Essex county

Explore independent artists, small businesses, and creative minds in Essex County.

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Open Door Therapy Couple Counseling & Affair Recovery

Open Door Therapy is a relationship-focused counseling private practice. New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor, Terri DiMatteo, has developed a unique approach to helping couples restore and strengthen their relationship. Her methods not only garner good results for the couples in her care, but they also offer enduring results…

KI Back At It

Stronger Tomorrow Wellness

RPM Wireless

Audrey McGowan

Arts Unbound

Claudia Sanders, Your Clutter Cure

Featured

4-Time Grammy-Nominated Artist Oleta Adams Provides An Incredible Soulful Performance, Maplewood, NJ (RECAP)

On Saturday night, September 24th, Maplewood, NJ was treated to an incredible performance by one of the most sought-after musicians in all of jazz. Thanks to Smooth Jazz NJ run by Maplewood resident Rich Engel, The Woodland in Maplewood hosted a…

Elmwood Culture Club Presents Lee Odom Quintet and Stephen Fuller Quintet in a Jazzy Afternoon of Live Music, East Orange, NJ (Saturday, October 8, 2022)

Jazzy On The Lawn - In celebration of Fall, the Elmwood Church lawn will come alive with the explosive sounds of jazzy live music as Elmwood Culture Club welcomes acclaimed composer, saxophonist Lee Odom and her Quintet. Kicking off this Jazzy Afternoon on the Lawn live music experience will be one of North Jersey’s dynamic bands led by the swinging vocalist Stephen Fuller…

NWK Delivers - New Meal Delivery App Launched in Newark, NJ

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Newark Working Kitchens (NWK) was launched in an effort to keep Newark’s local restaurants open and Brick City residents fed. This initiative was powered by Audible, the major online audiobook and podcast service, which has its headquarters in Newark. Just last month, Audible launched a new meal delivery service app, called “NWK Delivers (NWKD).” The app was created to continue and expand the work of Newark Working Kitchens. Aisha Glover, VP of Urban Innovation at Audible…

Jazzy Nights Celebrates Appointment of Harlem World Magazine New President CC Minton (Sept. 16, 7-10PM)

Our next Jazzy Nights Event will be at the historic South Orange Blanchard Mansion where we’ll enjoy another swinging night of jazzy live music, fun and fellowship with friends and neighbors. This event is being held to celebrate our buddy CC Minton as the recently appointed president of Harlem World Magazine…

Let The Music Play — What's Going On In My Neck of the Woods for Sept. 2022

Well, Summer is quickly coming to a close but fortunately September 2022 has lots of Summer within the month along with a lot of live music events for sure. So here we go with Gregory Burrus Productions events all around our towns of Newark, Cranford, City of Orange, Maplewood, Linden, West Orange, Bloomfield and of course South Orange…

Let The Music Play - What's Going On In My Neck of the Woods for July 2022

Hey everybody, we have a great music scene running around the towns and we're proud of it. Our Jazzy live music events are the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon or evening. Our goal is to support local artists and help them get their music out there. Our events feature some of the best up-and-coming talent in the area, are family-friendly, and a great way to bring the community together…

Food Truck and Jazz Festival in Monte Irvin Orange Park, City of Orange NJ, July 9

You are all invited to the City of Orange NJ Food Truck and Jazz Festival for a delicious food and live music experience! Join us in the spacious nature-driven outdoors of Monte Irvin Orange Park. Monte Irvin Orange Park is a county park in the City of Orange, in Essex County, New Jersey. It serves the City of Orange with a playground, athletic fields, basketball court, soccer field, walking paths…

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Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, and Paul Jackson Jr. Deliver an Outstanding Not-To-Be-Forgot Smooth Jazz Performance at the Woodland (RECAP)

What's Going On In My Neck of the Woods for June 2022

Return of the South Orange Undercover Festival 2022 — Super Well Attended and Very Enjoyable!

