZZ
DESCRIPTION:Eric Darius\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage\nSaturday\, May 9\nTwo Shows: 5 PM & 8 PM\nEnjoy cocktails & live piano from Leonieke Scheuble in the WBGO Piano Lounge before the show!\nLobby opens at 4 PM & 7 PM for each showtime.\nTickets: $67-$77 (All-In Pricing)\n \nWBGO presents All That Jazz concert series\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers\, featuring saxophonist Eric Darius! This series is a partnership between WBGO\, UCPAC\, and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nEnjoy an evening of modern jazz\, beginning in the WBGO Piano Lounge. Come early to enjoy an art exhibit\, cocktails\, and live piano music played by Leonieke Scheuble on the Fazioli piano before the performance – doors open one hour before showtime. \nAbout Eric Darius\nWith a trademark jump and crowd-captivating energy throughout his live show\, New Jersey born Eric Darius is breaking the mold of modern jazz. \nWith eight highly acclaimed albums to his name\, Eric continues to be a singular force in his world. To date\, he has racked up five No. 1 Hit Singles and 17 Top 10 Radio Hits on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart. He was Smooth Jazz News Magazine’s Debut Artist of the Year in 2004 and SESAC’s Top 10 Jazz Artist of the Year in 2015\, and in 2017 he received the 1st Annual Citril Starz Awards’ Best Jazz\, Saxophonist\, Composer\, Producer & Musician of the Year Award. Recently\, Eric was awarded the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Artist of the Year. \nEric has made TV appearances on Fox’s “The X-Factor” and TNT’s “Mob City\,” and has shared the stage with such acclaimed and Grammy Award winning artists as Prince\, Mary J. Blige\, David Foster\, Carlos Santana\, Jamie Foxx\, Babyface\, George Benson\, Marcus Miller\, Wyclef Jean\, Lalah Hathaway\, and many others. \nAuthentic\, fresh\, and energetic\, Eric invites you to join in his unbridled\, unfiltered musical celebration! \n \n \nComing with a group of 10 or more? Request a Group Sale Discount \n \n Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/eric-darius-wbgo-presents-all-that-jazz/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T213000
DTSTAMP:20260203T193629Z
CREATED:20251118T190037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T193629Z
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SUMMARY:MARION MEADOWS - WBGO PRESENTS ALL THAT JAZZ
DESCRIPTION:Marion Meadows\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage\nSaturday\, April 4\nTwo Shows: 5 PM & 8 PM\nEnjoy cocktails & live piano from Leonieke Scheuble in the WBGO Piano Lounge before the show!\nLobby opens at 4 PM & 7 PM for each showtime.\nTickets: $67-$77 (All-In Pricing)\n \nWBGO presents All That Jazz concert series\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers\, featuring\, by popular demand\, the return of smooth jazz saxophonist and visual artist Marion Meadows! This series is a partnership between WBGO\, UCPAC\, and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nEnjoy an evening of modern jazz\, beginning in the WBGO Piano Lounge. Come early to enjoy an art exhibit\, cocktails\, and live piano music played by Leonieke Scheuble on the Fazioli piano before the performance – doors open one hour before showtime. These performances will be hosted by Lenny Green of “Quiet Storm” on WBLS! \nAbout Marion Meadows\nMeadows’ musical journey began when he was nine years old. He studied classical music and played the clarinet until he discovered the tenor\, and then soprano\, saxophone in high school. During his college years he played in a number of bands including disco\, R&B and\nvarious jazz ensembles. \n“I got a lot of sideman jobs in college\,” Meadows recalls\, “and I have always said I got my real graduate degree playing clubs.” As a sideman\, he has played with well-known musicians Brook Benton\, Eartha Kitt\, Phyllis Hyman\, Jean Carne\, The Temptations\, Michael Bolton\, Angela Bofill\, Will Downing\, Bob Baldwin\, Chuck Loeb\, John Lee\, among many others. \nMeadows has been a solo artist since 1990 and has released a number of successful albums\, including “For Lovers Only\,” “Keep It Right There\,” and many more\, including his latest\, “Soul Traveler\,” the first installment of his Soul Trilogy on Shanachie Records. \nMeadows brings his colorful and soulful personality to both his music and his visual art. Arrive early to browse Meadows’ artwork and experience smooth jazz live in the intimate atmosphere of UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage! \n \n \nComing with a group of 10 or more? Request a Group Sale Discount \n \n Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/marion-meadows/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ucpac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-0404-5.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251101T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251101T213000
