April 2022 Digital Program - SOPAC by SOPAC

Yo u r T i c k e t To L i v e M u s i c & M o r e

www.SOPACnow.org | (973) 313-2787 April 2022 Program

“ SOPAC’s spectacular sound design left the material nearly sumptuous.”

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VACCINES REQUIRED

FACE MASKS REQUIRED

TOUCHLESS TICKETING

SANITIZING STATIONS

ANTI-VIRAL CLEANING

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For all current Covid-19 Precautions & Policies, visit SOPACnow.org/Covid-19.

April 2022 Program

ANTI-VIRAL CLEANING

welcome. We Care About Your Safety SOPAC is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of our community. Our current Covid-19 Policies & Precautions can be reviewed at SOPACnow.org/Covid-19. Please know our Covid-19 webpage will be amended as policy updates are made and ticket holders will be notified of any changes right away. SOPAC is guided by CDC guidelines and the state of New Jersey for our policies in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the health of our audiences, staff, volunteers, artists and their production teams.

As of September 1, 2021, all SOPAC patrons must be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine, and must show proof of vaccination along with Government ID to enter. If a patron is not vaccinated, they must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time. All patrons are required to wear masks at all times while inside the venue. This includes children older than 2.

a message from the executive director Dear Friends, Though it is now mid-winter, and the days are short, the sun is shining forth at SOPAC as we rejoice in the reopening of the Jennifer and Tony Leitner Performance Hall and a return to live performances. There is no way to understate what a challenging journey it’s been for the past two years. Covid closure, then a devastating flood certainly made us step up to the plate and stretched our resources. We won’t be finished with our renovations until the permanent carpeting comes in and we hope it will be by the end of March or beginning of April. Blame the supply chain. For now, we will be content with our temporary carpet and an open theatre. And great artists on the stage! We have a Winter-Spring season chock full of wonderful performances. You’ll see some familiar faces, but we also have lots of exciting artists new to our stage this season. Check out Kindred The Family Soul, Red Baraat Festival of Colors, The Bad Plus, DakhaBrakha and more. You won’t be disappointed, and you just might find a new favorite to follow. Make this the season of new beginnings. Thank you to the many, many donors who sustained us, and continue to do so, through this difficult time. Without support from so many our doors might be closed right now. The unflagging generosity of our community has lifted us beyond words. We are filled with excitement that we are “back in business!” Be well.

Dee Billia Executive Director, South Orange Performing Arts Center

More information: www.SOPACnow.org/Gallery-Exhibition 2

MAKING AN IMPACT

BCB is setting the stage to serve your banking needs! SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ◊ CHECKING ACCOUNTS CDs ◊ BUSINESS LOANS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGES ◊ SMALL BUSINESS LENDING LINES OF CREDIT ◊ AND MORE! Stop by your local branch, visit our website, or contact your local representative for more information about BCB’s products and services. MAPLEWOOD

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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OF ESSEX COUNTY Claudine Baptiste 973.854.9770 l cbaptiste@bankwithbcb.com www.BCB.Bank l 1.800.680.6872

A Sincere Thank You to our Major Funders With a heartfelt thank you, SOPAC acknowledges the generous government, foundation, and corporate support received throughout both the COVID-19 pandemic and our mainstage closure due to damage from Hurricane Ida. The following funders helped SOPAC launch virtual events, continue its Dance and Music Residencies, and ensure SOPAC may continue to truly redefine a great arts experience.

The Orange Orphan Society E.J. Grassmann Trust

Delivering Customer Happiness®

The Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation Union Foundation

The Hyde & Watson Foundation Fannie & Morris Sklaw Foundation

George A. Ohl, Jr. Trust

* *

Lakota Holdings Mountain Ridge Country Club

* * Denotes in-kind contributions.

South Orange Frame Shop

* *

Reflects funding as of December 31, 2021.

A Message from the Chair We waited nearly two years (yes, it was that long) to reopen the Jennifer and Tony Leitner Performance Hall at SOPAC. Our intimate 439-seat mainstage theatre has superb acoustics, sight lines, and seating. Audiences remark that attending a performance in Leitner Hall is like hearing their favorite artists right in their own living room. Artists who play SOPAC are thrilled with the intimate setting because it generates a powerful energy loop between artist and audience. We are SO excited to welcome you back to SOPAC. Our journey to reopen was only made possible by the tireless efforts of our Executive Director Dee Billia and her remarkable staff. How remarkable? Well, imagine this scenario. After readying the theater to reopen after being dark for 18 months due to COVID-19, we were hit by Hurricane Ida a mere 8 days before we opened our doors. The storm surge left our lobby underwater and ruined our stage. That was September 1st. Dee and the staff spent the next five months remediating and renovating the entire house so now we have a brand-new stage, new flooring, and a fresh look that we are excited to share with you. I also want to thank our sage Board of Governors for rolling up their sleeves and leading us through the crisis. During our 23 month “break” the board has brought in Cinema Lab to operate the movie theater. Cinema Lab is a phenomenal community partner bringing South Orange first-run Hollywood blockbusters and the best independent films. The board and staff have also worked hand-in-hand to mastermind a new strategic plan that will act as our true north star for years to come. Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank you. We were able to reopen only through the generosity of our patrons. We are grateful to you. SOPAC is SO back! Onward,

Paul Bartick Chair, SOPAC Board of Governors 6

POWERFULLY APPLAUDING THE ARTS American Express® is committed to supporting experiences that move us, whether it’s virtually or center stage at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

Congratulations to SOPAC and the honorees

Rev. Dr Terry Richardson & Lady NaDeen Richarson, and the First Baptist Church of South Orange

Finding inspiration is important. At M&T Bank, we understand how important the arts are to a vibrant community. That’s why we offer our time, energy and resources to support artists of all kinds, and encourage others to do the same. Learn more at mtb.com.

