A Fabulous 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree, Sept 25 and 26, 2021 (RECAP)

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, December 15, 2021

The South Orange 24 Hours of Music Jamboree started in 2017 as a local live music event, where the musicians performed on multiple local stages, year after year for 3 years in our neighborhood parks, stores, and gazebos. However, in our new pandemic world in 2020, we all had to adjust in many unexpected ways. The COVID-19 pandemic drove many industries to instantly shut down. Borders, race politics, it did not matter. 

We were faced with a new world and understanding that to resolve this problem we needed to know that “we were and still are all in this together“. Hence, the 24 Hours of Music Jamboree had no choice but to adapt and evolve with the times. In 2020, we adapted the event to be totally online. And we had a great time.

The great thing we learned is that live music is universal and musicians can play with each other from all over the world.  We evolved this year's performance program to meet the lingering needs of a global pandemic, ongoing social distancing, and sporadic worldwide travel restrictions. 

Making It All Happen 

Additional adjustments were needed this season as we had scheduled a full-day tribute to one of our fallen musicians, bass player Darryl Clark. We kicked off the Darryl Clark Tribute in July, but we ran into some extremely uncooperative weather. Hence, we had to reschedule this event before the end of the Summer Saturdays season. Addressing the above issues of travel restriction, rescheduling, budget restrictions, lingering social distance issues, etc., we turned this year's 24 Hours of Music Jamboree into a hybrid affair of online and offline performances. While not continuous due to pandemic restrictions, we used a single venue flow for all performances, therefore turning the 24 Hours of Music Jamboree into 36 hours of music over the weekend. 

Set 1: Saturday, 10 AM - 10 PM 

Planning was done in time to enjoy 3 sets of live music performances. The weekend was divided up between 12 hours live on Saturday, 12 hours overnight, and an 11-hour in-person Tribute on Sunday.  Now, let's take a walk through a wonderful day of live music, jazz, R&B, and a DJ Dance party.

Baker Street Duo with Alex Desrivieres and Senia Raines

The Baker Street Trio, featuring Ben Collins-Siegel on keys, Ben Schwartz on drums, Alex Desrivieres on Sax, and Sen Raines on Bass kicked off the 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree. The music at 10 AM was wonderful and a great way to start the day. You can read more about these youngsters here:

• Bernie Williams-Gil Parris Quartet with Baker Street Trio Knock it Out of The Park at the Woodland in Maplewood

• Baker Street Trio Debuts in Summer Saturdays at Jazz On Sloan St.

• Maplewood Porchfest 2021 A Huge Roaring Live Music Success in Hilton, Maplewood, NJ

Matt Chertkoff Trio featuring Houston Person, Vince Ector, and Matthew Parish

This was an off-the-chain performance at the 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree. Thank you to the phenomenal Matt Chertkoff Trio performance with Houston Person on Sax, Vince Ector on Drums, and Matthew Parrish on Bass. The noon to 2 PM performance was a jazz performance that will be remembered for a long time. Read more about Matt Chertkoff Trio feat. Legendary Saxophonist Houston Person.

Leonieke Scheuble Quartet

Thank you to the fabulous Leonieke Scheuble Quartet for joining us in the 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree. The music performed by Nick Scheuble on Drums, Chuggy Carter on Percussion, and Leonieke Scheuble on Keys, with the legendary bassman Bill Crow, was swinging and just beautiful to listen to and the audience loved it all.

Learn more: Exciting Rising Pianist Leonieke Scheuble Leads Her "Jazz Across The Generations Trio" for Jazz Appreciation Month 2021.

Kumiko Tanaka 

As you can see, the Kumiko Tanaka Trio’s performance was absolutely wonderful. Loving this performance and knowing that folks in Japan faced a lot of the same pandemic challenges we do in performing live music, I requested some background. I asked Kumiko about how they prepared, how they felt about their performance, and how it was received by their audience in Japan.

Read More: Japan’s Kumiko Tanaka Trio Live in NJ - 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree (RECAP).

MPack Music

Thank you to MPack Band for kicking off the dancing Sounds In Spiotta Park for the 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree. The band consisted of Kev Moore (Natz) on Drums, Larry Greenberg on Keys, Kenny Robinson on Guitar, with Patricia Walton on Vocals, led by Clarence Conover on Guitar and Vocals. We switched over to R&B, and folks started moving to the beat with their feet as all entered into jamming and dancing part of the weekend. The audience loved it. 

