Scheduled Live Music Concerts Return to South Orange for 2021

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Thursday, April 29, 2021

Wrecking Havoc with Our Lives - Pandemic 2020

There is no doubt that the Coronavirus Pandemic wreaked havoc on the live music industry, not just around South Orange but all over the world. Musicians went from traveling and performing 2-3 times a day to zilch, nada, zero performances, as large music halls and small restaurants with a single stage, all had to shut down. After all, what is live music but a communal and social interaction experience, but the virus pointed us all in the exact opposite direction. We entered into the world of necessary and forced social distancing in order to live and to survive. 

COVID-19 Pandemic Cautions

The Summer of 2020 saw us all cautiously returning to a new normal life while committing to all the preventive and precautionary measures required to survive. This, for some, meant not coming out and for others it meant wearing masks, social distancing, no hugs and no hand shakes. For the return of live music, we added in six feet apart circles on the ground at our events and sitting far apart from each other, and we also learned elbow greetings along with never ending hand washing. 

2020 Restart Live Music Season

Since 2010, we usually start our Downtown After Sundown live music season during the last week of May and usually at two locations in the evening. With the pandemic, that was not happening, but in July 2020 we came together and scrambled back outside. Part of the mission was to help businesses that were shuttered for months survive. We put together a live music season based on that and decided to progress by watching the COVID numbers on a week to week basis. 

We found some truly cool bands with fans, found a new stage located with the businesses, and a very large parking lot so folks could space out as much as they wanted. Since we couldn't all be together because of the COVID Pandemic, spreading out was the name of the game. For our daytime events, we also added a component to place the music around town in what amounted to live music pods adjacent to our businesses located all around South Orange. Then we started booking bands on a week to week basis, identified as Making Live Music Around South Orange, NJ While Adjusting for the COVID-19 Pandemic. And guess what? It worked out very well, as many folks came out, stayed safe, and enjoyed the music.

Moving Forward 2021 Live Music Season

Well, we are now announcing a new 2021 South Orange Summer Saturdays born out of last year's learnings. This year, we are starting our season almost a month earlier, extending it a month later, and formally using our new outdoor restaurant patio as our stage. In addition, we identified almost 14 locations for live music all around South Orange, NJ. For our performances, we charged up the lineup as 50% of the bands are new to our performance lineup. Check it out here: SOVillageCenter.org.

2021 South Orange Summer Saturdays Line Up

The 2021 South Orange Summer Saturdays Live Music season will feature blues, jazz, rock, latin, pop, country and more all around our town. 

Highly requested returning favorites are MPAC Band, Los Trafficanos, Andy Lackow and Mess Around,  Harmonic Conversion, Lynette Sheard Entertainment, Organist Radam Schwartz, Gene Ghee, NXSTAGE Music, Carlos Frias & Circulo Social, Mama D and Vexations, Stuff Bros, Dwight West and Spirit of Life Ensemble. 

2021 South Orange Summer Saturdays Coming On Board 

New to the Main Stage, as of this writing, for 2021: Meant To Be Jazz Quartet, Mike Lee Jazz and his Jazz Jam, the fabulous Big Train Band, Forget The Whale will finally grace the main stage, Alan Paul's Big In China, Jacqueline Harmon Johnson Jazz & Jam, pop rocker David Easton, Rafiki led by Norman Man, Sir G. Earl Grice and the truly awesome 19-piece Maplewood Community Music Big Band which is too big for the stage so they will be sharing the parking lot with us.

Around Town South Orange Events 

In addition, around town we’ll also have some of your favorites returning, like Hal Keshner’s Piano Lounge, Bossio Ukulele, Leonieke Scheuble Trio, Alex DeLazzari Jazz, The Zoos, Howlin Poets, Kyle Younger Jazz Group, Charlie Apicella, Mike Choi, New Jersey DJ Services, Laredo the Band, Joel Cotton and, yes, even Opera in the Park if we can work it out, and a number of other events that we will bring onboard throughout the summer.

Honoring and Celebrating Those We Lost 

As you know, due to COVID, most celebrations of life were canceled or postponed, but we remember. Hence, lest we forget, not everyone made it through the 2020 year. We had tributes during the 2020 Live Music Season and into 2021, where some of our musical friends left us while others fell victim to COVID, such as Lee Boswell May, Darryl Clark, Holli Ross and many, many more. All of our memories, our live music season, and a few musical tributes are listed below.

Thank you musician Caylen Bryant for performing at Reflecting Together: South Orange, Maplewood to Remember Lives Lost to COVID-19, March 21. My thoughts during this SOMA Ceremony -  Tribute to Darryl Clark Holli Ross and Lee Boswell May and Many More and their families. 

