Westside Concert Series
at Johnny Jazz Park
Red Bank, NJ
Help Support Live Jazz in the Community
This Sunday, August 20th is our grand finale
Summer of Jazz 2023
One O'Clock Jump
Come out and help us celebrate one of Red Bank's favorite sons, William "Count" Basie on the day before his actual birthday! This is a festive event all afternoon with multiple bands, food trucks, and more surprises. Fun for the whole family!
Sunday - Aug 20 at 1:00PM
Special Festival Event Celebrating
Count Basie
(at the "One O'Clock Jump" time)
Vocalist - Milton Suggs (see More)
with
Brandon McCune, Jason Clotter,
and Zach Lorelli
Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet (see More)
Julius Tolentino (see More
& the Next Wave
Eddie Allen Aggregation (see More)
(Big Band)
Milton Suggs
"A commanding singer, steeped in tradition, but with modern sensibilities" - Downbeat Magazine
Milton Suggs’s voice and approach to music are a reflection not only of his direct lineage, but of the many great voices in Black American Music and culture from the past century and beyond. A Chicago native, Suggs is firmly rooted in the blues and sports a rich baritone with the breadth and power reminiscent of Joe Williams.
Repeatedly voted as a top 10 rising star male vocalist in Downbeat Magazine’s annual critc’s poll, the recognition of Milton’s talents have continued to grow throughout his years as a fixture in Jazz working with artists and bands such as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Orrin Evans, Wycliffe Gordon, Ulysses Owens, and Marquis Hill among others.
As a visionary artist, Suggs seeks to pave new roads within the vast traditions that were laid before him for it is the spirit, struggles, triumphs, and stories from the many generations that preceded him that make up the foundation upon which his own artistry stands.
Digba Ogunbiyi
Digba Ogunbiyi was born in Lagos, Nigeria. His parents recall that he started making rhythmic sounds with random objects at the age of 5. His music studies and artistic development created the inevitable move to the United States to pursue his impressive musical carrier.
Digba has studied at prestigious music schools achieving advanced degrees at the Peter King college of music Lagos, the Music society of Nigeria, the University of Lagos, A masters at New Jersey City University, and a Doctorate at the Eastman School of School. He has since gone on to perform at various international jazz festivals and venues. His Debut Album Ade’digba was released in 2020 and has been described as an eclectic blend of Yoruba rhythms and western harmonies. As a bandleader, Digba performs primarily with his quartet consisting of Jalin Shiver, Chris paredes and Bill Moring. He is a recipient of several awards including Music Quest award (piano category) , Steinway and Sons award for piano proficiency, Ray Wright Prize and many more. His Debut Album Ade’digba was released in 2020 and has been described as an eclectic blend of Yoruba rhythms and western harmonies. As a bandleader, Digba performs primarily with his quartet consisting of Jalin Shiver, Chris paredes and Bill Moring. He is a recipient of several awards including Music Quest award (piano category) , Steinway and Sons award for piano proficiency, Ray Wright Prize and many more.
Julius Tolentino
Saxophonist and educator Julius Tolentino has been on the New York jazz scene for over 20 years. He has played and recorded with numerous small groups and big bands including Louis Haye’s Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band and the Louis Hayes Quartet, Eric Reed’s Sextet, Jeremy Pelt’s Quintet, Natalie Cole, Wycliffe Gordon, Connie Francis, Gloria Gaynor, the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, the Christian McBride Big Band, Cecile McLorin, Michael Feinstein, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy Heath, the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
As an educator, Mr. T has worked with thousands of students from all across the country. In 2007 he is director of jazz studies at Newark Academy, where he conducts five jazz ensembles, wind ensemble, and the middle school bands. Julius has been NJAJE Region I President from 2009-2011 and president of the Jazz Education Network. He is currently an adjunct professor at Montclair State University and is a director at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s High School Jazz Academy.
Eddie Allen
Trumpeter, composer, arranger, author Eddie Allen is one of the more versatile musicians on the New York scene. He’s called upon to play everything from jazz to R&B/Pop to latin to symphonic to Broadway, and everything in between. He studied music, theory and arranging at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay before moving to the east coast where he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the William Paterson University. Since his arrival on the New York scene he has performed with such jazz greats as; Art Blakey, Billy Harper, Randy Weston, Dizzy Gillespie, Henry Threadgill, Bobby Watson, Jon Faddis, Benny Carter, Panama Francis, Joe Henderson and Steve Turre.
Although Eddie can be found leading a quartet, a quintet, a Latin/Brazilian project, and some other eclectic ensembles, today he leads the Aggregation big band which not only plays his own compositions and arrangements, but also the music of such jazz greats as Jimmy Heath, Bobby Watson and others.
Maybe you missed these earlier this Summer...
Sunday - July 30 at 3:00PM
Vince Ector
and Organatomy
Philadelphia native and award winning, hard working drummer has played with all the organ greats from charles Earland to Joey DeFrancesco. Here he brings his group from his latest album Organatomy, along with special guest alto saxophonist Bruce Williams.
Winard Harper
and Jeli Posse
Sunday - Aug 6 at 3:00PM
Jazz Drummer, Band Leader, Composer, Educator, Winard Harper is dedicated to “bringing Jazz to where it is needed”. Constantly in reverence of his predecessors while remaining innovative in his own right, Harper has been among the most celebrated drummers in jazz for many years. He is a virtuoso on the drum set and the balafon, the West African equivalent of the marimba, he is a sought after collaborator at home and abroad, a band leader of his quartet, his quintet and his exciting band the Jeli Posse, a regular with the legendary New York clubs, an educator of future jazz professionals, an educator through his kids programs, an events organizer - successfully running the weekly Fish Fry Jazz Jam and the Sunday "Meet the Artist" Series at Moore's Lounge in Jersey City. Bringing Jazz to the community from which it originated, relating the story of The Great American Art Form, the only music that is 100% "made in America", spreading the joy that Jazz brings is the quest to which Winard Harper is dedicating himself.
Forbidden Tropics
Afro Peruvian Jazz band
Sunday - Aug 13 at 3:00PM
Forbidden Tropics is an Afro-Peruvian Jazz band from central New Jersey. Our music blends Afro-Peruvian rhythms such as Festejo, Lando, Zamacueca, and Panalivio with sophisticated harmonic elements of Jazz. Rather than playing straight ahead Jazz or traditional Afro-Peruvian music, our compositions attempt to create a bridge where both genres meet and form something unique. Our latest album "Peruvian Rhapsody" was released on 2022, and it's available on all streaming platforms.
Band members include Alejandro Ataucusi (guitar), Robbie Sko (keyboards), James Nascimento (bass), Mike Dick (drums), and David Greiff (afroperuvian percussion).