Broadway and TV sensation Katharine McPhee joins 16-time GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, composer and producer David Foster for this intimate cabaret-style concert. With David on the keys and Katharine at the mic, this power couple brings undeniable musical chemistry to the stage. The show will be packed with David’s hits from Chicago, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Josh Groban and Michael Bublé, as well as Katharine’s biggest songs from American Idol, Smash and Broadway’s Waitress. Plus, some of their favorites that they just love.

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An intimate evening with david foster & katharine mcphee

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Savor NICO’s delicious brunch menu, accompanied by harpist Brandee Younger and her trio. The GRAMMY® nominee (“Beautiful is Black”) infuses funk, soul and R&B influences to create a sound that’s undeniably “youthful and fresh” (The New York Times). If you’re not already following Brandee’s meteoric rise, be sure to check out her NPR Tiny Desk performance and her latest album, Brand New Life.

brandee younger trio dorthaan’s place

This jazz is hot, hot, hot! The Django Festival Allstars honor legendary Romani-French guitarist Django Reinhardt and his unique style of 1930s gypsy jazz, also known as “hot jazz.” Guitar, violin, double bass and accordion will get your heart pumping with swinging rhythms, fiery solos and awe-inspiring technical prowess. It’s a family legacy for group leader Dorado Schmitt, who plays alongside talented sons Samson and Amati and cousins Francko Mehrstein and Gino Roman.

Dorado Schmitt and sons: django festival allstars

Bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke isn’t just an NEA Jazz Master, multi-GRAMMY® winner and veteran of 40+ albums. He’s also an accomplished composer of 65+ film and TV projects, including the Tina Turner biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It and Romeo Must Die. His score for John Singleton’s 1991 Oscar-nominated Boyz n the Hood is one of his best, including the original song “Black on Black Crime.” Revisit the iconic soundtrack as a live orchestra plays along with the movie.

stanley clarke boyz n the hood

Guitarist John Pizzarelli is one of our most celebrated interpreters of the Great American Songbook. GRAMMY®-winning jazz vocalist Catherine Russell has “a voice that wails like a horn and whispers like a snake in the garden of Eden” (NPR). These two masterful talents — and The John Pizzarelli Trio — pay homage to Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. You’ll hear the music of Lady Day and Ol’ Blue Eyes like never before, with familiar favorites and surprising hidden gems.

john pizzarelli & catherine russell: billie & blue eyes

Celebrate 25 years of the Bethany Baptist Jazz Vespers Concert Series with music director and bandleader Nat Adderley Jr., jazz trumpeter and conductor Jon Faddis, jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin and jazz/gospel singer Lizz Wright.

jazz vespers at bethany @ 25

Jazz fans will be delighted to experience Madeleine Peyroux live in this intimate performance, part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival. With her sweet-and-smoky voice, the beloved jazz vocalist breathes magic into timeless standards and self-penned originals. This program highlights a variety of songs from across Madeleine’s discography, a living testament to her artistic metamorphoses and the evolutions yet to come.

Madeleine Peyroux

The legacy of jazz pioneer Max Roach is explored by the next generation of breakout percussionists: the Tyshawn Sorey Trio (MacArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize winner, composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey; pianist Aaron Diehl and bassist Harish Raghavan) and GRAMMY®-nominated chamber quartet Sandbox Percussion (Ian Rosenbaum, Jonny Allen, Terry Sweeney and Victor Caccese).

Tyshawn sorey trio and sandbox percussion featuring aaron diehl and harish raghavan

Experience the pulse-pounding excitement of Malevo! The all-male South American drum-and-dance troupe will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s a fiery combination of Malambo (the traditional folk dance of Argentine Gauchos), dramatic flamenco and synchronized percussion. You’ll be gripped by the ensemble’s lightning-fast footwork, high-energy athleticism and exhilarating rhythms.

Malevo

For any jazz fan, it’s a thrill to witness keyboard legend Herbie Hancock perform. He cooks, he smokes, he’s absolute fire — and he burns the place to the ground every time. Now 70 years into his astounding cross-genre career, he’s one of the most acclaimed and honored musicians of our time. Even with multiple GRAMMYs® (including a Lifetime Achievement Award), he never rests on his laurels. Along with his phenomenal band, he’ll take you on an unforgettable musical journey that’s inventive, playful and profound. Above all, Herbie has fun. And so will you.

Herbie Hancock

Join us at our monthly Jazz Jam Sessions, featuring top-flight NJ musicians directed by pianist and bandleader, James Austin, Jr. This series is co-presented by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers Institute for Jazz Studies. Immerse yourself in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the player’s and listeners’ minds. All novice and seasoned jazz musicians and singers are welcomed to jam and improv with the professional band throughout the night.

