-
-
Celebrating the Music of Art Farmer/ Benny Golson Jazztet with Jerry Weldon and Friends with Special Guest George Cables
Feb 16, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts
Powerhouse saxophonist Jerry Weldon has been the lead tenor sax voice of the Count Basie Orchestra, Joey DeFrancesco’s big band, and first gained prominence as a soloist with Lionel Hampton and the big band led by Harry Connick Jr., as well as Connick’s daytime TV show HARRY. His is truly an under-recognized tenor sax voice, and this opening spring Jazz Room concert is a chance to hear him in person! He is joined by an all-star band featuring trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, drummer Jerome Jennings, and special guest and pianist George Cables. This promises to be a powerful Jazz Room opening, focusing on the repertoire of the recently departed Benny Golson and his longtime collaborator Art Farmer.
Sponsored by Lynne Mueller
Tickets:
General Public $20 • WP employees and senior citizens $18 • Non-WP students $10 • WP Students admitted free with IDFree to all ticketholders. Sittin’ In Meet–the–Artist sessions are one hour prior to each concert in Shea Center Recital Hall and feature a rare opportunity for audience members to hear from and interact with the artist of the day.
-
-
-
Chris Potter with the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra
Mar 09, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts
Chris Potter is recognized worldwide as one of today’s major saxophone voices – here joining forces with the 18-piece William Paterson Jazz Orchestra. Potter first gained wide recognition as a member of Dave Holland’s sextet, as well as collaborations with Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, Ray Brown, James Moody, Joe Lovano, many tours with the rock group Steely Dan, and many others. His early musical association was with trumpeter and Charlie Parker veteran Red Rodney. He is most often heard in small-group settings, and this is a rare chance to hear him solo in front of a big band – featuring premieres of new arrangements of three of his compositions by our second-year grad students.
Tickets:
General Public $20 • WP employees and senior citizens $18 • Non-WP students $10 • WP Students admitted free with IDFree to all ticketholders. Sittin’ In Meet–the–Artist sessions are one hour prior to each concert in Shea Center Recital Hall and feature a rare opportunity for audience members to hear from and interact with the artist of the day.
-
-
-
Saxophonist-Vocalist Camille Thurman
Apr 06, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts
Camille Thurman has gained worldwide respect as a saxophonist as well as for her singing. A graduate of the famed New York LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, she was a finalist in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition. She has a recording contract with Chesky Records, just released her fourth album on that label, and she was nominated as Best Jazz Album in the 50thNAACP Image Awards. Ms. Thurman is also a dedicated teacher and mentor, leading to her association with the Heart of Jazz Foundation that awards scholarships and pairs young students with professional jazz mentors.
Sponsored by The Heart of Jazz Foundation
Tickets:
General Public $20 • WP employees and senior citizens $18 • Non-WP students $10 • WP Students admitted free with IDFree to all ticketholders. Sittin’ In Meet–the–Artist sessions are one hour prior to each concert in Shea Center Recital Hall and feature a rare opportunity for audience members to hear from and interact with the artist of the day.
-
-
-
Chico Alvarez with the William Paterson Latin Jazz Ensemble
Apr 13, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts
Vocalist Chico Alvarez was born in New York City, but grew up in Cuba and gained his musical background there, now as a New Jersey resident. He is an active singer, performing with the Afro-Cuban band Mafimba, where he has been mostly their lead singer for nearly 40 years. He has also been jazz radio host of “The New World Gallery” on New York radio station WBAI, having won an award from the National Association of Community Broadcasters and interviewed many jazz giants. In this concert, Alavarez combines with the WP Latin Jazz Ensemble.
Tickets:
General Public $20 • WP employees and senior citizens $18 • Non-WP students $10 • WP Students admitted free with IDFree to all ticketholders. Sittin’ In Meet–the–Artist sessions are one hour prior to each concert in Shea Center Recital Hall and feature a rare opportunity for audience members to hear from and interact with the artist of the day.
-
-
-
Christian McBride & Bill Charlap Duo
Apr 27, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts
This concert creates a truly rare performance by bringing together two true jazz giants who have only performed together rarely in the past and never have toured. Christian McBride has a solid reputation as one of the world’s most respected jazz basists and bandleaders, but that is only the beginning: he leads the Newport Jazz Festival, and co-leads Jazz House Kids with his wife Melissa Walker. Bill Charlap is one of the world’s foremost pianists, touring and recording with his trio of 27 years with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, releasing award-winning albums on the Blue Note label and winning a 2016 Grammy Award with Tony Bennett. This promises to be a truly memorable event, a very rare collaboration between two New Jersey residents who are worldwide jazz icons.
Sponsored by the Woody Shapiro Endowment
Free to all ticketholders. Sittin’ In Meet–the–Artist sessions are one hour prior to each concert in Shea Center Recital Hall and feature a rare opportunity for audience members to hear from and interact with the artist of the day.
Tickets:
General Admission $33 / Senior Citizens $30 / WP students are admitted free with ID
-
-
Will Downing
May 09, 2025 @ 8:00 PM
Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts
They say a man’s “soul” is his spiritual essence. Life’s twists and turns can lift that soul high into the sky or send it crashing to the ground below. Unfortunately, 2023 started with the latter for Will Downing, following the unexpected and soul-crushing loss of daughter Aron Siobhan Downing in January. As a father, he was devastated…heartbroken. As an artist, he sought solace and comfort through his craft…facing the hurt head-on and exploring multiple themes of love to begin the healing. Persevering through the pain Downing is poised to finish the year with his soul rising…literally! The Prince of Sophisticated Soul is ready to share his 7- song masterclass in triumph over tragedy, Soul Rising!
Celebrating an insane 35 years in the “bizness” and 27 Albums to his credit Will Downing will not be stopped! Flexing on his international appeal, the lead single “What Part of My Love” shot to the top of the UK Soul Chart Top 30 and parked there. Those who no longer listen to new releases as the collective work it was intended to be, should make an exception in this case. Although not a “concept” album, the pieces of Soul Rising fit together beautifully as a single statement and should be enjoyed as such. We all know the about the smoothness, but there’s a brand-new kind of…dare I say…”Funkiness”, that I think is here to stay!
Make no mistake…Will Downing didn’t forget the “smooth” that made the Man the Myth the Legend! Nor did he abandon his world-famous knack for what he affectionately calls “interpretations” of classic hits.
There will be no Sittin’ In session prior to this concert
Tickets:
Gold Circle $75
Orchestra/Front Loge $65
Rear Loge $55