DTSTAMP:20251014T182746Z
CREATED:20250630T154316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T182746Z
UID:16987-1762018200-1762032600@ucpac.org
SUMMARY:SPYRO GYRA - ALL THAT JAZZ CONCERT SERIES
DESCRIPTION:Spyro Gyra\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage\nSaturday\, November 1\nTwo Shows: 5 PM & 8 PM\nEnjoy cocktails & live piano from Leonieke Scheuble in the WBGO Piano Lounge before the show!\nLobby opens at 4 PM & 7 PM for each showtime.\nTickets: $79-$89 (All-In Pricing)\n \nWBGO presents All That Jazz concert series\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers\, featuring 13-time Grammy nominated band Spyro Gyra\, returning by popular demand! This series is a partnership between WBGO\, UCPAC\, and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nEnjoy an evening of jazz fusion\, beginning in the WBGO Piano Lounge. Come early to enjoy cocktails and live piano music played by Leonieke Scheuble on the Fazioli piano before the performance – doors open one hour before showtime. \nAbout Spyro Gyra\nSpyro Gyra has long been known to its peers in the contemporary jazz world as a “well oiled road machine” due to its relentless schedule of 48 years of performing. To date\, they have logged more than 10\,000 shows on six continents and released 35 albums\, garnering platinum and gold records along the way. Spyro Gyra rose from humble beginnings in Buffalo\, New York in 1974 to their current international prominence in the jazz world. Every year\, they continue to exhibit how to remain among a relative handful of artists who will be able to say that they have worked constantly in their 50 year career in the year 2025. Their energy and joy in concert match their unmatched musicality. \nSpyro Gyra\, whose odd name has since become world famous\, was first known simply as “Tuesday Night Jazz Jams\,” a forum wherein bandleader Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall were joined by a rotating cast of characters. Tuesday just happened to be the night when most musicians weren’t playing other gigs to pay their bills. Around this time\, a young keyboardist named Tom Schuman began sitting in when he was only sixteen years old. This young man\, of course\, remains a member to this day. \n“Don’t forget the interminable Dead-like solos we were taking\,” Beckenstein cracks. “We were the kings of self-indulgence\, but eventually we earned our right to charge a quarter at the door. It was a complete shock when word of our psychosis got out and we started packing them in!” \nThe group’s increasing popularity – combined with the purchase of a new sign for the club – prompted the owner to insist that Beckenstein come up with a name for his band. “It began as a joke. I said ‘spirogyra\,’ he misspelled it\, and here we are fifty years later. In retrospect\, it’s okay. In a way\, it sounds like what we do. It sounds like motion and energy.” \nDon’t miss your chance to see this incredible band in this intimate setting!\n \n  Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/spyro-gyra/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series,Concerts,Hamilton Stage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ucpac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SPYRO-GYRA-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250607T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250607T210000
DTSTAMP:20250530T175951Z
CREATED:20250305T150033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T175951Z
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SUMMARY:JEFF LORBER AND ALEXANDER ZONJIC
DESCRIPTION:Alexander Zonjic and Jeff Lorber\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat Hamilton Stage\nSaturday\, June 7\n5 PM & 8 PM\nLobby open at 4 PM & 7 PM for each showtime.\nEnjoy cocktails & live piano in the WBGO Piano Lounge before the show!\nTickets: $68 – $73 (All in Pricing)\n \nWBGO presents All That Jazz concert series\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers! This month features Grammy Winner Jeff Lorber and 15-time Detroit Music Award winner Alexander Zonjic. This series is a partnership between WBGO\, UCPAC\, and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nEnjoy an evening of smooth jazz\, beginning in the WBGO Piano Lounge. Come early to enjoy cocktails and live piano music from Tomoko Ohno on the Fazioli piano before the performance – doors open one hour before showtime. \nABOUT THE ARTISTS:\nJeff Lorber\nJeff Lorber is an American keyboardist\, composer\, and record producer who started out\, like most successful musicians do\, as a fan. Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock were two of his earliest inspirations. To figure out how to play like his heroes\, he had to go back and study the history of jazz piano where he discovered Wynton Kelly\, Thelonious Monk\, McCoy Tyner\, Red Garland\, Bill Evans\, Keith Jarrett\, and many more. Combine that with his love of Funk and R&B\, and you get one of the most storied careers in modern jazz history. \nLorber began his recording career in 1977 with The Jeff Lorber Fusion self-titled debut. The ensemble quickly gained traction and became one of the most popular touring acts on the scene. In 1982\, Lorber made his solo debut with It’s A Fact. In 1985 he scored his first Grammy nomination with the hit “Pacific Coast Highway” from the album Step By Step. He has continued to write and record over the last 40 plus years releasing a string of successful projects including West Side Stories (1994)\, State of Grace (1996) Midnight (1998)\, Kickin’ It (2001)\, Philly Style (2003)\, Flipside (2005)\, He Had A Hat (2007\, Grammy nominated)\, Now Is The Time (2010\, Grammy nominated)\, Galaxy (2012\, Grammy nominated) Hacienda (2013 Grammy nominated)\, and Prototype (2017). \nIn 2018\, he received a Grammy for his album Prototype in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category. \nRead more at Lorber.com \nAlexander Zonjic\nIn 2020\, eleven years after releasing Doin’ the D\, an album paying dynamic homage to the music and magic of Detroit\, Alexander Zonjic got back in the throwback R&B groove with the release of another infectious\, high-spirited valentine to his beloved adopted hometown. Written and produced for the veteran\, multiple award winning flutist by Pieces of a Dream keyboardist James Lloyd\, “”Motor City Sway” – the infectious lead single from Playing It Forward\, Zonjic’s first collection on his own Hi-Falutin Music label – quickly hit the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and was one of the most added singles on the Billboard BDS chart two weeks in a row. Ten of the eleven tracks on Playing It Forward were produced by keyboardist Jeff Lorber\, who helmed the majority of sessions for Zonjic’s previous albums Reach for the Sky (2001)\, Seldom Blues (2004) and Doin’ The D. \nA native of Windsor\, Ontario (immediately across the Detroit River)\, Zonjic is a 15-time Detroit Music Awards winner with deep and multi-faceted ties to and influence on the city. Read more at Zonjic.com \nARTISTRY IN ACTION\n \n \n \n  Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/jeff-lorber-and-alexander-zonjic/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series
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ORGANIZER;CN="UCPAC":MAILTO:boxoffice@ucpac.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250419T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250419T190000
DTSTAMP:20250414T140000Z
CREATED:20241220T212829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250414T140000Z
UID:14358-1745082000-1745089200@ucpac.org
SUMMARY:ALEX BUGNON - WBGO PRESENTS ALL THAT JAZZ
DESCRIPTION:Alex Bugnon\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat Hamilton Stage\nSaturday\, April 19\n5 PM & 8 PM\nDoors open at 4 PM & 7 PM for each showtime.\nEnjoy cocktails and live piano in the WBGO Piano Lounge before the show!\nTickets: $59.50 (Plus Fees)\n \nWBGO presents All That Jazz\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers! This month features smooth jazz pianist Alex Bugnon. This series is a partnership between UCPAC and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nEnjoy an evening of smooth jazz\, beginning in the WBGO Piano Lounge. Come early to enjoy cocktails\, art from Bernard Jackson and live piano music from Will Gorman* on the Fazioli piano before the performance – doors open one hour before showtime.  \n*Due to a scheduling conflict\, Will Gorman will be replacing Leonieke Scheuble at this performance.\nComing with a group of 10 or more? Request a Group Sale Discount \nAbout Alex Bugnon\nJazz pianist Alex Bugnon has been a prolific\, energetic force on the contemporary music scenefor more than two decades. A renowned musician/composer/bandleader\, Bugnon hales from the picturesque town of Montreux\, Switzerland – site of the world famous Jazz Festival.  No doubt\, the annual convergence in his hometown and in his own home\, of some of music’s most illustrious names played a role in his decision to pursue a musical career\, as did his early friendship with Herbie Hancock.  The fact that his uncle was the legendary Donald Byrd only served to further his decision. \nBugnon left Montreux to continue his training at a music conservatory in Paris before landing in Boston to further hone his skills at the famed Berklee School of Music. It was here in the U.S. that his exposure to a diversity of musical styles – from R&B to gospel and funk\, began to shape and influence his personal sound. He toured the south playing with Gospel Leviticus and after graduation from Berklee\, had the opportunity to play in bands backing R&B greats Patti Austin\, James Ingram\, Melba Moore\, Freddie Jackson\, and Keith Sweat. In between gigs he drove cabs and taught French at the Berlitz School as a means to support his musical career. But it would be his encounter with saxophonist Najee that would ultimately turn the tide for him.  