March 6, 2021, the Township of South Orange named a street in Lee Boz May’s name, called “Boz Way.” I reported on that here: A Tribute to Lee "Boz" May -- Live Music Advocate Making South Orange, NJ Black History and Women's History. Long live “Boz Way.” 

We celebrated with a  ceremony.  Thank you to our musicians for your tributes to our fallen live music advocate, jazz lover, wife, family lover, community lover and more, Lee Boswell May.  

We hope to do more to honor them as COVID restrictions loosen up. 

Anticipating the 2021 South Orange Summer Saturdays Live Music Season

As we try and move forward, all of us here in town feel a sense of joyful anticipation about the 2021 South Orange Summer Saturdays season. We will once again make music for our devoted audience members. It promises to be a season to be remembered and cherish. Please join us.

About the Writer, Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is writing about his first love, the creative people, towns and events all around South Orange NJ, Essex County and Beyond. Gregory continually observes, participates in, reports and writes on local community news, live music and the arts and entertainment scene of the JerseyNYC landscape, right here on Jersey Indie as JI blogger Gregory Burrus. Contact Gregory Burrus to promote your business or nonprofit across various social media and blogging platforms. http://gregoryburrus.me

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

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Saturday, April 17, 2021

Jazz Appreciation Month 2021

April is Jazz Appreciation Month and for 2021 it's about Women’s Impact and Contributions in Jazz. Along with that, the industry has decided to feature on this year’s official 2021 poster pianist, singer, songwriter, storyteller and civil rights activist Nina Simone, who was born in 1933. Nina Simone became enamored with music at the early age of three when she learned to play the piano by ear. Throughout the years Simone received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2000 and was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Nina has had a very interesting career and to learn more about Nina Simone, visit ninasimone.com.

The Fox and Falcon Restaurant

As previously mentioned we are honoring Jazz Appreciation Month here in South Orange with a series of events at the Fox and Falcon restaurant. According to NJ Monthly, "The Fox & Falcon is Part Trattoria, Bistro and Pub and Totally Awesome. The South Orange restaurant and bar is worth the trip for its seasonally inspired menu and signature cocktails."

It also has some great live music events and now for jazz lovers, these Jazz Appreciation Month events are being sponsored by Gregory Burrus Productions in recognition of the significant contribution that jazz music has made to our area and also pay tribute to jazz for its historic and cultural significance.

Jazzy Afternoons Interviews

In getting ready for this event, we conducted an interview with moderator and vocalist Lynette Sheard, band leader Leonieke Scheuble and drummer Nick Scheuble. They spoke on many subjects as the Leonieke Scheuble Jazz trio has members that were born across the generations from the 1920s through to the 2000s. Take a listen and you will hear and see how they have performed, in all the decades since the 50's till today. This also means all those jazz influences are ingrained within their performances whenever they perform. Let's learn a little more about the band.

Pianist Leonieke Scheuble

Nina Simone learned to play music by ear, which is not normally accepted, and Nina did not let that hold her back. Our Jazz Across the Generations bandleader is Leonieke Scheuble who did not formally learn to play music. As her dad recounted, Leonieke (phonetically pronounced "lay-o-nee-ka") Scheuble started to play piano after being inspired by "Ray," a movie based on the life of Ray Charles. Without any prior musical training, she began to spend great lengths of time at the piano creating pieces that were rhythmically interesting and compositionally balanced. She was 5 or 6.

As she said within her "No Boundaries” TEDx Talk when she was 13 and Bill Crow was 88, Jazz is her classroom and the learning as you go process is what makes Jazz so special and you learn in the moment. Take a listen. It’s very enlightening, informative and has a wonderful piano performance. The bottom line is Leonieke encourages children and adults alike to think, dream, and achieve without boundaries.

Leonieke was honored to be selected by Carnegie Hall/Weill Music Institute as as alternate musician for their 2018 NYO JAZZ season. She can been seen performing regularly as a featured artist or leading her trio at many of New York and New Jersey's finest Jazz venues.

Drummer, Percussionist Nick Scheuble

In the middle of the Generations of Jazz band is the proud dad and musician, drummer Nick Scheuble. Nick Scheuble (b. 1960s) is a very versatile, progressive, in demand Jazz drummer and Latin percussionist. Like me, Nick was born in the Bronx and his career has enabled him to perform in many noted venues throughout America, and in his earlier years Nick performed extensively in Europe and alternated residence between the US and the Netherlands. And of course, as mentioned in the interview above, we were honored to have him as a performer a number of times in our South Orange Downtown After Sundown live music concert series, as pictured above.