M&T Bank is proud to support the SOPAC 2021 Gala.

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The Gia Maione Prima Foundation is a proud sponsor of the upcoming SOPAC performance featuring Anders Osborne and Jackie Greene with special guest Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters. This event exemplifies the mission of the Foundation supporting the arts since 2011.

April 21-June 17, 2022 Liberty Hall Academic Center at Kean University Visit the Galleries at Kean University to view masterful small-scale prints made by legendary nature photographer Ansel Adams from the 1920s into the 1950s

galleries.kean.edu Image: Denali and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska, 1947. Photograph by Ansel Adams. Image courtesy of Collection Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

The Jennifer and Tony Leitner Performance Hall

Marc Broussard Friday, April 1 The son of acclaimed Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist Ted Broussard, Marc was raised in Carencro, a city in Lafayette, Louisiana — an area that he continues to call home. He released his debut album, Momentary Setback, independently at the age of 20, but his gift for making music was evident well before then. He made his stage debut at age five belting out “Johnny B. Goode” with his father’s band, The Boogie Kings. In 2004, Marc released his major-label debut, dubbed Carencro. The album’s thematic centerpiece is “Home” — that hickory-smoked slab of Bayou Soul that is aged and evolved along with the singer himself. That album, and the others that followed, revealed Marc as an old-school Southern Soul singer blessed with both a rarefied talent and an innate stylistic and emotional authenticity, an artist whose blend of Rock, R&B, Soul and sensitivity have made him one of the most indelible artists of his generation. More than a singer, songwriter and performer, Marc is a humanitarian. His commitment to making the world a better place is a mantra that he has been bound to since the beginning of his career. It has always been about tying music to a mission. Take his new studio album entitled A Lullaby Collection SOS III and children’s book, I Love You For You. Both were created to educate and inspire younger audiences. The album, the third in Marc’s independently released SOS (“Save Our Soul”) series, finds him re-imagining a series of standards — songs such as “Danny Boy,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Moon River,” among others, which are calming, soothing and enticing all at the same time. The 11-song album also includes two originals, “Bedtime” and “Gavin’s Song.” Coinciding with the release of his new album, Marc made his debut as an author with I Love You For You. The book is intended to teach children that every individual is special in his or her own way and has something wonderful to offer.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of both the album and the book will be donated to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Marc’s charitable efforts extend well over a decade, beginning with his self-released album Bootleg to Benefit the Victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and his efforts to organize the Momentary Setback Fund to provide financial assistance to those displaced by both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. He has also taken part in a USO tour to entertain troops in the Middle East. “A lot of it has to do with the people who raised me,” Marc explains. “My parents are wonderful human beings who encouraged us to do everything we can for people that need the help. Philanthropy has been a big part of my life for a long time. I’ve found that artists like me are uniquely positioned to raise awareness and make a difference in our own communities and beyond.” More recently, he established his SOS Foundation as a conduit to help raise money for other worthy causes, such as the United Way and Habitat for Humanity. Of the foundation, Marc says, “the goal is to use music, both recorded and live, to raise money for causes I’m passionate about.”

DakhaBrakha Saturday, April 2 DakhaBrakha is a Ukrainian quartet known for being intimately tied to their homeland, yet instantly compelling for international audience. “We just want people to know our culture exists,” muses Marko Halanevych of DakhaBrakha. “We want people to know as much as possible about our corner of the world.” DakhaBrakha crafts stunning new sonic worlds for traditional songs, reinventing their heritage with a keen ear for contemporary resonances. With one foot in the urban avant-garde theater scene and one foot in the village life that nurtured and protected Ukraine’s cultural wealth, DakhaBrakha shows the full fury and sensuality of some of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking folklore. The innovative group is comprised of multi-instrumentalists Marko Halanevych (vocals, darbuka, tabla, accordion), Iryna Kovalenko (vocals, djembe, bass drums, accordion, percussion, bugay, zgaleyka, piano), 15

