Outdoor Live Music Events in Essex County, NJ

Hello October! Lots of Free Outdoor Live Music Events
All Around Our Essex County Towns  

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Friday, October 5, 2018

OK folks, it's beautiful October, a little chilly at times, then a little warm which is great, and some outdoor activities tend to come to a close but not just yet as Outdoor Live Music Continues. BTW all events listed below that I'm involved with are free unless noted otherwise below.

So, “Hello October!”  

Every Wed. 5-8 PM, South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam - Peter Lin

4 more jazz jams coming at you led by the awesome Peter Lin and his band. Every Wed 5-8 PM at 17 Sloan Street in South Orange NJ. Shop at the Farmers Market, secure some food and we invite you to come on over to sing, play, or listen and help us close out the last month of our 2nd Annual South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam. GPS 17 Sloan Street. Learn more: FB https://www.facebook.com/sofmj...

A side note - Yeah it's getting colder and have not found an indoor arena in South Orange yet to bring bands to but I'm open to suggestions and I'm still searching for indoor places to book some live music bands.... Hint hint restaurants and music venues. And on the inside venue we have a very special event:

Wed. Oct 17, 7 PM Clements Place Newark NJ Kelly Green Trio

Jazz973@Clements Presents the marvelous, awesome Kelly Green Trio at Clements Place. It's very special place in memory of Newark Historian Clement Price (RIP) and run by Institute of Jazz Studies Executive Director Wayne Winborne. It's all about jazz, it free access, snacks and libations are donated and the music is just swinging. Kelly is coming to rock your world and folks are excited like you wouldn't believe for Kelly Green as 65 of the 80 seats are gone already so if you plan on coming get your access RSVP now at Jazz973@Clements Place Oct 17 7-9 PM. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/j...

OK. Back to this week...

Fri. Oct 5 Friday @7:30 pm – Mimi Jones Quartet at Clements Place Jazz Events

IJS Concert Series presents Mimi Jones- 15 Washington Street in Newark and this event be truly a great one as Mimi was fabulous last time. Bassist/vocalist/producer/label owner and now filmmaker Mimi Jones has reigned supreme for the more than two decades she’s been on the scene as a side woman to an impressive coterie of musicians and as a leader with three CDs on her own Hot Tone Music label. She has been voted #2 rising star by the DownBeat poll for 3 years straight. Free but you must RSVP Go and click to RSVP register at  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i... 

Sat. Oct 6, 6-7PM Bethany Baptist Church Jazz Vespers Saxophonist George Coleman 

George Coleman has worked with some of the most prominent figures in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Lee Morgan, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus, Betty Carter, Chet Baker, Charles McPherson, Cedar Walton, Ahmad Jamal, and Hilton Ruiz - 275 W Market St. Newark NJ

Sat. Oct 6, 3:30-4:30PM Lil Bastad at Bloomfield Harvest Fest

Lil Bastad will be playing at Bloomfield, NJ's Octoberfest on Sat. Oct. 6 @ 3:30-4:30 - Makin' it funky...  The dynamic character of the band is a result of its members' personalities. On lead guitar& vocals, Mark Bowers (JT Taylor of Kool & The Gang, The Manhattans, Mary J. Blige, Otis Rush, Lowell Fulson, Wilson Pickett); on drums, Dave Moore (Dave Fields, Nikki Armstrong, Kings in Disguise); on bass, Ronald "Boz" Bostick (Blue Magic, Funkadelic, Della Reese & Super Blue). From Long Island, NY on keyboards is John Palmer (Doyle Bramhall, Terence Trent-D'Arby); and on guitar & vocals, Luke Michura (Tanglefoot, Bourbon Street). You've got to hear them to believe it!  Located across from the Public Library -- the rain date, if needed, is Oct. 7 at the same time. https://www.facebook.com/pg/lilbastad

Sat Oct 6 10 AM - Sun Oct 7 3PM Valley Arts Gallery Pop Up Vinyl Shop with Brainiac Records 

Valley Arts Community Gallery brings you the Pop Up Vinyl Shop with Brainiac Records - Brainiac Records and other vinyl vendors will be in the Community Gallery all weekend with tons of vinyl! All genres - you will definitely find something new for your collection. The biggest vinyl pop-up shop around!  ValleyArts 400 S Jefferson St, Orange, New Jersey 07050

https://www.facebook.com/events/239013333473530

Sat Oct 6 - 8PM South Orange Pierro Gallery Presents Below the Water Line

South Orange Pierro Gallery invites you to join us for a free, one-night, open-air show on the South Orange Duck Pond. The debut of a water-born and waterborne series of visual and spoken poetry, the performance will take those gathered around the shore on an illuminated journey Below the Waterline.

The October 6th show will be presented outdoors and free to the public. Guests are invited to bring their own blankets and chairs for sitting on the grass. In case of rain, the show will take place October 13th, 6:00-8:00 pm. See the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/339637276803202/

OPEN Call:

Speaking of Valley Arts - you may know that I'm doing some music programming for Valley Arts Community Gallery right up the rode in Orange N.J. A number of folks have hit me up with ideas and that they want to play so here's a few parameters.

1. I'm looking for some Solo and Duo acoustic artists to come on on out and play some music for an hour or two on certain days of the week in the Artful Bean Coffe Shop. Expenses Only Gig. If interested please email me your interests or FB Msg me (gregoryburrus) your interest and your email.