Words with P.R. (Edition 8) - Wrestling is a Love Story

Elmwood Culture Club Presents Nat Adderley, Jr. and MPack in a Jazzy Afternoon of Live Music (Saturday, May 21, 3-6pm)

Dre Barnes Band Wequhaic Park produced by Gregory Burrus Productions 3.jpg

Jazz in the Community for Your Social Wellbeing, Featuring the Dynamic and Powerful Dre Barnes Quartet (Friday, May 6, 5-7PM, Newark, NJ)

Maysa AND Alexander Zonjic BANDS at The Woodland in Maplewood, NJ April 23, 2022.jpg

An Absolutely Amazing Night of Smooth Vocals, Funk, and All That Jazz at The Woodland (RECAP)

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Jazzy Nights Presents “R&B Music Nights” Led by Clarence Conover and the MPack Band

Interview with Paul Haley and John Ramsburg of Thrill Ride

Punk n’ roll band, Thrill Ride, brought some much-needed joy to passersby in South Orange-Maplewood (SOMA, for short) when they decided to move their practice sessions outdoors during the pandemic. I spoke with Paul Haley (guitar/vocals) and John Ramsburg (bass/vocals) of Thrill Ride at the end of March 2021, and now, almost a full year later, it’s interesting to see what things have changed and what has stayed the same. Paul and John are both cool guys, so it was a blast to learn about the inspiration behind their sound, their songs, and how their music has been received locally as well as internationally.

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Equinox Art Exhibition Featuring Maria Estrela and Christine Keeley with Live Music by Marilyn Castillo and Nedelka Sotelo (Sunday, March 13, 2022)

Kim Clarke Trio at Jazz973 Clements Place Jazz for 2022 Women's History Month and Lady Got Chops Festival

Interview - Flashing Back and Recapping Ife Basim’s Women's History Month Celebrations (Part 1)

Patrick Hilaire’s LIGHT [+SOUND] Photography Exhibition at SOPAC (RECAP)

Banding Together to Address Aging Out of Foster Care, Homelessness and Negative Mental Health

John Lee and Friends Keeping Jazz Alive Since Dizzy Gillespie and More at South Valley BBQ and Lounge

Celebrate Black History Month at SOPAC with Patrick Hilaire’s LIGHT [+SOUND] Photography Exhibition

Keeping Jazz Alive - Norman Mann at the Cricket Club Entertainment Complex

Keeping Jazz Alive - Richard Pierson Life Story Band at DLV Lounge in Montclair, NJ

2021 Gregory Burrus Productions Live Music Year In Review

Marion Meadows and Alex Bugnon in Maplewood with Opening Performance by Violinist Jacqueline Lee (RECAP)

Interview with Crash Doll Vintage

For those who don’t know Nancy Cook — you should. Whether she’s rocking out with her band Megasparkle, putting together art shows and events, making dresses by hand, or uncovering fabulous vintage items, one thing is for certain: Nancy is always on the go. Her vintage clothing and accessory business, Crash Doll Vintage, is the place to go if you’re looking for that rare, stylish vintage piece to add to your growing wardrobe. (If you’re in NYC, check out the Crash Doll Vintage pop-up at 340 E 64th Street, now through January 16, 2022.) Learn all about Nancy’s fashionable beginnings, what it was like to start a business during COVID, and how to shop Crash Doll Vintage online, in our interview below.

Interview with Megasparkle

Megasparkle, the kickass all-female band from Maplewood, NJ, hasn’t let the pandemic slow them down. Delivering a mix of indie, post-punk, pop-rock deliciousness, Thea Kearney (lead guitar, vocals), Nancy Cook (guitar, vocals), Kristy Ranieri (bass), and CJ Jeiven (Drums) released their first 5-song E.P, “Swirling Glitter”, back in February 2021. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with Thea and Nancy about their pandemic-related musical adventures in our interview below.