Olena Tsybulska (vocals, bass drums, percussion, garmoshka) and Nina Garenetska (vocals, cello, bass drum). DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art by the avant-garde theatre director — Vladyslav Troitskyi — and given the name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Theatre work has left its mark on the band performances. Their shows are always staged with a strong visual element. After experimenting with Ukrainian folk music, the band added rhythms of the surrounding world into their music, thus creating the bright, unique and unforgettable sound of DakhaBrakha. They strive to help open the potential of Ukrainian melodies and to bring it to the hearts and consciousness of the younger generation in Ukraine and the rest of the world. Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, Russian and Australian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture. At the crossroads of Ukrainian folklore and theatre, their musical spectrum is at first intimate then riotous, plumbing the depths of contemporary roots and rhythms, inspiring cultural and artistic liberation. In March 2010, DakhaBrakha won the prestigious Grand Prix prize. In March 2011, DakhaBrakha was discovered by Australia’s WOMADelaide festival and began their ascent in the international music scene. They have since played more than 300 concerts and performances and have taken part in major international festivals throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Asia, Australia and North America. DakhaBrakha has also collaborated with such international musicians as: Port Mone (By), Kimmo Pohjonen Cluster (Fi), Karl Frierson (DePhazz) (Ge), Steve Cooney (IRL), Inna Zhelannaya (Ru), Kievbass (UA), Djam (UA-Iran), and David Ingibaryan (Hu). In addition to their own performances, DakhaBrakha’s original live music score is the soundtrack of the classic 1930 film Earth by Aleksandr Dovzhenko, considered to be one of the most important films of the Soviet era. Earth was banned 9 days after its original release and was glorified in Ukraine only after Dovzhenko’s death in 1956. The film is a passionate tribute to the countryside, to nature, and to the people that work on it.

Tab Benoit with special guest Whiskey Bayou Revue Sunday, April 3 Tab Benoit is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist who has built a remarkable 30+ year career on the foundation of his gritty and soulful Delta swamp Blues. He’s acquired a devoted legion of fans along the way, as well as five Blues Music Awards, including BB King Entertainer of the Year (twice) and an induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. One of the most impressive guitarists to emerge from the rich Bayous of Southern Louisiana in recent years, Tab’s guitar tone can be recognized before his Otis-Redding-ish voice. His set up consists of a guitar, cord and Category 5 Amplifier. The effects that you hear come from his fingers. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tab grew up in the nearby oil and fishing town of Houma, where he still resides today. He was exposed early on to traditional Cajun waltzes and the Country music broadcast on his hometown’s only radio station. Tab’s father was himself a musician; as such, the family home was filled with various instruments. He began playing drums but switched to guitar because the only gigs to be had in rural Louisiana were held in churches, where loud drums were not allowed. In the late 80s Tab began hanging out at the Blues Box, a music club and cultural center in Baton Rouge run by guitarist Tabby Thomas. Playing guitar alongside Thomas, Raful Neal, Henry Gray and other high-profile regulars at the club, Tab learned the Blues first-hand from these living legends. He formed a trio in 1987 and began playing clubs in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. In 1992, Tab released his first recording Nice and Warm. The title track became a hit and Tab’s touring career kicked into high gear. Nice and Warm prompted comparisons to Blues guitar heavyweights like Albert King, Albert Collins and even Jimi Hendrix. Tab began playing 250 shows a year, a schedule he has kept up for over twenty years. Tab’s music evolved over time and he began to strip it down to a threepiece group, where he found more freedom as a guitarist. He was also on a mission in wanting to use his music and his energy to bring 17

attention to Louisiana’s coastal erosion issues. Tab began to spend more time in the Wetlands, and it was where he began to write his songs. This area served as the inspiration for his release, Wetlands. The record combined many musical styles that are indigenous to Louisiana, and Tab began to play accordion lines and washboard on guitar. Following the release of Wetlands in 2004, Tab founded the Voice of the Wetlands non-profit organization and began gather other musicians to use their platforms to get the message out. He put together an all-star band, The Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, which featured Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Vidacovich, Johnny Sansone and Waylon Thibodeaux. Tab recently launched his own imprint, Whiskey Bayou Records, with partner and manager, Rueben Williams. The label has thus far released albums by such established artists as Eric McFadden, Damon Fowler, Eric Johanson, Jeff McCarty and Dash Rip Rock. In 2019, Tab began his tour with the Whiskey Bayou Revue, which features himself and several of his label’s artists.

SFJAZZ Collective Thursday, April 7 Founded in 2004, the SFJAZZ Collective is a leaderless group and a democratic composer’s workshop that represents what is happening now in Jazz. The Collective’s mission is to perform fresh arrangements of works by a modern master and newly commissioned pieces by each member. Through this pioneering approach, simultaneously honoring music’s greatest figures while championing Jazz’s up-to-the-minute directions, the SFJAZZ Collective embodies a commitment to Jazz as a living, ever-relevant art form. Over their fifteen-year existence, the SFJAZZ Collective has honored the music of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, António Carlos Jobim and Sly Stone, and has created over 100 new arrangements and original compositions. The SFJAZZ Collective has gone through numerous lineup changes over the years and has featured Bobby Hutcherson, Joshua Redman, Miguel Zenón, Eric Harland, Mark Turner, Matt Penman, Avishai Cohen, Sean Jones, Andre Hayward, Stefon Harris, Dave Douglas, Nicholas Payton, Joe Lovano, Josh Roseman, Renee Rosnes, Jeff Ballard, Robert Hurst, 18

Brian Blade, Martin Luther McCoy, Obed Calvaire, Matt Brewer, Adam Rogers and others. The current ensemble features Gretchen Parlato on vocals, Martin Luther McCoy on vocals, Chris Potter on saxophone, David Sánchez on saxophone, Etienne Charles on trumpet, Warren Wolf on vibraphone, Edward Simon on keyboards, Matt Brewer on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums. As Downbeat Magazine wrote, “[the SFJAZZ Collective] boasts as much or more collective talent, firepower and critical acclaim than any other Jazz ensemble.”