In addition to running his own very successful bands for a number of years and, as bandleader, his bands have earned considerable praise from several noted Jazz critics. Nick has performed and/or recorded with jazz luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Ray Barretto, Dave Valentin, Chico Mendoza, Peter Bernstein, Bill Crow, Vince Giordano, Mike LeDonne, Wycliffe Gordon, Don Braden and Eric Alexander, to name a few.

Legendary Bassist Bill Crow

Bill Crow (b. 1920s) is a funny, affable and storytelling type guy. We are lucky because he distributes history across the generations in a way that makes it real and seeable. In doing research for this article, I came across this Jazz Loft Project's oral history produced by The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University on legendary bassist Bill Crow. Take a listen.

Crow was the long-term bassist in saxophonist Gerry Mulligan's bands in the 1950s and 1960s. He was in one of the house bands at the Playboy Club in New York and also worked in theater orchestras for Broadway shows where he sometimes played tuba. His career has taken him all over the world, and he has has rubbed elbows with such luminaries as Gerry Mulligan, Marian McPartland, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, JJ Johnson, Benny Goodman, Milt Jackson, Duke Ellington and many more. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Crow)

Bill has captured his wonderful life, as he has authored two books that he believes you will like called Jazz Anecdotes: Second Time Around (published by Oxford University Press in 1990 and in paperback in 1991)  and a second book called From Birdland to Broadway: Scenes from a Jazz Life (published by Oxford University Press in 1992 and in paperback in 1993).

I will be booking Leonieke Scheuble Bands throughout the upcoming outdoor season as we all try to find a new normal in this COVID Pandemic-driven world. There is no doubt that these guys love to play, as throughout the pandemic they held sessions in their backyard where musicians came to play, and as Nick Scheuble said, it turned in to a "hang." Leonieke is just entering Manhattan School of Music, and she has one awesome career in front of her.

You can find more about the Trio at:

http://www.billcrowbass.com/
https://www.nickscheuble.com/
http://www.leoniekescheuble.com/

About the Author

I have been watching, booking and promoting Leonieke Scheuble bands for a number of years. Above was another fabulous concert at Rutgers University Clements Place Jazz location, and it was once again one awesome swinging event. The audience absolutely lived it and some have been following her events all over Essex County after that performance.

Gregory Burrus curates and manages the South Orange Village Center Alliance's Summer Saturdays Live Music Concerts. This SOMA resident arrived in South Orange 23 years ago and just loves South Orange, NJ. Gregory enjoys all music genres, but his first love of jazz began as a boy when his mother and father played jazz on the good old record player at home and took him to clubs all over Manhattan. Gregory is putting his expertise and knowledge gained from his former business environment to work producing music, art and community events across South Orange, Maplewood, Newark and other towns around the JerseyNYC area. 

Discovering History, Jazz and More in Out of the Ordinary Places During Your Travels

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Thursday, April 15, 2021

Back in 2015 while taking my daughter to college, we were snowed in (or was it snowed out?). Believe it or not, Buffalo Airport was fine but Newark Airport was not. Yes, Newark New Jersey Airport was snowed in and no flights were leaving Buffalo for Newark. Hence, we were stuck in Buffalo. We secured a hotel and looked for things to do. Being an avowed live music lover and jazz nut, we made some local calls and scanned the hotel guides. We also put a note out on social media, and our friends in New Jersey who originated from Buffalo supplied us with some great recommendations. So, sit back and enjoy our journey through Buffalo as we discover the live jazz music and show you why you should stop in Buffalo during your travels.

 Anchor Bar

Being instant tourists, we of course came across the famous Anchor Bar which is the home of the original Buffalo Wings, originated in 1964 by Dominic Bellissimo’s mother with her secret sauce. The wings tasted great, the menu contained lots of regular bar-type food favorites, the service was fast and overall the atmosphere was lively and upbeat.

Live Jazz Music - Saxophonist Bilal NuGravee

The treat for us was that the Anchor Bar contained a reason for New Jersey Jazz lovers like us to visit Buffalo – that's right, they had some serious jazz. That night, they had a local Quartet with a really cool musician named Bilal NuGravee who played saxophone. While I didn't have a recording from that night, you can listen to a concert that Bilal NuGravee and the NuGravee Band performed at the Burchfield Penney Art Center which is right next to Buffalo State College. 

This was at a three-day John Coltrane festival in celebration of the jazz icon's 93rd birthday.

Bilal NuGravee is a brilliant saxophonist who studied with jazz legends Frank Foster and Archie Shepp, has classical training, and also has more than 40 years of performing various genres of music. Click to take a listen. You’ll love it, as these cats were swinging hard. 