MPack is the musical brainchild of bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, and vocalist Clarence 'Groove Master' Conover.  He’s the founder, leader, and vocalist of the Clarence Conover Project, the MPack Band, and the Founder and CEO of M-Pack Music Productions, whose motto is “Life Changing Sounds.”  He released his first CD, My Time, in 2014.

New Jersey DJ Services LLC w DJ Jimmy

Thank you to New Jersey DJ Services LLC and their killer sound system for rocking Spiotta Park in the 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree. The music played by DJ James Buttros was swinging and got folks up on their feet dancing the rest of the night. It was a perfect way to end 13 hours of live music in South Orange Downtown Summer Saturdays.

Watch: https://www.facebook.com/gregory.burrus/videos/410486934031777/ 

“New Jersey DJ service is a DJ, entertainment, and party rental services. Party Rental includes bouncy houses, game trailers, etc.. We've been in business for over 25 years and our rates are best in the business.” https://www.facebook.com/newjerseydjservices 

Set 2: Saturday, 11 PM to Sunday, 12 PM

Set 2 was reflective of last year, 2020, which was all online. Pre-recorded performances were played throughout the night. 

Set 3: Sunday, 10 AM - 10 PM — Darryl Clark Tribute 

As mentioned above, thanks to the Town of South Orange and South Orange Downtown, we were able to use the final weekend of the Summer Saturdays Live Music Season. The third part of this hybrid weekend was an in-person 3rd set of all-day music on Sunday 9/26. Here's a short snippet:

You can review and listen to the full Sunday tribute here:

Darryl Clark Tribute in the 5th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree

It’s been a lot of fun every year since the beginning. Hopefully, we see you next year. For now, enjoy some of the good times above and below that went from in-person to totally online, and now back to hybrid events. 

Enjoy Past 24 Hours of Music Jamboree Experiences:

• 2020 4th Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree

• 2019 3rd Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree

• 2018 2nd Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree

• 2017 1st Annual 24 Hours of Music Jamboree

Hopefully, you enjoyed this video walk-through. Talk soon.

About the Author

Gregory Burrus books bands and produces, promotes, captures, and records live music events along with various community and private activities. 

My mission is to help my customers, which are community groups, live music bands, and local nonprofits, reach their goals and accomplish their missions while enjoying the day-to-day process of life.  

Learn more at https://24hoursofmusicjamboree.com and https://gregoryburrusproductions.com 

Discovering the Live Music of Alex Desrivieres aka AlleyCatSax and the Harmonic Convergence Band

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Sunday, December 12, 2021

One of the great things about being in the live music productions and promotions business is the ability to watch musicians create new or adapt a standard tune into something unique and wonderful. Having booked over 100 bands a year, I get to listen to many bands and many genres of music. When you are sitting in the back of an event, you start seeing the audience heads bopping, toes tapping and sometimes they singing along.

Luckily for me, I had an audience member converse with me about music genres and eventually recommend a band. Eventually I listened to Alex Desrivieres aka AlleyCatSax and his Harmonic Convergence Band. What a treat! I loved the sound and booked him / his band when I could throughout these pandemic times. He plays some pretty cool music. Take a listen.

Harmonic Convergence in Downtown South Orange Live Music Concerts

A number of folks started coming out whenever he performed and wanted to know more about Alex and his band. So, as the world inches toward our new normal, we caught up with Alex and asked a few questions about what’s happening in his musical life.

First off, love the name — AlleyCatSax! Where did that come from?

Well, it's a funny story. The name comes from a nickname I got by chance back in high school. My band director gave me a solo about 10 minutes before we went on stage and then forgot my name when announcing me on stage and introduced me as "alley-cat" and it just kind of stuck since then.

What is Harmonic Convergence?

Harmonic Convergence is a project I started after completing my last cruise ship contract. I had experienced so many new cultures and styles of music that I really wanted to have a group of people who shared a love of mixing genres, cultures, and pushing boundaries. As for the name, at the time I was watching a cartoon called "Avatar: Legend of Korra" and there was an episode where there was a phenomenon going on called "harmonic convergence" where the spirit realm and the earth realm were bridged. I couldn't help but think to myself "that's what it feels like when I play music. That's what I want it to feel like when others hear me play music." The fact that it has the musical term "Harmony" which embodies how things sound as one; and "converge" when things come together, be it through conflict and resolution, exchange, etc., the title expresses a lot of what I try to achieve in music. Who says you can't learn from cartoons hahaha

What makes up the band?