Shovels & Rope: The Manticore Tour Opening Artist: Jeremie Albino Friday, April 8 “It’s not heavy metal, but in our guts, it feels a bit like heavy metal,” says Michael Trent of the band’s new album, Manticore. This year marks a decade since Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent released their debut album O’ Be Joyful, the first formally billed as Shovels & Rope. Those ten years included the release of six full-length albums, three collaborative covers albums, a curated music festival in their hometown of Charleston, SC (High Water), a musical film (Shovels & Rope: The Movie) and countless dynamic live performances all over the planet. But it was in the rear courtyard suite of the Decatur St. house belonging to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans where Michael and Cary Ann began polishing up the songs that became Manticore. There was a piano in the room and a little desk. There were piles of papers lying on the bed and copious digital ideas in the form of voice memos. The songs and stories that make up Manticore are visceral, bold and at times deeply personal. And while all those adjectives could be used to describe the duo, this time around it rings true in a way that hits differently — or at least harder. Perhaps everything hits harder for everyone these days. And while most of these songs were written before the pandemic, they were all recorded at a time when everyone was inside. It takes aim at the human experience and does so without pulling a single punch: reflections on idol worship, homelessness, social justice, the experience of fierce parental love and marital strife are all on the menu here; and in true American fashion, the helpings are plentiful. 19

Manticore was initially intended to be a stripped back affair. The songs were written with the expectation that they would feature almost nothing but acoustic guitar, piano and their two voices. But with the time afforded to the band by the complete stalling of their industry, they returned to the recordings and indulged the opportunity to expand the sound of the album with no pressures or expectations regarding the calendar. The most extended amount of time off the road since the band’s inception coupled with the creative outlet and subsequent work/ life structure the album demanded created an anchor in a world that seemed to be truly losing its mind around them. “I was grateful to have something to work on, to go into the shop every day for a few hours, get into something, exercise parts of my brain and feel excited about something when there really wasn’t a whole lot to feel excited about at the time,” Michael Trent recalls of the process.

Born and raised in the bright and booming metropolis of Toronto, Jeremie Albino’s heart led him out of the city and into Prince Edward County, where country living and a decade of working on farms gave him the time and space to hone his songwriting skills. His music nods to all manner of troubadours who rambled down similar paths throughout history—he nods slyly to the legendary Blues singers who inspired him, offers a soft and insightful touch with his Folk songs, and stomps and swaggers through soulful Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The Milk Carton Kids Opening Artist: Michaela Anne Saturday, April 9 As NPR puts it, “Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan prove it just takes two voices and two guitars to be a one-band Folk revival.” Pattengale and Ryan make up The Milk Carton Kids, a Grammy-nominated NeoTraditional Folk duo that has often been compared to the Everly Brothers, or, as NPR says, “[they’re] like Simon and Garfunkel procreating with Crosby and Stills.” Although, their minimalist, downhome material with a hauntingly beautiful quality may have more in common with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ duets. They’re known on the road for their adversarial, Smothers Brothers-esque comedic banter as well as their virtuosic guitar skills (Pattengale’s intricate picking and Ryan’s airtight rhythm guitar). 20

Comparisons aside, Pattengale and Ryan formed the group in early 2011, shelving their solo careers in favor of a collaborative project that focused on harmonized vocals, entwined acoustic guitars and rootsy songwriting. They smartly marketed themselves to the Americana crowd. After pulling double duty as Joe Purdy’s opening act and backing band during a spring 2011 tour, closing out that year with a performance on NPR’s Roots Rock concert program Mountain Stage, the two spent most of 2012 on the road with other Folksy acts, including Old Crow Medicine Show and the Lumineers. The duo was featured in the 2013 documentary concert Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Llewyn Davis, inspired by the Coen brothers’ film and featuring artists like Joan Baez, Marcus Mumford, the Punch Brothers and Patti Smith. Pattengale explains a moment from the documentary in an interview with CBS This Morning: “They’ve just got this beautiful footage of us performing the song “Snake Eyes,” from their album, The Ash & Clay, and they pan over and there’s Marcus Mumford and a tear comes down his cheek. When that ran on Showtime, for a long time, it made a big difference in our career.” The Milk Carton Kids also portrayed England Dan and John Ford Coley in the HBO series Vinyl. “In the history of harmony duos, they did not get enough credit,” says Pattengale. But The Milk Carton Kids are starting to get the credit they deserve. In 2013, their album The Ash & Clay was nominated for the Best Folk Album Grammy Award. That same year, they won Group of the Year at the Americana Music Awards. In 2015, The Milk Carton Kids were nominated for their second Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance for City Of Our Lady. Coming full circle, the duo recently released the Prologue 10th Anniversary box set. Ryan and Pattengale noted, “We wanted to commemorate this milestone for anyone who has loved Prologue, of course, but also for ourselves. Those early days were such a blur, but we kept so much of it in iPhone recordings, posters, ticket stubs, tour laminates. Putting it all together got pretty emotional. This was the album that changed our lives.”

Full of lush, sweeping arrangements and honest, deeply vulnerable self-examination, Desert Dove marks a bold new chapter for Michaela Anne. While the songwriting is still very much rooted in the classic 21

Country she’s come to be known for, the record represents something of a sonic shift, incorporating more modern production elements than ever before in pursuit of a sound that owes as much influence on Indie Rock as Honky Tonk. Despite the bolder, more adventurous arrangements, Michaela’s crystalline voice remains front and center.