The Terrace

Chelsea Burrus hanging at The Terrace at Delaware Park.

Another place for jazz is The Terrace at Delaware Park, located at 199 Lincoln Pkwy, Buffalo. The Terrace offers safe, comfortable sophisticated dine-in seating on their cozy heated patio or fireside dining room. Situated in the Heart of Fredrick Law Olmstead’s Delaware Park, The Terrace offers upscale casual dining with spectacular views and breathtaking sunsets. StepOut Buffalo puts it this way: “It doesn’t get more idyllic than live jazz overlooking Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park. The Terrace features live ‘jazz and cocktails’ every Friday and Saturday night.” Of course, check for adjustments during this pandemic.

PAUSA Art House

Chelsea Burrus on an annual trip visits PAUSA Art House.

The next stop on this jazz lover’s excursion is a bit more of an artistic place called the PAUSA Art House. The Cuban-born violinist Lázara Martinez co-founded PAUSA Art House in 2013. She is currently the sole owner and manager of all PAUSA business operations.

This place has gained a very good live music reputation, or as stated by StepOut Buffalo: “Although it’s relatively new, PAUSA has quickly gained a reputation as a go-to jazz spot. Sure, there are more high-profile places..., but PAUSA reliably books more jazz than those other places. It’s an intimate spot with the vibe changing based on who’s performing.“

Live Jazz/Funk Vocalist - Alice MacArthur

Above is Jazz/Funk Vocalist Alex MacArthur and her band (bottom), with Chelsea Burrus at the PAUSA Art House (top left), and (top right) is the PAUSA Art House Owner Lázara Martinez. The interesting thing was I discovered Alex MacArthur from listening to her magnificent voice at a jam held at The Historic Colored Musicians Club.

The Historic Colored Musicians Club 

“Originally, there was only one Buffalo musicians union, Local 43. This all white Local which was part of the American Federation of Musicians refused to include African American musicians. As a result, a separate union, Buffalo Local 533 was formed on February 3, 1917. Buffalo then became the eighth city in the United States, since the 1896 founding of the American Federation of Musicians, with racially segregated musician’s local unions.” (Men Working Together: The Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo. By Rachel Bernstein, https://www.cmctheclub.com/club-history)

Retired President of Local 533, Dr. Raymond E. Jackson said, “the musicians used to hang out after they finished their jobs at night. You could get a trotter – a plate of pork, a pig foot, a plate of beans and a bottle of beer – for 25 cents. On Sundays, musicians would utilize the club for band rehearsals, taking advantage of the free space and the piano it provided.”

“Musicians sign the door in the performers' lounge. This is a signature by Buffalonian Dr. Lonnie Smith, a world-renowned musician, composer and performer.” Read more from by Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News here.  

Live Jazz Music At The Club

The jazz club, which is upstairs, hasn't changed much from back in the day.  Now, imagine you can still head on out to a place that, since the 1930's, 40's, and 50's, all the great stars of jazz who came to town stopped in at to jam with their friends and local musicians, such as Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lena Horne, Art Blakey, James Moody and so many more.

Pictured above bottom is an event where I met Alex McArthur and her band - (top left) with Vocalist Melissa Kate, (top mid) Pianist Walter Kemp III and tong time member, and hall-of-famer, Charles Reedy who remembers one of his highest moments as an invitation by Al Tinney to play a tribute to Charlie Parker at the University at Buffalo. “This invitation from Al came accompanied with the complement that Charles Reedy had a sound close to that of Parker himself which is why he was being selected for the gig. Such fellowship and kind supportive words seem like a signature created by the Buffalo Club.” ("Colored Musicians Club 1918 - Present.” By Rachel Bernstein. http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-cmchistory.html)

I know we felt the camaraderie when we were there for sure, thanks to George Scott (President of the CMC) and other regulars – so much so, that we went back twice before we left town.

I know we felt the camaraderie when we were there for sure, thanks to George Scott (President of the CMC) and other regulars – so much so, that we went back twice before we left town. 

The CMC has also organized and sponsored the Queen City Jazz Festival since 2006. As Spectrum News reports, “If you are in the mood for some toe-tapping music, The Historic Colored Musicians Club is holding its tenth annual ‘Queen City Jazz Festival’ Saturday afternoon. The event features food, street shops and of course, jazz music, with more than 15 ensembles hitting the stage. It's the perfect atmosphere to bring your own chair and relax to the music.  The festival is located on Michigan Street, between Broadway and William.”

Jazz Museum at The Colored Musicians Club

George Scott, President of the CMC (green shirt), oversees daily operations of the non-profit, runs its interactive first-floor museum, and leads the George Scott Big Band in the club on Monday nights.