2. I'm also going to start a Live Music Series in the beautiful Valley Arts Gallery space next door. It's an intimate gorgeous space and we want the music to flow. Here I am looking for some smooth folk singers, country, jazz, neo soul, vocalist, classical music and more. It's an intimate space holds lots of seats but not looking to Rock the Block or the neighborhood. It will be a paid gig so If you have an idea hit me up here on FB Msg  (gregoryburrus) or email me at gregoryburrus@gregoryburrusproductions.com, I can give you more details and maybe we can work something out.

About the Author

 Gregory Burrus with Chelsea Burrus at Clements Place

Gregory Burrus, Your Live Music Ambassador, invites you to stay tuned as there is much more to come.  

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians and local art exhibitions. Gregory Burrus curates events at Jazz973 at Clements Place, Valley Arts Gallery along with being promoter and manager of Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts, Playing Pianos Around South Orange, NJ and is the founder, curator of South Orange 24 Hours of Music and the South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam along with many other live music  ventures.

Gregory promotes events through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photojournalism.  Having fun, living life, while helping others.

Keywords: clementsplacejazz playingaroundsouthorange  downtownaftersundown jazzonsloan southorangegazebo southorangevillagecenter southorangenj gregoryburrusaroundtown sopianos sofarmersmarket sopac   livemusicambassador

Are You Ready To Start Playing Around South Orange - Pianos Projects?

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, August 29, 2018

For the 5th year, to the delight of many residents in the community, Playin’ Around South Orange project pianos were deployed on August 25th all Around South Orange.  Playin’ Around South Orange is a public art project that highlights both the visual and the performing arts.  Pianos transform into works of art themselves by extraordinary local artists, providing unexpected and delightful encounters and encourage active arts engagement in our day-to-day lives through the spontaneous making of music. https://www.sopacnow.org/community/sopianos/.

Playin’ Around South Orange Project Artist

This year, five artists were selected to design these pianos and then they are placed on the streets of South Orange, NJ.  The artists are: 

• The ARTS COUNCIL OF EAST ORANGE painted the piano at the South Orange Gazebo venue. Members of the council are: Gwendolyn ‘Arri’ Jackson, Irene Pomianowski lead the team (Jae Bianca Jackson, Helena L Branch, Jeffrey ‘Sizzy’ Osborne and Marsha Wilderson).

• Elina Rosenblum and Veronika Hapco painted the piano located at Spiotta Park.

• Jessica Skultety painted the Baby Grand piano on South Orange Ave.

• Kurk Maynard painted the piano located at Irvington.

• Bill Beillec painted the piano located at Seton Hall.

Playin’ Around South Orange Project Community Participation

A wonderful part of this project is that anybody can play these pianos.  In the last years, the community has come to expect them and start inquiring to their deployment Around South Orange in June.  Since the normal deployment is at the end of August, much anticipation is built up all summer long.  The pianos are out on the South Orange streets for 6 weeks and folks from in and out-of-town come through and enjoy them all day and night, too.  There is a map at https://www.sopacnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/PASO-Map-2018. These pianos are available for all to perform on, anytime the urge hits you.

Part of this weekend’s fun was the musicians that came out to play, such as Theo Walentiny playing on the South Orange Baby Grand piano with vocalist Elora Aclin while Mark Madonna of the Five Cent Philosophers and his son played tunes at the Jersey Divas piano.

Playin’ Around South Orange Project Musician’s Community Jam  Performances

Next up, we conduct community jams and performances during the evening for folks to come out and enjoy.  With some returning performers and a few newly selected performers, we now have a weekly performance/community jam schedule.  Also, in line with the Jazz Divas piano theme, our first selected pianist, Hal Keshner, has informed us that he may honor each Jersey Diva by playing a tune dedicated to each diva. 

The selected musicians that you should come out and support are:

• Bandleader, guitarist, singer, and pianist Hal Keshner - Thursday 8/30/2018 6-8PM

• Piano Man Robert Richardson & Vocalist Steven Grice - Thursday 9/13/2018 6-8PM

• Vocalist Barbara Hassenfeld and Friends - Tuesday 9/18/2018 6-8PM

• Music teacher and pianist Mustafa “Music King” Daniels - Thursday 9/27/2018 6-8PM

Join us, as all vocalists/instrumentalists are welcome to come join in the fun, before, after and during the performances.

Playin’ Around South Orange Project Wrap-Up

The closing of the Playin’ Around South Orange program falls on or about Sunday, October 7th. To honor each year’s pianos as pieces of art, they are auctioned off and/or donated to benefit SOPAC’s education programming.  Playin’ Around South Orange is proudly sponsored by Patti Donovan.  Artist and piano design are managed by the South Orange Performing Arts Center with local live music promoter Gregory Burrus managing the weekly community jams.  For more details please contact Linda Beard at (973) 382-1035.

About the Author

Gregory Burrus with Artist Irene Pomianowski

Gregory Burrus, Your Live Music Ambassador, invites you to stay tuned as there is much more to come.  

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians and local art exhibitions. On a regular basis, Gregory Burrus is promoter and manager of Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts, Playing Pianos Around South Orange, NJ, Farmers Market Jazz Jam along with many other musical ventures.

Gregory promotes events through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photojournalism.  Having fun living life while helping others.

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