Melvin Seals & JGB With Special Guest Ron Holloway Wednesday, April 13 Melvin Seals has been a powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years with a long-established reputation as a performer, recording artist and producer. Melvin is most revered for his powerful, high-spirited, Hammond B-3 organ, and keyboards in the Jerry Garcia Band. Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years, and in doing, so helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music.” From Blues to Funk to Rock to Jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and Gospel thrown in to spice things up. Melvin and JGB bring an intuitive, expressive style, soul, spontaneity and remarkable chops to the table. The group consists of John Kadlecik on lead guitar and vocal duties, John-Paul McLean’s savory bass, Jeremy Hoenig on the drums and, of course, a heapin’ helpin’ of the wizard’s magic on Hammond B-3 Organ and keyboards. Their chemistry is the focus from which they create a spontaneous and high art where the sky is the limit musically. They offer an exciting, often psychedelic musical journey that changes nightly and keeps the audience dancing and smiling (and some staring in amazement) for hours. Adding his Rock/Gospel/Soul/Rhythm and Blues touch with his funky style of playing, no wonder Jerry nicknamed Melvin “Master of the Universe.” Melvin continues to treat music lovers to his unique brand of melodic flavor with JGB. Jerry Garcia died back in 1995, but the Grateful Dead icon’s music continues to play, thanks to Melvin Seals, bandleader and organist for JGB, as the Jerry Garcia Band became known after his death. Of Jerry’s legacy, Melvin told the San Francisco Examiner, “I thought, after Jerry was gone, it would be a few years and the scene would just slowly die down and everybody would look for what’s next. I was so 22

wrong! It’s getting greater and bigger and huger. I look at 17-, 18-, 19-year-olds at the front of the stage, singing every word. It’s not going to die. It’s a scene, it’s a style. It just amazes me how it grows and grows. I work today because of that.”

An excellent tenor saxophonist with an open mind who is best-known for his hard bop-oriented performances and recordings, Ron Holloway started playing music in the seventh grade. He worked in R&B and funk bands early on, and sat in with such players as Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard, and Dizzy Gillespie. After playing with Gil Scott-Heron during 1981-1988, Holloway (sounding a bit like Stanley Turrentine) was in Dizzy Gillespie’s last band (1989-1992). He has recorded several albums as a leader for Milestone.

Tommy Emmanuel, CGP With Special Guest Richard Smith Thursday, April 14 Anytime you talk to any of his fans, whether musicians or civilians, invariably they will speak of two qualities that define Tommy Emmanuel’s greatness. The first, predictably, is his extraordinary guitar playing. Considered by those in the know to be among this planet’s greatest guitarists, his playing is simply miraculous, as it would take three musicians, or more, to do what Tommy does solo. The other aspect of his music always mentioned, and without which the first might not be as powerful or as infectiously appealing: the joy. Yes, joy. Because it’s one thing to play these multi-dimensional arrangements flawlessly on an acoustic guitar. But to do it with that smile of the ages, that evidence of authentic, unbridled delight, is an irresistible invitation to feel his music as deeply as he does. “The joy,” he says, “is there always because I’m chasing it through music. Seeing the surprise in peoples’ eyes is worth living and working for… I can’t help but play to the people with all my heart, which is overflowing with joy of being in that moment that I’ve worked all my life for. And here it is!”

Tommy’s father, an engineer who loved music and musicians, brought home an electric guitar one day with the intention of finding out how it worked. Piece by piece, he took it apart to discover its secrets. But Tommy and his brother were more interested in music than mechanics. When their dad was away at work, they’d sneak away with the guitar. Driven somewhat by sibling rivalry, they developed contests that were both fun and extremely educational. “We turned our backs to each other,” Tommy remembered, “and Phil would play a chord and I would have to say what the chord was, what the notes in it were.” It was competition which impacted his entire career, allowing him access to the rich interior architecture of songs. Though neither brother had any formal musical training, this self-schooling quickly transformed both into seriously sophisticated musicians. Soon, their big brother Chris was enlisted to play drums, and with sister Veronica playing lap-steel, a family band was born. The band toured for years. From these origins, Tommy’s music expanded in every direction. At 30, he was burning on electric guitar with several Rock bands in stadiums all over Europe. He could have gone on to live the Rock star life. Yet he yearned for something purer and closer to his heart. Stripping away everything but the essentials, Tommy found the ideal equation, and one which has led him to worldwide acclaim. Although many scoffed that it was possible, Tommy made a series of hit albums as a solo guitarist, and became a major star first in Australia, and soon everywhere. Tommy’s inspiration? That would be guitar legend Chet Atkins, who represented to Tommy the pinnacle of guitar playing. One man, one guitar, and unlimited, passionate song. When Tommy made the trek around the globe to meet the man himself in Nashville, their bond was immediate, and like their music, existed beyond words. Chet picked up his guitar, and the two men jammed joyously for hours. It started a lifelong friendship which shaped Tommy’s music forever. Chet welcomed Tommy into guitarist knighthood by bestowing upon him the coveted title of CGP (Certified Guitar Player), an honor awarded only to four other humans ever. Though already devoted to the life of a solo player, receiving the love and esteem of Chet lifted Tommy into a different realm.