The historic Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo is celebrating a major milestone February. The month marks 100 years since the start of Local 533, the union that represented African-American musicians in the city during a time when segregation was legal and enforced.

The Colored Musicians Club is a historic landmark, a museum, a jazz practice space and a jazz club that links Buffalo to the history of Jazz in a unique and very historical way. It is truly a last of its kind left in the U.S.

The Colored Musicians Club is making sure that history is told and not forgotten, as it has a plethora of information on how Buffalo was an epicenter of Black musical influence. The club is going through a much welcomed expansion which can be read about here. Today, the Colored Musicians Club is the only remaining African American club in the entire United States and, as such, it actively encourages historical research and preservation of the history of jazz in Buffalo. 

African American Heritage Corridor Archway

Now, there is this unique archway that recently went up that continues the history associated with the Colored Musicians Club – The African American Heritage Corridor Archway, which is described this way by Archway Designer Valeria Cray: “The woman that’s on the archway, she represents a strong woman who has had to carry her out of slavery,” she said. “The baby on her back is coming out of slavery. The baby in her stomach will be born into freedom. The man that’s on the left, he represents the men, the strength that he had to carry his family through so many issues so they could be free.” (“New Archway Marks Buffalo's African American Heritage Corridor.” By Thomas O’Neil-White. https://news.wbfo.org/post/new-archway-marks-buffalos-african-american-heritage-corridor)

According to NPR Station WBFO, “The new archway marks Buffalo's African American Heritage Corridor […] The archway is located between William Street and Broadway, a significant stretch of African American history in Buffalo. The Michigan Avenue Baptist Church was a notable stop on the Underground Railroad for escaped slaves fleeing to Canada.  WUFO was the first black-owned radio station in the city and The Colored Musicians Club served as a union hall back when unions were segregated.”

This unique archway is the first archway in the City of Buffalo. 

Shout Outs

We have to give a shout out to a few folks who gave some direction in this endeavor:

• Ron Carter of East Orange, NJ

• WBGO On Air Radio Personality, the fabulous WBGO DJ Sheila Anderson who wrote the book How to Grow as a Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed

• Jazz Buffalo, which is dedicated to building jazz awareness and jazz appreciation in the WNY area

Step Out Buffalo sums it up: “Buffalo has a proud and diverse jazz tradition that continues to thrive. You can’t swing a tenor saxophone in this town without hitting at least one great jazz musician.”

Buffalo Porchfest

Gregory Burrus hanging at Porchfest 2018.

Buffalo Porchfest is a grassroots music festival that turns porches into stages for local bands and musicians for an afternoon. Buffalo Porchfest occurs biannually, every spring and fall, in the Elmwood Village in Buffalo, NY and is organized by volunteers and assisted/supported by the Elmwood Village Association.

Being from Jersey, I can tell you someone in my family makes this trip annually since 2016. Whether you are a musician traveling through, a history buff or a music lover, it's worth a stop over to check out the vibrant live music scene that I discovered. There's real Jazz and History in Buffalo. 

About the Author

Gregory enjoys all music genres, but his first love of jazz began as a boy when his mother and father played jazz on the good old record player at home and took him to clubs all over Manhattan. Greg is putting his expertise and knowledge gained from his former business environment to work producing music, art and community events across South Orange, Maplewood, Newark and other towns around the Jersey/NYC area.

Jazzy Afternoons South Orange Presents "Jazz Across The Generations" to Honor Jazz Appreciation Month 2021

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Saturday, April 3, 2021

Jazz music is considered to be a cultural icon in American history. As Jazz was invented more than 100 years ago, before the turn of the 20th century. The first jazz recording was made in 1917, but the musical form had existed for years before. The 1920s are commonly known as the Jazz Age, which encompassed more than just a love of the music. The up and coming jazz musicians of the time included Bix Beiderbecke, Jelly Roll Morton, and Duke Ellington and a fella born into that 1920’s era William Orval Crow who will be performing for us. 

As Jazz Appreciation Month aims to encourage people to learn about the long, intricate history of this music genre, we have an exciting Jazzy Afternoons’ jazz lineup planned for you outdoors live at The Fox & Falcon Restaurant in South Orange, NJ.  We will honor Jazz history with some fabulous swinging hardcore Jazz performances and a few musicians from back in the day. Events will include many  of your jazz regulars, young rising stars and a few jazz cats with a long history of performing and moving the legacy of jazz forward. 