Signed to Orpheus Records\, Najee would make the introduction that would result in Alex’s first recording\ncontract. \nHis first album\, Love Season (1989)\, with the fledgling record label\, catapulted the virtual unknown to prominence and set him on his musical course.  The album rocketed to number 2 on the R&B charts and was nominated for best jazz album at the Soul Train Awards. In 1991\, Alex released his second album for Orpheus\, Head Over Heels\, and like the first\, it became a chart topper cementing his position as a radio and fan favorite on the R&B and smooth jazz circuit\, earning him Black Radio Exclusive’s Best New Artist Award. \nIt was no coincidence that Alex was embraced by an R&B/soul audience; after all\, his love of music was rooted in an appreciation and understanding of classic jazz and soul-based artists\, from Memphis Slim and Bill Evans\, to Herbie Hancock\, Thelonius Monk\, Art Blakey and Earth\, Wind and Fire. This was his inspiration\, and it easily translated into his own compositions and in his delivery of the standards. \nIn 1991\, he parted ways with Orpheus Records and signed with Epic to record his award-winning third album\, 107 Degrees in the Shade (1991) for which he received a Soul Train Award. He would release one more album under the Epic label\, the bestselling\, This Time Around (1993)\, before signing with RCA for Tales from the Bright Side (1995)\, before taking a five-year hiatus from recording. \nAs the new century began\, Alex was also beginning anew. Signed to the Narada/EMI label he resurfaced\, with the first of four albums for the label; As Promised (2000) followed by Soul Purpose (2001)\, Southern Living (2003) and Free (2005). Then in 2007\, a chance meeting with award-winning producer and label founder\, Michael Cuscuna\, resulted in a comprehensive compilation album\, The Ultimate Alex Bugnon\, featuring cuts from each of his past recordings\, and giving Alex a taste of what he had always been in search of – control. The Ultimate Alex Bugnon was released on Michael Cuscuna’s Mosaic label and provided Alex the time needed to give thought to his creative process and allowed him to return to what was important to him as an artist\, as a composer and as a musician. \nBugnon continued touring\, but used the in-between time to reflect and re-evaluate every aspect of his personal and career journey.  The result of this introspective period was his 2010 release\, Going Home\, recorded under his own label\, Xela Records. The album incorporated a traditional sextet format\, with trumpet\, saxophone and trombone added to his trio\, and featured old friends\, drummer Poogie Bell and bassist Victor Bailey. \nOver these past few decades\, Alex Bugnon has built a strong and loyal fan base across the country and around the world.  His tour schedule has never eased\, even besting the great Dizzy Gillespie’s record of appearances at Washington\, D.C.’s Blues Alley.  He makes it a point of never missing a day of piano practice or of writing. If he is not composing\, he is listening to his favorite artists and biggest influences: Herbie Hancock\, McCoy Tyner\, Red Garland\, Kenny Kirkland\, Mulgrew Miller and Keith Jarrett. \nAs the year comes to a close\, Alex has released his 12th album – HARLEM\, the second on Xela. HARLEM is a mix of original compositions and his personal take on beloved and well-known songs including the classic A Night in Tunisia\, Curtis Mayfield’s Pusherman\, Stevie Wonder’s Summer Soft and Burt Bacharach’s A House is Not a Home. Alex makes his home in the historic village of Harlem\, New York\, and maintains his connection to his beloved Montreux. \n \nComing with a group of 10 or more? Request a Group Sale Discount \n \n \n  Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/alex-bugnon-wbgo-presents-all-that-jazz/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250117T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250117T220000
DTSTAMP:20250110T164100Z
CREATED:20241212T233026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250110T164100Z
UID:14231-1737144000-1737151200@ucpac.org
SUMMARY:BRIAN SIMPSON AND JACKIEM JOYNER - WBGO PRESENTS ALL THAT JAZZ
