Red Bank has a new jazz venue this summer with the creation of the Jazz Arts Project.
Created to present and promote jazz, the new nonprofit will offer seven Friday and Saturday evenings of jazz at the Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, featuring top jazz musicians from the New York/New Jersey area.
Plans for the Jazz Arts Project’s 2006-07 inaugural concert season also include the debut of The Red Bank Jazz Orchestra, modeled after the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Concerts will be presented at Two River Theater June 30 through Aug. 12, 8:30-11:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15, and seating will be caf-style with coffee, espresso and delectable treats available.
The Summer Jazz Caf will kick off June 30 and July 1 with up-and-coming musician Tony DeSare (piano/vocals), who recently received rave reviews for his stint at New York’s elegant Caf Carlyle.
His special guest will be guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli. DeSare has earned critical acclaim for his recent performances at the legendary jazz club Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center.
The Summer Jazz Caf roster also includes:
+ July 7 and 8, Christos Rafalides, hot Manhattan vibes;
+ July 14 and 15, Howard Johnson, jazz tuba master and storyteller;
+ July 21 and 22, Lauren Hooker & Trio, jazz vocalist;
+ July 28 and 29, Wayne Goodman, trombone, formerly with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra;
+ Aug. 4 and 5, Bruce Williams, alto sax, formerly with the Basie Band and Frank Foster Big Band; and
+ Aug. 11 and 12, Claudio Roditi, hot Brazilian trumpet, formerly with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars;
“We felt that Red Bank is the right place and now is the time. What could be more fitting than to create a home base for this organization in Red Bank, the hometown of jazz great William ‘Count’ Basie?” said Jazz Arts Project Artistic Director and Red Bank resident Joe Muccioli.
Muccioli is an internationally known conductor, orchestrator, musicologist and producer. Currently he is principal conductor of Orchestra Atlanta.
He has conducted major symphonies and jazz orchestras throughout the world, including the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.
“Jazz is truly an American voice,” Muccioli said. “It’s steeped in history and tied to social consciousness, democracy, and diversity. It crosses all social boundaries and was one of the first areas of integration in America. We want to pay homage to the great jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Count Basie, while presenting new, fresh performances featuring today’s young jazz lions.”
Tickets are available at the Two River Theater box office, (732) 345-1400. More information about the Jazz Arts Project is available at www.jazzartsproject.org.