Jazzy Afternoons at The Fox & Falcon Restaurant

MPACK Band jamming on a Jazzy Afternoon Sunday

Well due to the pandemic, it looks like Jazzy Nights which joined the South Orange Jazz scene last year, right before the pandemic hit us, has now turned into Jazzy Afternoons for the time being at The Fox & Falcon. Like last month we plan to be outdoors every Sunday April 4, 11, 18 and 25, weather permitting. Socially distanced outdoors under the sun and hopefully not need the heaters between 3 PM and 5 PM. 

For this April’s 2021 Jazz Appreciation Month we will feature the following performances. 

• Apr 4th Saxophonist Mike Lee with Billy Drummond on Drums and Mike Karn on bass

• Apr 11th Alex Desrivieres @alleycatsax with Josh November on Bass, Jerry Ulichny on Guitar, Ken O'Rourke on drums 

• Apr 18 Leonieke Scheuble leads a jazz generation s event with Nick Scheuble on drums and Bill Crow on bass.

• Apr 25 The prolific Radam Schwartz the Master of the Hammond B3 Organist - will bring a few friends along to entertain us.

Read on to learn a little more about the folks that will lead us through Jazz Appreciation Month 2021.

Mike Lee Trio

April 4, 2021 -  Mike Lee Mike kicks off our Jazzy Afternoons’ Jazz Appreciation Month with a ferocious roaring start with some very hardcore seasoned jazz professionals. 

Mike Lee locally has run some very successful and widely popular Jazz jams. - from Cecils to the Montclair Social Club and a few popular places in between. As a performing musician his recent associations include The Jimmy Heath Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, Wallace Roney’s Universe Orchestra, The Oliver Lake Big Band, The Loston Harris Trio, The Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, etc, He performs regularly at venues such as The Bluenote, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Smalls, The Jazz Gallery, Fat Cat, and Bemelmans Bar at NYC Carlyle Hotel.

Joining Mike will be the thrilling and powerful drummer Billy Drumnond widely acknowledged as one of today’s most versatile drummers. Mentored  in the bands of jazz legends Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, J J Johnson and Sonny Rollins, Drummond has gone on to record over 350 albums as a sideman with a veritable who’s who of jazz greats such as Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Buster Williams, Sonny Rollins, Nat Adderley, Eddie Henderson, James Moody, and Ron Carter t name a few  of the many.

And Mike Karn who was a part of the vibrant New York jazz scene that developed in the’ 80s and from NYU he went right to the road with Ray Charles. However as Jazz Times reported Mike Karn is a former tenor saxophonist that made the transition to [being an extremely  successful] first-call bassist and is always in demand. Mike has performed with Julius Tolentino, Harry Connick, Jr., Jerry Weldon and one of my favorites Charles Earland amongst many others.  

All of  these musicians have performed throughout the world with some of the jazz world’s biggest names and at the largest jazz venues and festivals.

Alex Desriveres and Friends

April 11, 2021 - An emerging Summer Saturdays South Orange favorite Alexandre Desrivieres aka AlleyCatSax is an up and coming saxophonist, composer, and woodwind doubler. He has worked as a performer on Norwegian Cruise Lines, at Dutch Wonderland amusement park, and in 2015 and 2016 was featured as a “Rising Star” at the COTA Jazz Festival. 

For Jazz Appreciation Month, Alex brings to The Fox & Falcon Jazzy Afternoons the next generation of jazz with his North Jersey Jazz Ensemble. Josh November on Bass, Jerry Ulichny on Guitar and Ken O’Rourke on Drums and they will help us all swing into spring. 

Pianist Leonieke Scheuble

April 18, 2021 -  We will highlight Jazz Across the Generations with professionals that have performed from the 1950s till today.  

Leading this session will be one of our very popular favorites, the young 18 year old rising Jazz Pianist Leonieke Scheuble (b. 2000s). In the summer of 2012, Jazz great Dr. Lonnie Smith gave a 10 yr. old Leonieke a Hammond organ after hearing her play on youtube. A year later, Rudy Van Gelder recorded her with Jimmy Cobb, Miles Davis’ star drumm. In 2015 HotHouse magazine awarded Leonieke "Best Up and Coming Young Artist". She will lead her seasoned trio of veteran professionals into The Fox & Falcon Jazzy Afternoons.

This special session with bassist Bill Crow (b.1920s) who has rubbed elbows with such luminaries as Gerry Mulligan, Marian McPartland, Stan Getz, and Duke Ellington. Bill has authored the book From Birdland to Broadway which is an enthralling insider's account of four decades of a life in jazz. 