For this band, you need to have open ears, first and foremost. I like to take things into different directions often on a whim. I might hear something in the ride or an idea in the guitar and that will become the basis for a whole new direction for a tune. Every tune is a journey even if it has some clear basis to it. I don't like to be tethered to a preconceived idea. Everything is but a moment in time and goes just as quickly as it comes. Best to be present.

The guys I play with, Gordon, Ben, Ian, Ilan... they've been with me through the evolution of my philosophy and we've created some great music on a whim. Sometimes I just shout a progression and they are right there and it'll change and develop just like a baby into an adult all in the few minutes we play.

It makes it interesting when I play with new folks who have their own styles and approaches. I love playing with new people, that's how we learn, through sharing and interacting. But, we have to be open to conflicting ideas. Sometimes choosing to challenge to be flexible or to stand their ground. It's all a conversation in real time.

Where are you headed, musically, professionally, etc. in your live music journey?

That's a good question. I don't really know haha. I just want to create. Right now I'm getting an Artist Diploma in classical Oboe and English Horn. It's an opportunity to explore a new way of thinking in music while honing my craft on a secondary instrument. 

I'd like to write and record more music and generally play more with people. Right now I'm exploring a lot of new territory between Jazz, western classical, and Indian classical music. Probably my dream job would be to write for video games while also performing. Video games exposed me to so many different instruments and styles of music. It's also a hobby of mine, so to combine the two would be great.

Has the pandemic affected your musical journey? 

Definitely! I had originally planned to do a few more cruise ship contracts, but that was not possible due to the pandemic. I was also trying to make a few other moves to try my hand at booking a tour, something I still have yet to do. But, the pandemic gave me a new opportunity to sit still and try to figure things out here at home which has been a blessing. If that didn't happen I wouldn't be having this conversation with you. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to go back to school. I've made new connections and reconnected with others so there have been a lot of positive things that have happened which is what I choose to focus on rather than the losses I've taken and the changes I've had to make. 

We are always learning. I'm only 28, so I'm still a baby in terms of life experience. I had other musical plans, too, in terms of other projects I wanted to record and other things I want to try, but they are not off the table, I'm just going with the flow.

What else are you working on?

Well, right now I'm working on a few different writing projects, a tribute to some of my favorite video game composers and another batch of original music, but I'll cross that when I come to it. I've recorded with a few different local artists in the last couple of months across a variety of genres and I'm looking forward to hearing how those come out.

While this interview is about the jazz band — are you into other musical genres or activities?

Too many to list haha. Like I mentioned, I love film and video game music. If I put my phone on random you'd hear music from all over the world in the first 30 min. Over the summer I went to an Arabic concert and started doing some research into their musical traditions. I also take private lessons on sitar to better understand Indian classical music. There is just so much out there and I'll never learn it all in my lifetime, but that doesn't mean I won't try haha.

Anything else you want your audience to know about  your music?

Sometimes the music will be clear and easy to digest, sometimes it won't, but be open to feel whatever it is you feel as that is your human spirit connecting with something much bigger than yourself. 

What's the best way to hear your music online?

You can find me on Spotify under "Alexandre Desrivieres" or on YouTube you can find some of my videos of fun projects I put together or clips from live shows.

What's the best way to contact or book you?

If you go to my website alleycatsax.com you can contact me there. All of my contact information is there!

Final Thoughts 

While the busy summer season is over, and we start booking more live music, I am excited to state that we at Jazz973 have booked Harmonic Convergence into Clements Place Jazz this season and for the 2022 season, so please join us.

About the Author

Gregory Burrus is a Passionate Community Advocate, Live Music Producer, Reporter, and Writer about local events and happenings In and  Around Essex County, NJ. Showcasing, photographing, videotaping events and creative people as they occur around town while living life every day to the fullest.

My mission is to help people, live music bands and local nonprofits reach their goals and accomplish their missions while enjoying the day to day process of life. Are you ready for your interview? Let’s connect! http://gregoryburrusproductions.com.