DESCRIPTION:Brian Simpson and Jackiem Joyner\nWBGO Presents All That Jazz\nat Hamilton Stage\nFriday\, January 17\n8 PMLOW TICKET ALERT!\nWBGO presents All That Jazz\, a unique series showcasing some of the genre’s most talented and respected performers! This month features smooth jazz musicians a Brian Simpson and Jackiem Joyner. This series is a partnership between UCPAC and Smooth Jazz NJ. \nEnjoy an evening of smooth jazz\, beginning in the WBGO Piano Lounge. Come early to enjoy cocktails and live piano music before the performance – doors open one hour before showtime. \nAbout Brian Simpson and Jackiem Joyner\nBrian Simpson\nKeyboardist and composer Brian Simpson has played alongside noted jazz musicians Gerald Albright and Norman Brown\, as well as performed a world tour with Janet Jackson – all shortly after graduating from Northern Illinois University. \nIn 1990\, Simpson received a call from George Duke that led to a decade of touring and production work with the late jazz legend. It was his tenure with George that led him to work with a variety of esteemed artists\, from James Ingram and Anita Baker to Dave Koz and Wayman Tisdale. \nBecause his music is so popular throughout the world\, Shanachie Entertainment recording artist Simpson has been on a seemingly endless world tour\, which in 2019 included Japan\, Australia\, Korea\, Indonesia\, the Philippines\, Spain\, the United Kingdom\, Portugal\, and South Africa. \nJackiem Joyner\nContemporary saxophonist\, author\, and music producer Jackiem Joyner has set the bar high in his nearly two-decade-long career as a performer. With a number one jazz album\, numerous Billboard chart-topping hits\, and a series of critically acclaimed books to his name\, Joyner has proven himself a rare artist capable of transcending his instrument and captivating mainstream audiences. \nNow\, as he enters the 18th year of his career amid unprecedented change in the entertainment industry\, Joyner remains as dedicated to his art as ever. \n“No matter how difficult things become\, I’ll never stop doing what I love: playing the sax\, writing music and stories\, and performing live.” \nBorn in Norfolk\, VA\, Joyner demonstrated restless creativity from an early age\, a trait that would later define his career. Despite his humble upbringing\, he managed to acquire a saxophone as a child\, which quickly became his constant companion. After years of practice\, he made his debut with 2007’s ‘Babysoul.’ A masterclass in seductive smooth jazz\, the album marked the arrival of a brilliant instrumentalist\, paving the way for a prolific recording career that included Grammy runner-ups\, hit singles\, and abundant critical acclaim\, extending through 2019’s ‘Touch’ and 2020’s EP\, “Journey of Passion.” \nAs a performer\, Joyner has toured over 30 countries and shared the stage with legends such as the late George Duke\, Marcus Miller\, Keiko Matsui\, Donnie McClurkin\, Angela Bofill\, Najee\, Kirk Whalum\, Peter White\, and many others. \n \nComing with a group of 10 or more? Request a Group Sale Discount \n \n \n  Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/brian-simpson-jackiem-joyner-wbgo-presents-all-that-jazz/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240914T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240914T220000
DTSTAMP:20240705T133233Z
CREATED:20240702T143144Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240705T133233Z
UID:10738-1726335000-1726351200@ucpac.org
SUMMARY:SPYRO GYRA - 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
DESCRIPTION:Spyro Gyra50th Anniversary Tour\nSaturday\, September 14\n5:30 & 8 PM\nAs part of their new All That Jazz series at Hamilton Stage\, UCPAC\, WBGO\, & Smooth Jazz NJ Present: Spyro Gyra.\nSpyro Gyra has long been known to its peers in the contemporary jazz world as a “well-oiled road machine” due to its relentless schedule of 48 years of performing. To date\, they have logged more than 10\,000 shows on six continents and released 35 albums\, garnering platinum and gold records along the way. Spyro Gyra rose from humble beginnings in Buffalo\, New York in 1974 to their current international prominence in the jazz world. Every year\, they continue to exhibit how to remain among a relative handful of artists who will be able to say that they have worked constantly in their 50-year career in the year 2024. Their energy and joy in concert match their unmatched musicality. \nDon’t miss your chance to see this incredible band in this intimate setting. Come early and enjoy a cocktail at the WBGO Piano Lounge! As part of the “ALL THAT JAZZ” concert series we have created\, adjacent to the concert hall\, a relaxing pre-show space we call the WBGO Piano Lounge. Enjoy a pre-show cocktail and listen to live music prior to the show. Free entry\, no concert ticket required\, at the WBGO Piano Lounge starting at 5 PM. Free onsite parking. \nPLEASE NOTE: Tickets to this event are sold exclusively through SmoothJazzNJ.com.\nTickets currently cannot be purchased either in-person or via phone through the UCPAC Box Office. \n5:30 PM Show\n \n8 PM Show\n \n  Check out the City of Rahway’s Dinner & Show Deals! \nSee all of UCPAC’s Upcoming Events
URL:https://ucpac.org/event/spyro-gyra-50th-anniversary-tour/
LOCATION:Hamilton Stage\, 360 Hamilton St.\, Rahway\, NJ\, 07065\, United States
CATEGORIES:All That Jazz Concert Series,Concerts,Hamilton Stage
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