Here at NJJazzList things will be changing. We're looking at new ways of promoting live jazz and look forward to supporting more jazz artists and venues.
Thank you to all our supports over the years. I've enjoyed every minute of creating and maintaining this site in it's various forms and l am looking forward to doing more for this great American artform. Stay tuned...
-Andy McDonough
New Brunswick Jazz Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting world class jazz performances in downtown New Brunswick & other Central Jersey venues. Since its inception in 2010 NBJP has gone from presenting two jazz performances a month, to offering FREE year around shows, four nights every week. The Jazz Project has successfully fostered a supportive environment for regular live jazz performance in New Brunswick and has presented more than 700 events featuring over 1000 acclaimed national and international jazz leaders, sidemen and special guests, including among many others: Arturo O’Farrill, John Lee, Ed Cherry, Dave Stryker, Akiko Tsuruga, Roseanna Vitro, Mimi Jones, Jerry Weldon, Rudy Royston, Virginia Mayhew, Luis Perdomo, Dezron Douglas, Joe Magnarelli, Ralph Peterson, Steve Williams, Kenny Davis, Tia Fuller, Orrin Evans, Jared Gold, Tim Ries, Victor Lewis, Conrad Herwig, and Ravi Coltrane.
NBJP also regularly partners with the New Brunswick Public Schools and the Hub Teen Center to provide after-school enrichment programming in the form of jazz performances with student participation and talk backs.
Click on image above to learn more about local events.
An iconic Prescott double bass constructed in the early 1800s, once owned by jazz great Scott LaFaro, has been loaned to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) by the International Society of Bassists, marking a significant moment in the preservation and celebration of jazz history.
LaFaro (1936-1961) was a native son of Newark, New Jersey. This rare instrument was central to LaFaro’s groundbreaking work with the Bill Evans Trio in the early 1960s. NJPAC will give audiences a rare opportunity to hear this instrument when today’s leading bassists perform on it as part of the 2025 TD James Moody Jazz Festival: Ben Williams with Stanley Clarke (Nov 9), Max Gerl with Arturo Sandoval (Nov 13), and Christian McBride with his Big Band (Nov 22) - with more to be announced.
This rare instrument was central to LaFaro’s groundbreaking work with the Bill Evans Trio in the early 1960s. NJPAC will give audiences a rare opportunity to hear this instrument when today’s leading bassists perform on it as part of the 2025 TD James Moody Jazz Festival: Ben Williams with Stanley Clarke (Nov 9), Max Gerl with Arturo Sandoval (Nov 13), and Christian McBride with his Big Band (Nov 22) - with more to be announced. The Prescott bass, restored and carefully maintained, stands as both a historical artifact and a testament to LaFaro’s enduring influence on the art of jazz. “For bassists everywhere, Scott LaFaro’s unique sound and incredible musicianship have been a deep source of inspiration. It’s both humbling and exhilarating to be in direct contact with his instrument,” says Christian McBride, multi-Grammy Award-winning bassist and NJPAC’s Jazz Advisor.
The TD James Moody Jazz Festival at NJPAC runs from November 8–23, 2025. The festival will feature a variety of performances, including sets by the George Cables Trio, Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos, Arturo Sandoval, and the Christian McBride Big Band. Click on the image at the top for current event information.
New Jersey’s Jazz Clubs You Should Know
- John Butcher: Seasons and DreamsBy Stuart Broomer John Butcher has been among the most creative figures in improvised music for several decades, during that time both maintained long-established partnerships and sought new possibilities, whether it’s a fresh ensemble or a different sonic environment. These two recent recordings present longstanding associations that continue to grow creatively. John Butcher & Angharad […]
- How to Bring Your Social Media Monetization Strategy to Email March 6, 2025There are many ways to monetize your online presence, including ads on your website, paid posts on social media, or via email. While social media may be newer to the monetization scene than websites, emails, or blogs, it has quickly become one of the most common and profitable ways to monetize your online presence.@media only […]
- Two very different albums from Urs LeimgruberIn 2021, Urs Leimgruber was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious chronic illness of the lungs, which causes ever-worsening shortness of breath and is ultimately fatal. A lung transplant offered the only possible way of avoiding this outcome, and, in March 2025, he underwent this complicated and dangerous operation... [ read more ]
- Kinga Glyk 4th at Dolomiti Ski Jazz 2026A collection of photos from the Kinga Glyk 4th concert at Dolomiti Ski Jazz in Predazzo on March 13, 2026 featuring Kinga Glyk, Rodney Barreto, Lucas Saint Cricq, and Arek Grygo. ... [ read more ]
- New Mini Lesson – Take the “A” Train Jazz Guitar Solo Study (ML 13)A new mini lesson has been added to the Jazz Guitar Licks website: Take the “A” Train – Jazz Guitar Solo Study (ML 13).
- 12 Extended Major 7 Chord Voicings For GuitarExtended Major 7 chords add color, depth, and sophistication to your guitar playing. In this article, we’ll explore 12 extended Major 7 guitar chords that go beyond the basic shapes, introducing richer harmonies through added tones like the 9th and 13th.
This ensemble embraces a broad stylistic swath of jazz, Latin and Brazilian idioms and experiments with intimate to large groups.
Bill O’Connell – piano and Fender Rhodes, Lincoln Goines – bass, Robby Ameen – drums with special guests Randy Brecker – flugelhorn, Craig Handy – alto sax, Conrad Herwig – trombone, Andrea Brachfeld – flute, and Dan Carillo – guitar.
This is bassist, Steve LaSpina’s 12th album as a leader, and explores some of his old tunes, as well as new works. It gives the listener a rare opportunity to experience how original compositions in jazz develop after decades of live performance. PERSONNEL: Steve LaSpina - bass, Joel Frahm - tenor & soprano saxophone, Luis Perdomo - piano, and Eric McPherson - drums.
Drummer, Reggie Quinerly, offers his latest album as a fond good-bye as he relocates to Los Angeles. The quintet of trumpeter Antoniene Drye, tenor saxophonist John Ellis, pianist John Chin, and bassist Sean Conly, recorded their seven tracks together in one room, old school.
Veteran alto man Andy Fusco has appeared on many sessions over the years including his work with the Buddy Rich big band and sideman duties with the likes of Walt Weiskopf and drummer Steve Smith. Bravo to Steeplechase Records who have given him the opportunity to record an album a year with this being his fifth release.
Previously Unreleased Live Tenor Sax Giant George Coleman from The Ballroom in Baltimore,1971
Know of a jazz player in need, a benefit or a good cause related to jazz? Please reach out.
In the meantime, click on the link to learn more about Philadelphia's JazzBridge organization.