Richard Smith is an English guitarist specializing in the fingerstyle guitar tradition of Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. His career 24

achievements include being named the 2001 National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion and inducted into the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame in 2009. He has played with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Nato Lima, Boots Randolph, Tommy Emmanuel, John Jor¬genson, Marcel Dadi, Tommy Tedesco, Joe Pass, Biréli Lagrène, Mark O’Connor, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Martin Taylor, Jorge Morel, Earl Klugh, Suzy Bogguss, Victor Wooten, John Cowan and many more.

Suzanne Vega An Evening of New York Songs & Stories Thursday, April 21 At a time when some of us may miss the unmistakable energy of the Big Apple, Suzanne Vega transports us to “The City That Never Sleeps” in an intimate concert celebrating her new career-spanning, live album, An Evening of New York Songs & Stories. Vega was born in Santa Monica, California, but grew up in Spanish Harlem and the Upper West Side of New York City. She was influenced by her mother, a computer systems analyst and her stepfather, the Puerto Rican writer Edgardo Vega Yunque. There was a heady mix of multicultural music playing at home, including Motown, Bossa Nova, Jazz and Folk. Vega emerged as a leading figure of the Folk revival in the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang in Greenwich Village clubs. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has performed sold-out concerts in many of the world’s best-known venues. Known for performances that convey deep emotion, Vega’s distinctive, “clear, unwavering voice” (Rolling Stone) has been described as “a cool, dry sandpaper-brushed near-whisper” by The Washington Post, with NPR Music noting that she “has been making vital, inventive music” throughout the course of her decadeslong career. In 1990, she won a Grammy Award for her album Days of Open Hand. A masterful storyteller who “observes the world with a clinically poetic eye” (The New York Times), Vega’s songs have tended to focus on city life, ordinary people and real-world subjects. Notably succinct and understated, her work is immediately recognizable. In 2007, Vega released the Grammy Award-winning Beauty & Crime, a deeply personal 25

reflection of her native New York City in the wake of the loss of her brother Tim Vega and the tragedy of 9/11. Vega’s love for the city shines through as she mixes the past and present, the public with the private and familiar sounds with the utterly new — just like the city itself. Widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation, Vega released her latest album, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories, on September 11, 2020. She recorded these songs live at the storied Manhattan cabaret room, Café Carlyle. The album was recorded in early 2019 and includes favorites like “Marlene On The Wall,” “Tom’s Diner” and her three-time Grammy Award-nominated song “Luka,” a haunting account of child abuse. The new album includes deep cuts from Vega’s catalog such as “Frank and Ava” and “Ludlow Street.” The mix of repertoire also features “New York Is My Destination” from Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers, Vega’s 2016 album from her one-woman play about the Southern gothic novelist Carson McCullers. Vega is also known for paving the way for artists such as Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Shawn Colvin, Edie Brickell, the Indigo Girls, among others.

Carolyn Dorfman Dance Returning to Reconnect Saturday, April 23 Photo Credit: Whitney Browne

Celebrating its 39th season in 2021-2022, Carolyn Dorfman Dance connects life and dance in bold, athletic, and dramatic works by Carolyn Dorfman and nationally renowned choreographers and in collaboration with extraordinary composers, musicians, actors, storytellers, visual artists and costume, set and video designers. The company’s eleven multi-ethnic and stunning dancers tap their unique talents, both in performance and in its interactions with audiences, students and the community, to present high-energy, technically demanding, and highly acclaimed works that take audiences on intellectual and emotional journeys that ultimately illuminate and celebrate the human story. 26

Founder/Artistic Director Carolyn Dorfman is known as a creator of evocative dances that reflect her concerns about the human condition. She is interested in creating “worlds” into which the audience can enter. Her interdisciplinary and intercultural approach on the stage and in the community explores the rich tapestry of human experience, tradition, and stories. For Dorfman, “through our work, we reveal the world as it is...the world as it can be.” Though the COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges, it also gave Carolyn and the company unique opportunities. As an artist who creates work about human connection and community, with partnering a mainstay of her choreography, how would Carolyn create a new piece during a pandemic while her dancers were at home? The result was PRIMA! — Dorfman’s newest work, commissioned by Ocean County College and the Gia Maione Prima Foundation. In choreographing close to 60 works, PRIMA! is Carolyn’s first work where the dancers do not touch. It’s a fascinating counterpoint to her work Pastorale Pause, as well as NOW by guest choreographer (and former Dorfman dancer) Juel D. Lane. As a recent audience member shared, “Your beautiful dancers made me hopeful for better days ahead. Something about the capacity of the human spirit to endure, to find common ground and embrace the shared values that connect us.”

Photo Credit: Shocphot

Juel D. Lane is a renaissance artist and one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” Most recently he won Celebration of Dance: Choreographer of the Year and Best Choreography for Live Performance for Ailey II’s “Touch & Agree.” He has performed nationally and internationally with Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, and currently dances with Bessie Award winning Camille A. Brown & Dancers. In 2012, Lane became the first Black independent Atlantabased choreographer ever to be commissioned by the Atlanta Ballet, choreographing Moments of Dis for the company. Lane was selected to participate in the 2015-2016 Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation New Directions Choreography Lab. Lane’s dance on film, “The Maestro” was featured on AfroPunk.com and awarded Best Music Video at Bronze Lens Festival. He recently choreographed on Ailey II and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Lane was last seen as a dancer in the Emmy Award winning TV special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live on NBC and “Harlem” on Amazon Prime. 27

2022 Jazz & Blues in the Loft The 2022 Jazz & Blues in the Loft series are dedicated to Lee BoswellMay, longtime curator of Jazz in the Loft. Lee will always be affectionately remembered for helping to “keep the music alive” in South Orange. Jazz in the Loft is curated and hosted by John Lee. Blues in the Loft is curated and hosted by Mike Griot.

jazz in the Loft

Roseanna Vitro Sunday, April 10 This Grammy-nominated artist is a world-renowned vocalist specializing in Jazz. In 2021, Roseanna announced her latest musical adventure, her 15th release, “Sing a Song of Bird,” featuring the music of alto saxophone icon, Charlie Parker.

