By Virginia DeBerry
April 9 will mark the first birthday of The New Brunswick Jazz Project. Following the “If we build it, they will come” model, over the past year, NBJP has successfully fostered a supportive environment for regular live jazz performance in New Brunswick. The Hub City has long been a destination for theater and great restaurants and in one short year, it has now become a place people also come to hear great jazz— without the hassle of getting to and from Manhattan or northern Jersey towns like West Orange or Madison.
Jazz Project partners Michael Tublin, Virginia DeBerry and James Lenihan joined forces with Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant back in April 2010 when the New Brunswick Jazz Project held their first show featuring sax master and Rutgers Prof, Ralph Bowen. NBJP has gone from producing two jazz performances a month at the beginning, to offering shows three times a week. Over this first year NBJP has featured over 150 acclaimed national and international jazz artists and special guests, including among many others: Arturo O’Farrill, Yoshi Waki, Rudy Royston, Todd Bashore, Andy Hunter, Steve Williams, Kenny Davis, Tia Fuller, Roseanna Vitro, and Rutger’s own Ralph Bowen, Conrad Herwig and Chris Brown. Live, straight ahead jazz is presented weekly at Makeda as well at other venues in Central New Jersey. “We’re not only still here after a year, we’re growing, getting requests from new restaurants who are now eager to offer jazz,” DeBerry says. Jim Lenihan adds, “We’re learning how to manage this unexpected growth.” “It’s great to be a part of something like this and get such wonderful support from our community.” Tublin added.
NBJP has created a real jazz scene and now regularly draws guests from all over the state to the New Brunswick area to enjoy this quintessential, uniquely American music.
Wednesday, April 6 at the Hyatt Regency we have pianist Jim Ridl. Jim performs internationally and nationally with the Jim Ridl Trio and Quintet, JD Walter, Ximo Tebar, Scott Reeves, Sheryl Bailey, Diane Monroe & the Dave Liebman Big Band. You may have seen him previously with Ralph Bowen (who’ll be with Jim Wednesday)—and if you’ve seen him, you remember what a gifted musical talent Jim is.
Thursday April 7 we have the genius of Jared Gold on the mighty Hammond B3 organ. Jared is one of New York’s most in demand organists and has worked with established veterans like Dave Stryker, Ed Cherry, Oliver Lake, Bill Goodwin, Cecil Brooks III, Don Braden & Ralph Peterson. Jared has just released a new CD, All Wrapped Up, so be prepared for a groovin’ night at Makeda. Jared Gold—"a young organist with a fondness for old soul…"~Burning Ambulance Quarterly Journal of Arts & Culture
At Sophie’s Bistro Friday April 8, NBJP will present Aaron Weiman & HIS TRIO. If you’ve heard Aaron before, you know you’re in for a treat. Watching him play is mesmerizing—his light as air, deft touch belies a powerhouse at the keyboard. "My jaw hit the floor watching the Aaron Weiman trio having their way with standards like ‘Misty’ and ‘Lush Life.’ Such dynamic interplay! Such harmonic reinvention! And especially, such unabashed pleasure while making music!" ~Eric Brace-Washington Post.
On Saturday April 9, from 9PM-2AM, NBJP will celebrate their anniversary with a show at Makeda. The first set will feature The New Brunswick Jazz Project Band—a septet, led by Lee Hogans, and they have invited all the musicians they’ve worked with this past year, to sit in during the remainder of the night on a jam to end all jam sessions.
April is also the 10th Anniversary of Jazz Appreciation Month. This year, in coordination with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, JAM is doing what NBJP did last month—celebrating legacies of jazz women. So please visit http://ht.ly/4tKAq and check out all the information and programming Smithsonian Jazz is offering.
Other events in the New Brunswick Jazz Project’s April-long birthday celebration, which coincides with the tenth anniversary of national Jazz Appreciation Month, will the Jazz Tenet a little “Big Band” directed by Ralph Bowen at Makeda on 4/14, trombonist Andy Hunter & Spoke on April 20 at the Hyatt, and the Stryker/Slagle Band with guitarist Dave Stryker at Makeda on April 30. Please visit NBJP.org for the complete schedule.

