Jazz Room Series
Sundays at 4:00 PM (unless otherwise noted)
Admission: Public $15
William Paterson Community and
Seniors $12
Students $8
Each Jazz Room concert is preceded by a “Sittin’ In” meet-the-artist session at 3:00 PM in which audience members have a chance to meet and interact with that day’s artist in a question-answer format.
Mulgrew Miller and Friends:
Duo with Saxophonist Gary Bartz
October 4
A new Jazz Room mini-series continues with influential pianist and William Paterson Director of Jazz Studies Mulgrew Miller connecting with the veteran alto saxophonist Gary Bartz in an intimate duo performance. Bartz brings decades of experience, and Miller's tenure on the WPUNJ faculty is a recent development in a long career that has included recordings and tours with his Trio and his larger group, Wingspan.
Carl Allen and Rodney Whitaker
October 18
The Carl Allen-Rodney Whitaker Project features these two powerful rhythm players (drummer and bassist respectively) as co-leaders of an outstanding ensemble that also features Antonio Hart (sax), Aaron Goldberg (piano), and Rodney Jones (guitar). Their most recent CD, Work to Do (Mack Avenue Records), has garnered outstanding critical acclaim.
Paul Meyers:
World on a String Quintet with
Donny McCaslin, Helio Alves,
Leo Traversa & Vanderlei Pereira
October 25
Paul Meyers, a virtuoso guitarist and improviser, has performed with an ever growing list of jazz greats and has toured for years with some of the greatest jazz singers ever. For his latest recording, World on a String, he has managed to assemble an all-star cast, who are all at their best on every tune.
Saxophonist/Flutist Frank Wess
November 8
Saxophonist/flutist Frank Wess, a longtime featured soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra for more than a decade, brings his powerful solo voice and his well-known arrangements to the stage as he joins forces with the talented students of the William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra.
Clark Terry performs with students during a "Sittin' In" session.
About the Jazz Room Series
Inaugurated in 1978, the Jazz Room is the longest running university-sponsored jazz series in the nation. Jazz Room events encompass the complete spectrum of the genre, ranging from early jazz and swing to the avante garde, from intimate solo concerts to big bands.
George Kanzler, veteran jazz critic who covered the New Jersey jazz scene for The Star-Ledger for more than three decades, writes, “The Jazz Room occupies a very special place in jazz in New Jersey...It is first and foremost a listening room, where you can hear jazz in optimum conditions...Even a casual jazz fan...who attended Jazz Room events regularly...could boast of having seen and heard many of the best jazz musicians of his or her time.”
Each Jazz Room concert is preceded by a “Sittin’ In” meet-the-artist session at 3:00 PM in which audience members have a chance to meet and interact with that day’s artist in a question-answer format.
Over the years, Jazz Room concerts have featured such distinguished performers as Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Joe Williams, Slide Hampton, Kenny Burrell, Kenny Garrett, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Benny Golson. The historic final small-group performance of the late trombonist J.J. Johnson is a best-selling DVD; other artists that have recorded live on the Jazz Room stage include Rufus Reid, Andy LaVerne, and most recently, pianist Hal Galper with Reggie Workman and Rashied Ali.
The series also includes performances by large groups including the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and has presented big bands led by Mel Lewis, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Dave Liebman and others, along with smaller ensembles such as piano trios led by Marian McPartland, Hank Jones, Hilton Ruiz and Eliane Elias. Outstanding William Paterson University student jazz ensembles are featured prominently by opening each Sunday’s concert.
The Jazz Room has received over two decades of continuous grant support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, as well as numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. The series has been featured on national and metropolitan-area media, including recorded broadcasts.