Blues in the Loft

Alex Tea Sunday, April 24 Blues in the Loft presents Roots/Reggae songwriter, multiinstrumentalist and producer Alex Tea. Of his latest single Away, NJ.com says, “put this on your next mixtape with Beach House, Lana Del Rey and Low and you’ll lower your blood pressure by 30 points.”

Happy Holi! Wishing Wish Wi shin ing g yo you u lo love and nd llaughter aughte from DCH Millburn Audi. Live, love, celebrate.

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The Kimple Family Ilisia & Steven Kissner Caral & Robert Klein Randy Kleinwaks Jasmine Bloch Krempels Frank & Maria Krupit Glenn & Robin Kubrak Ken Lain John Lapenta The Larkin Family Debra Lasowitz Barbara Laub & Dennis Percher Michael Lehrer & Holly Evans Elizabeth Leicht Richard Leister Rose Lerner Eve Levy & Michael Salvato Olivia Lewis-Chang & Michael Chang Shirley Lewis-Mosley Peter Lieber James Lisowski Lafayette Little-Avant Greg and Domenica Lord Michael & Lark Losardo The Loughran Family William J. Ludwig Chris & Jon MacQuilken Tom Mainart Helen Makarushka-Kolodiy Kathryn A. Maloney Jeffrey E. Mandel William & Lisa Mark William R. Marks Donald Mayer Lynn McFarlane Molly McKaughan Michael & Maria McKernan Robert & Lorraine Meares David Meinhard & Ellen Breger Marc & Marges Merriweather Phyllis Messinger & John Straus Greg Michales Mark Middleton Alfred & Eve Milanese Richard & Merle Milder Paul W. Millar Mark Miller & Shelley Sherer Dr. Brian Mirman Bridget L. Morton

Doris Moses Elizabeth & Harry Mugford Peter Nardelli Anne B. Ndiaye Thomas & Eileen Neri Louis Nesbitt Phil Nostrand James O’Brien Patricia O’Brien Susan O’Donnell Jane O’Hara Jeffrey Oliver Carlo Orrico Brian & Karen O’Toole Rich Ottenstroer Lisa Goldberg Ozer James Paddock Madhu Pai JoAnn Paralusz Frank & Diane Passucci Shailesh Patel Ronald & Mary Pellecchia Harriet Perlmutter David Peterson Ann Pineles Thomas & Randi Pirozzi Gina & Niko Plaitakis Brett & Aimee Promisel Michael Pulcinella Robin & Bob Rabinowitz The Radecki Family Jolly Raiss Jeffrey Rappaport Helene Reich Nell Reid Michelle Reo-Regan Richard Rew Nancy & Thomas Rich Patricia Weston Rivera Mary L. Robinson Brenda Rogers Dr. Allan Rosenberg Johnathan & Pamela Rosenbluth Henry Rosin Ellen & Hugh Ross Linda & Sean Ross Maria S. Rost Rebecca & Bruce Rounsavill Cathy Rowe Deborah Rowett

Andrew Ruffo & Richard Marfuggi Douglas Ruiz Kenneth Runne Susan Ryan Stephen & Laura Sacks Amy Sadeghi Nan M. Samons Concetta Scalise Jacqueline Schear Michael Schleifer Richard Schlesinger Robert Schmidlein & Patricia Carey Gail Schneider Catherine Schneider-Lewis & Peter Lewis Marc & Melissa Schwarz Daniel Segal Margaret Seip Margaret Sellers Larry & Danna Seltzer Harriet Sepinwall Monika Shanahan Bonnie J. Sharkey Stephen B. Shaw Lorraine Sherman Household Victoria Shpilsky Dale & Victoria Shuster Kenneth & Valerie Siegel Becky Sierp Stanley & Ellen Simon Beth Sklar-Baker & Jed Baker Valerie Slamka Peri Smilow & Budd Mishkin Don Smith Paula & Daniel Smith Betsy Smith Don Jay Smith Shari Sollender Victoria Somers Alexandra & Marie Somers Ellen Spano Ana & Scott Spick Stan & Inessa Spiegelman Faith Stallings Sue Starrett Dr. Lois R. Steinberg Adam & Raquel Stepan Liz Stephens Alan Stephenson & Joel Fotinos