Rounding out the trio is the very versatile and progressive, Jazz drummer and Latin percussionist Nick Scheuble (b.1960s). Having played in many noted venues throughout America and Europe, Nick has performed and/or recorded with, among others, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Barretto, Dave Valentin, Chico Mendoza, Peter Bernstein, Bill Crow, Vince Giordano, Mike LeDonne, Wycliffe Gordon, Don Braden and Eric Alexander to name a few. In earlier years Nick performed extensively in Europe and alternated residence between the Netherlands.

Radam Schwart and Friends

April 25, 2021 - We close out Jazz Appreciation Month Jazzy Afternoons at The Fox & Falcon with a few more very seasoned professionals. 

The  prolific Radam Schwartz, who is a Hammond B3 Organist and Jazz pianist that has built his career playing with such great musicians as Arthur and Red Prysock, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Al Hibler, David Fathead Newman, Russell Malone and Cecil Brooks III. He has been featured on over 40 albums as a sideman and has recorded 9 albums as a leader. Radam’s is also known for hosting a long standing Jam Session from 1986 to 20016 at the famous Peppermint Lounge in Orange, New Jersey and then in Crossroads in Garwood, where he played every Tuesday for 19 years, making this the longest running session in New Jersey history. 

Gene Ghee is a highly in-demand saxophonist and has performed with numerous professionals such as Art Blakey Jr., Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Teddy Pendergrass, Anita Baker, B.T.Express, Arthur Prysock, Little Anthony and The Imperials. Add to that Etta Jones, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Benny Powell, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, and Barry Harris plus the list goes on.  He's a performer on recordings of Stevie Wonder (Do I Do), played tenor saxophone and contracted the horn section for the session which included Frank Wess, Virgil Jones, Ron Tooley, Britt Woodman, Clifton Anderson, Victor Paz and others. Recordings / performances with the likes of Evelyn “Champagne” King, The Village People, Candi Staton. T.S.Monk plus many more national and international performers. 

About The Fox & Falcon

The Fox & Falcon, 19 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ (973) 419-6773

Jazzy Afternoons at The Fox & Falcon is located in the heart of downtown South Orange, it is a culinary destination for the emerging food scene of Essex County, in which renowned restaurateur David Massoni has found a home. Embodying the diversity and uniqueness of SOMA (South Orange/Maplewood), The Fox & Falcon delivers to all guests a warm and inviting environment in which to gather.

David Massoni, Owner, The Fox & Falcon

With more than twenty years of restaurant experience the restaurant is led by a very passionate customer focused owner David W Massoni with a staff that’s clearly focused on ensuring your health and service are optimal experiences. They are following all CDC guidelines so their policy is that “all guests must wear masks while inside while not eating or drinking. The maximum number of guests at one table if available) is eight (8). All guests must practice social distancing by standing 6 feet apart. If you have a fever or symptoms of COVID 19, please stay home.” 

The Fox & Falcon is ready, so join us outdoors under the tented space in a socially distanced full service outdoor dining area where the Jazz will be jumpin. Come listen, grab a drink, some food and have some fun.

About Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus with Restaurateur David Massoni, The Fox & Falcon

Gregory Burrus curates and manages the South Orange Village Center Alliance's Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts. This SOMA resident arrived in South Orange, 23-year ago and just loves South Orange, NJ. Gregory enjoys all music genres but his first love of jazz began as a boy when his mother and father played jazz on the good old record player at home and took him to clubs all over Manhattan. Greg is putting his expertise and knowledge gained from his former business environment to work producing music, art and community events across South Orange, Maplewood, Newark and other towns around the JerseyNYC area. 

(RECAP) Fabulous WHM2021 “Refresh In Progress” Women's History Month Celebration

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Thursday, April 1, 2021

8 years ago, Joy Topping-Mann started a Women's History Month Celebration because, as she said, “I believe in strengthening the bonds of Sisterhood. I wanted to create a platform for women to unite, share their gifts, talents and accomplishments, and thereby encourage others to do the same.” Joy felt that “Many accomplishments of local women go unnoticed. I love exposing these unsung heroes, applauding them for their excellence and giving them their flowers now.”

St. Joseph's Church - formerly named the Priory - with Denise McCoy

This masterfully produced event is usually conducted in the Priory Jazz Club in Newark, NJ which is inside a beautiful old church (St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church) on West Market. The church closed in 1980 and New Community purchased the church and neighboring property from the Archdiocese of Newark in 1983 and renovated the church, at a cost of nearly $2 million. 

WHM2021 Co-producer Denise McCoy has been booking the talent, special events, galas, anniversaries and street festivals for the last 26 years for the Priory, where she highlighted local artists from the New Jersey metropolitan area. Denise’s events are always well-attended and this year’s Women's History Month Celebration has been a sellout.

