On Sale: WPU's Fall 2021 Jazz Room Series

Now in its 44th season, the WP Jazz Room Series is the longest-running program of its kind in the nation presenting world-class artists with widely varied programs from across the jazz spectrum. Outstanding William Paterson student jazz ensembles open each concert. All performances take place in the Shea Center for Performing Arts.  Sittin' In Meet–the–Artist sessions provide a rare opportunity for audience members to interact with guest artists in an informal setting. These sessions take place at 3:00 p.m. prior to each concert in the Shea Center Recital Hall.  Admission: $15 General Public • $12 William Paterson employees, alumni, and senior citizens • $8 Non-William Paterson students • Free for WP students with valid I.D. • Additional $3 charge per ticket on the day of performance       Janis Siegel SEPTEMBER 26, 4:00 PM   The fall series opens with vocalist Janis Siegel, the veteran lead voice of Manhattan Transfer since 1972. Her voice led the group as they achieved international popularity through the 1980s and onward, winning 10 Grammy awards and entry into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. She has also been a member of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra. Along with her ongoing work with the Manhattan Transfer, she has continued to maintain a wonderful solo career with a band that includes John DiMartino on piano and Luques Curtis on bass.   Buy Tickets       Buster Williams and Something More Quartet OCTOBER 3, 4:00 PM   This all-star group includes pianist George Colligan, two veterans from different eras of Chick Corea’s bands, saxophonist Steve Wilson, and the historic drummer Lenny White. Bandleader Buster Williams is a veteran of groups led by Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Dexter Gordon, Woody Shaw, Mary Lou Williams, and Stanley Turrentine, as well as being a noted vocal accompanist, with Nancy Wilson, Shirley Horn, Betty Carter and others. He has led Something More since 1990, including tours of the U.S. and Europe, including the first international jazz festival in Moscow.   Buy Tickets   This engagement of Buster Williams & Something More is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.:       Russell Malone Quartet OCTOBER 10, 4:00 PM   Russell Malone is one of the world’s leading jazz guitar voices, as a soloistand as a bandleader. He brings his artistry to our stage as a veteran of many tours as a longtime member of bands led by Ron Carter, Diana Krall and Harry Connick, Jr., as well as Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Bobby Hutcherson, Hank Jones, Branford Marsalis, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Jack McDuff, Mulgrew Miller, and early touring with the great organist Jimmy Smith. He has recorded with such varied artists as Houston Person, Sonny Rollins, David Sanborn, Mose Allison, GaryBurton, and the Chieftains. His quartet for this concert includes pianist RickGermanson, WP alumnus Vince Dupont on bass, and drummer Neal Smith.   Buy Tickets       Art Farmer Tribute Quintet—Archive Dedication OCTOBER 24, 4:00 PM   This event celebrates the music and career of the legendary trumpeter Art Farmer, whose archive collection will now be a part of the William Paterson Living Jazz Archives. This concert will feature a band of veterans of Farmer’s groups, including pianist and WP jazz adjunct faculty Geoffrey Keezer, saxophonist Ron Blake, bassist Kenny Davis, drummer Yoron Israel, and WP jazz faculty Jeremy Pelt in the trumpet chair. This concert will feature music from Art Farmer’s actual touring band books, from the new archive, and will celebrate this great musician and new collection at the highest musical level. Proceeds from this event will go toward the Art Farmer Archive..   Buy Tickets       Scott Robinson with the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra NOVEMBER 7, 4:00 PM   Acclaimed saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson is a true virtuoso—able to perform music from the entire history of jazz at the highest artist level. This concert celebrates the return of the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra led by David Demsey, after nearly 18 months off due to the pandemic—and there could be no better soloist to bring the band, and our audience that breadth and depth of jazz history. This program will feature the music of Maria Schneider (whose band features Robinson as a prominent soloist), Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, and some Robinson originals, all performed on a truly amazing array of instruments.   Buy Tickets       Ryan Truesdell—Birth of the Cool Live NOVEMBER 14, 4:00 PM   Grammy-winning arranger/bandleader/producer Ryan Truesdell has established a major reputation in recent years for his work on The Gil Evans Project, recreating and performing the music of this great arranger. There is perhaps no more significant music in the past 70 years than the historic 1949 Birth of the Cool album, arranged by Evans and Gerry Mulligan, featuring Miles Davis, Lee Konitz, Mulligan, John Lewis, Kenny Clarke, and others. Truesdell has reassembled the original scores from that album—which will be performed live on this concert by a nine-piece band made up of best young jazz stars that New York has to offer, all dedicated to combining their own voices with the authenticity of this breathtakingly lush music. This is a truly rare listening experience that you do not want to miss.   Buy Tickets     These events are being sold at full capacity. Please take your personal comfort level into consideration prior to purchasing tickets. Please click here for our latest COVID-19 health and safety protocols. We strongly encourage buying tickets in advance online or by calling the box office.     In an effort to provide the tools necessary for student success in the music program and for the University to continue to provide outstanding public performances, The WP 88 Keys Campaign is being launched to generate support for the purchase of a new Steinway  piano for the Shea Center for the Performing Arts. You are invited to join this campaign with a purchase of a piano key. If you are interested, please contact Maureen O’Connor at oconnorm24@wpunj.edu or 973.720.3990. For general support of the campaign, click the donate button and choose WP 88 Keys Campaign as your gift designation.   Donate       Shea Center for Performing Arts | 973.720.2371 | wp-presents.org   Shea Center Box Office Hours of Operation Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Email: boxoffice@wpunj.edu Wayne, NJ   No refunds or exchanges. All sales are final. All programs, artists, dates, policies, prices and times are subject to change.         WP Presents! programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.     William Paterson University 300 Pompton Road Wayne, New Jersey 07470 Connect With Us ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