Jon Stewart Lorraine Labonne-Storch Christine Strassman Sallie Stutz Adam Swart Lydia J. Tabak Albert Tartini Steven R. Taub Jay Tepper Darcy Tierney Don & Rosanne Tobey James Todd Jack Tomy David Topchik Han Tran Alan Trembulak John Trosky Sean Trotman Willie P. Troy Anthony Turi Sally Unsworth Anita J. Uotinen Kathleen & Nathan Valente Henry Van Handle Philip & Beth VanDusen Paula & Peter Vitale Louis Vogel Timothy & Fran Wagner Vibert A. Wailoo Jim & Margaret Walker Evan Wallach Danielle Walsman Teri Wayne Charles Washington George & Pat Weekes Elizabeth Wiech Rick Weinstock Lauren M. Wiesenthal Anne Weisholtz Lisa Weissbard & Valerie Oliva Elizabeth Welch Melanie West Keith Whelan Gary Wien Ben & Susan Williams Dawn Williams & James VanOosting Lillian Williams Susan Siegeltuch Witkin Suzanne Wolsten Matt & Margaret Woods

Rebecca Wood Susan Y. Wood David Woods Marie Wormell Gary Wygera Luiza Xavier Philip Yachmetz Jane Yata Anne Zablow Arthur & Rachel Zack Beth & David Zahorsky Peter & Ann Zauber Jeanne & Michael Zavada

In Honor Of Dr. Gerard Amsellem Dee Billia Ferdie & Royce Blackburn Larry Brodey Tracy Cate The Celtic Tenors Samuel M. Convissor Paul & Cathy Desjardins Sandra Dickerson Exhibitology Carol & Gerry Gardner Diana Hart Don Hoefig Hurricane Ida Recovery Jeremy Iris-Williams “Carrying the Torch” Summer Jones Robert & Wendy Lazarus Dyana Goldman & Gregg Lederman LMD from LMD Daisy Moyd Mark Murphy Mirabelle Ryan Leo & Barbara Sender The SOPAC Staff The Strollers Community Theater Company of Maplewood Marion Weinstein Wiener-Skowronek Rita Yohalem SOPAC’s commitment to keeping the arts alive and creating a safe space!

In Memory Of Robin Amster Ron Aronowitz Don Aslan Pat Barry Lee Boswell-May Marianna Helen Busher Dick Catlin Jessica Cleaves Mr. Zebedee Collins Grayce Coviello Barbara A. Deleget Roehl Empestan Moussa Fofana Jacquie Frydman TaQuanna Mone Green Doal W. & Minnie Hanson Milly & Herb Iris The Angel Josh Hugh & Ila Kittle Ret. 1SG & Mrs. William A. Laws Sr. Mary Mahon Meg Marlowe Cawas Motiwalla Sigrid C. Novak John Prine Margaret Rowe Nan Samons Rosemary Scarborough Jerry Silverstein Zeraline Dorthea Smith Verner Russell Somers Gregory E. Swann Nancy M. Tieger Gordon Tomea Sidney Trager Delores Wedlan Marion Weinstein Wiener-Skowronek

In-Kind Donors Jill Abramson Laura Aden Air Group LLC ArteVino Studio Millburn Baccarat Shana Baer Claudine Baptiste

Berkeley Tennis Club Shari Boockvar, Nutrifacts, Inc. Burgers Grilled Right Bury the Hatchet Helene Landau Cartaina Class Act Performing Arts Studio DePaolis Designs Diana Hart Fine Catering Matt & Bari Epstein Katie & Dan Fleetwood Fox and Falcon Frederick & Maureen Gammon GlassRoots Gleamr Mike Griot The Gypset Indigo Road Studio The Inspired Garden JACLO Java’s Compost JCC Metrowest Jenna Shulman College Consulting LLC Juice House Garwood Kitchen a la Mode LH Spa Live Love Lens Photography Linda Lobdell William Macintosh Josianne Manasse Maplewood Country Club Marc David Designs Mark Murphy’s Music Mayo Performing Arts Center John McEwen Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Miti Miti Monster Mini Golf Montclair Art Museum Mountain Ridge Country Club Nancy and David Fine Jewels Neighbors Wine Shop The Neon Tea Party New Jersey Theatre Alliance New Jersey Tae Kwon Do New York Giants New York Red Bulls NJPAC Nutrifacts, Inc. One River School Millburn Orange Lawn Tennis Club

The Order Pandang PaperMill Playhouse Papillon 25 Restaurant & Martini Bar Pet Wants Ramy Brook The Real Real Reservoir Restaurant Rodan + Fields The Rose Hammer Sacks Orthodontics Sadie’s SAP Scussell Farm Seton Hall University Seven Point Wellness Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Sirius XM Alan Sobel Somerset Patriots Sonny’s Bagels South Orange Frame Shop South Orange Maplewood Adult School Marty Steinberg Studio 509 Stumpy’s Hatchet House Tac Ops Tactical Laser Tag Taub Family Selections T-Mobile Tory Burch Foundation Turtle Back Zoo The Village Cinemas at SOPAC Walia Ethiopian Restaurant Wes Mingus Music Winspire [words] Bookstore Write Your Way Free Yoni Kreger Salon Zoological Society of New Jersey, Inc.

Matching Gifts ADP Alger Candlelight Giving Program Blackbaud Chubb Charitable Foundation Comcast

Coverys Crum & Forster Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Ford Foundation Google Johnson & Johnson MEAG New York Corporation Novartis Pfizer, Inc. PSEG Foundation Prudential Foundation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sirius XM UBS Victoria Foundation Remember to ask your employer if they will match your gift!

C reating our future, together.

artscouncil.nj.gov

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