Sadly, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related social distancing restrictions, a normal gathering of over 100 plus folks was not allowed or doable. With the help of a few friends, Joy set up a very successful GoFundMe Benefit to support the cast and production crew and ensure a quality, professional event would still happen. 

Green Room 

Eight years later, this Women's History Month Celebration continues to be produced by Joy Topping-Mann, a.k.a. Ife Basim, and this year the event was broadcasted on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 7 PM from the Mann Mansion in Hillside, NJ. On arrival, the cast and production team were treated to a wonderful Green Room version of nourishment and libations. With a remote TV director in South Orange, NJ, the onsite video production team was in place and the cast was ready, and then it was showtime. 

Refresh In Progress

The theme of this year’s performance was “Refresh In Progress.” The cast performed 3 primary scenes of this play written by Joy, Survival, Strength and Sisterhood. The message was to get the word out that we have all made it this far through the many challenges of the pandemic and our almost new normal, and we should start our Refresh process now. 

Table Dialogue Scenarios

Along the way, there were numerous table conversations discussing the issues of the past, the pandemic and the challenges we continue to face today as the pandemic made us feel bad about feeling bad. The dialogue made it clear that just because you are at home doesn’t mean there is nothing to do.  Like the performers explained, you should reach out to friends and family. Just because you are “shut in” doesn’t mean you are “shut off." You can refresh with friends. 

Positive Uplifting Music

With musical accompaniment by Pianist and Jazz House Kids Teaching Artist Brandon McCune, the performers/singers Joy Topping Man, Zakiyyah Zaimah, Phyllis  Blanford and Patricia Walton further emphasized the Refresh in Progress theme with some extremely positive uplifting songs. 

Special Guests

With the previously stated message of “wanting to create a platform for women to unite, share their gifts” two very special guests were selected by Joy for the WHM2021 performance. 

Flying on Broken Wings

Soon to be best selling author, Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson, read excerpts from her new book, “Flying on Broken Wings”, a journey out of poverty and into success after experiencing some incredible rough situations. An  especially impactful message from one excerpt was when Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson read: “in the madness of it all I found the strength to move on with no place to go but all the way up. I was dancing in my own rain.” She found a way to refresh and move on even at her worst times. Truly a Refresh In Progress.

Keeping It Real

Tonya Agosto was also keeping it real, with her standup comedy, “Let’s Talk About It.” Tonya started her standup comedy routine as an outgrowth of the pandemic. Clearly addressing the play’s primary focus on Strength, Sisterhood and Survival she discussed the issues all women faced — keeping the family safe and vibrant with stay-at-home school kids along with our new adjusted stay-at-home lifestyles. As Tonya would say, “Ladies, let’s talk about it” and she did.  

WHM2021, A Wonderful Experience

As folks experienced, this expertly written script was performed in the lively, positive professional manner as expected by the playwright. The subject matter focused on being introspective about you, your feelings and the pandemic. Well, being introspective is too often considered a sign of weakness, but as the performance demonstrated, it should instead be an indication of strength, and more so associated with thoughtfulness, introspectiveness and independence. This experience of dialogue, music and song definitely encouraged the listeners to start their refresh journey now.  While there were some internet issues during the live experience, folks reported enjoying the performance tremendously. 

A message from Playwright, Author and Vocalist Ife Basim

Playwright, author and vocalist Ife Basim

“I would like to thank everyone who tuned into Ife Basim Masterpieces 8th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration, “Refresh in Progress.” Your applause that was received through the many comments of congratulations was greatly appreciated. You can still experience this wonderful performance by watching the replay of the show on the web at http://ifebasim.tv. 

Broadcast Production Support Team

Co-Producer Gregory Burrus and his team were very happy to produce Videography, photography, press and social media services along with broadcast services of g2bproductions. We were just thrilled to be involved for this 8th Annual Women’s History Month event led by the imaginative and very creative playwright Ife Basim along with live music lover and promoter from the Priory, Denise McCoy. 

About the Author Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, producer, promoter, event planner, and community partner. Gregory Burrus combines his extensive corporate business and technology expertise with his love of live music and being a strong community advocate. 

Donations to continue this wonderful event are still being accepted at www.ifemasterpieces.com. Again, we thank you for your support. Just know that Ife Basim Masterpieces has so much in store, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Learn more

Meet the Cast : Patricia Walton - Phyllis Blandford - Zakiyyah Zaimah - Brandon McCune -
Meet Your Producer Joy Topping-Mann (aka Ife Basim)
Meet Co-producer Denise McCoy 
Meet Co-producer GregoryBurrusProductions
Checkout Ife Basim - www.ifebasim.tv  
Support Us GoFundme: http://ifebasimmasterpieces.com