Jazz Jams

Celebrate 45 years of WBGO, on Friday, April 12 at Newark Symphony Hall!  The evening kicks off with a cocktail reception featuring delicious light bites and music from 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition winner Tyreek McDole Quintet.

WBGO’s 45th Birthday Celebration

Newark Symphony Hall

NJPAC celebrates the close friendship of legendary singer and songwriter Miss Peggy Lee and the greatest vocal star of all, Frank Sinatra. This one-night-only event features Christian McBride as Musical Director, with a lineup of all-star vocalists including Aloe Blacc (Wake Me Up), multi-GRAMMY® winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bettye LaVette (I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Man of LaMancha, Ragtime) and Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive)—along with the Christian McBride Big Band and Strings.

Celebrating Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra & Friends

The divine Sarah Vaughan—Newark’s greatest musical gift to the world—got her start as the winner of a talent contest. NJPAC honors her legacy every year with The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, the only international jazz vocal competition of its kind, open to all genders and nationalities. At this performance, you’ll witness the next generation of powerhouse jazz vocalists ready to take their rightful place in the global spotlight.

Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition

As you savor Nico’s delicious brunch menu, you’ll also savor the jazz stylings of trombonist Steve Turre, backed by the band from his 2022 album, Generations. This combo of jazz elders and rising young stars will perform an eclectic mix of bop, post-bop, ballads and Latin grooves. JazzTimes says: “Generations documents the vast range of what a trombone can express in the right hands, including belligerent bluster, deadpan wit, and even… shameless heart-on-sleeve romanticism.”

Dorthaan’s Place: The Steve Turre Generations Sextet

NICO Kitchen + Bar

The WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series brings world-renowned jazz musicians to concert halls and venues throughout New York and New Jersey. These concerts give young listeners the chance to discover the enjoyment of jazz, improvisation and musical collaboration.

WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series: Elio Villafranca Quartet presents “Standing by the Crossroads"

Dave Grusin practically invented the multi-hyphenate music career. He’s a jazz pianist and band leader. An Academy Award and GRAMMY® winning composer, arranger and producer. And, of course, the co-founder of legendary GRP Records along with Larry Rosen. This show brings together some of the award-winning artists from the GRP family for a night of contemporary jazz. Dave will be joined by fabled LA guitarist Lee Ritenour, “The Prince of Sophisticated Soul” Will Downing, trumpeter and flugelhornist Randy Brecker, sax man Ernie Watts, hall of fame drummer Dave Weckl, super-bassist Tom Kennedy and vocal jazz ensemble New York Voices.

Dave Grusin: A Life in Music

When You Wish Upon a Star will be performed by the newly created house band of The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, featuring pianist and musical director, Sean Mason, and vocalists Kim Nalley and Sasha Dobson, who will bring these famous songs to life.

When You Wish Upon A Star: A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney1

Catch the next generation of great jazz artists from right here in New Jersey. This annual concert event, co-presented by NJPAC’s Arts Education Department and the New Jersey Music Educators Association, brings together some of the very best young musicians and vocalists from across the state for a dynamic group performance. The NJMEA All-State Jazz Band and NJMEA All-State Jazz Choir will be joined by special guest Stefon Harris.

NJMEA All-State Jazz Band and NJMEA All-State Jazz Choir

You’re invited to an intimate performance with the Abdullah Ibrahim Trio, South Africa’s most distinguished pianist and a world-respected master musician. Dollar Brand, as he was known, was exposed to a melting pot of influences during his Cape Town childhood: African traditional music, Christian hymns, gospel tunes, spirituals, American jazz, township jive and classical music.

Jazz events in Newark, NJ

An intimate evening with ...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

brandee younger trio dort...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Dorado Schmitt and sons: ...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

stanley clarke boyz n the...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

john pizzarelli & catheri...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

jazz vespers at bethany @...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Madeleine Peyroux

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Tyshawn sorey trio and sa...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Malevo

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Herbie Hancock

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Jazz Jams

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

WBGO’s 45th Birthday Cele...

Newark Symphony Hall

Celebrating Peggy Lee, Fr...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Sarah Vaughan Internation...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Dorthaan’s Place: The Ste...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Se...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Dave Grusin: A Life in Mu...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

When You Wish Upon A Star...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

NJMEA All-State Jazz Band...

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Abdullah Ibrahim Trio

New Jersey Performing Arts Center