William Paterson University Announces All-Star Line Up for 26th Season of The Jazz Room
—Twenty-year-old phenomenon Peter Cincotti opens the series on Sunday, September 28

Young jazz sensation Peter Cincotti, who is being hailed as a star in the making, opens the fall 2003 Jazz Room Series at William Paterson University in Wayne.

The series continues with Bill Mobley and Mob’s Jazz Orchestra, the Lewis Nash Trio, Bob Mintzer, John Benitez, and Dave Stryker with his group, Blue to the Bone.

The Sunday afternoon series, one of the most prestigious university-sponsored jazz events in the country, will run from September 28 through December 13, 2003.

Concerts begin at 4 p.m. on Sundays in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus. "Sittin’ In," informal jazz talks with the afternoon’s artists or other special guests, will be presented prior to the concerts. The talks begin at 3 p.m. in Shea Center 101 and are free to all Jazz Room ticketholders.

On September 28, pianist and singer Peter Cincotti, a student at Columbia University, appears with his regular touring ensemble which includes several other young, up-and-coming performers. At 20 years of age, Cincotti is on the verge of an extraordinary recording career, beginning with his self-titled Concord Records debut produced by the legendary Phil Ramone. Ramone calls Cincotti "the freshest old soul to come along in ages."

Mob’s Jazz Orchestra featuring arranger, composer, and trumpeter Bill Mobley will perform on October 5. Mobley has performed with the Donald Brown Sextet, the T.S. Monk Band, the Clifford Jordan Big Band, the George Coleman Octet, and the Toshiko Akiyoshi Orchestra. Today he leads his own 17-piece jazz orchestra and received critical acclaim for his big band recording, "Live at Small’s," as well as his newest release, "Mean What You Say."

The Lewis Nash Trio appears on October 12, featuring Nash on drums, Steve Nelson on vibes and Peter Washington on bass. Perhaps best known for his many years with the Tommy Flanagan Trio, Nash has worked with a "who’s who" of the jazz industry, including Jimmy Heath, J. J. Johnson, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, and Wynton and Branford Marsalis.

Bob Mintzer, a world-renowned composer, arranger, educator, and saxophonist, will perform with the William Paterson University Jazz Ensemble on October 19. Mintzer is a long-time member of the acclaimed jazz fusion band, The Yellowjackets. Active in a variety of music genres, he has recorded a number of CDs, and won a 2002 Grammy for the Bob Mintzer Big Band recording, "Homage to Count Basie." This concert will feature new arrangements from Mintzer’s latest CD, Gently.

On October 26, Grammy-winning bassist John Benitez will perform. Benitez has performed with some of the finest jazz and Latin musicians in the world. He has recorded with Roy Hargrove’s Crisol Band, David Sanchez, Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, Antonio Hart, the Caribbean Jazz project, and Eddie Palmieri. Benitez has also been featured on the television shows Good Morning America, The Today Show, and BET on Jazz.

Guitarist Dave Stryker and his group, Blue to the Bone, will perform on Sunday, November 2. Stryker has been a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and, more recently, Kevin Mahogany. His latest CD, Blue to the Bone III, was voted one of the top CDs of 2002 by WBGO Radio and by Jazzreview.

The fall series is capped off with a holiday celebration concert on December 13. This special Saturday concert, benefiting the William Paterson University Jazz Studies Program and the Thad Jones Scholarship Fund, features a rare performance of the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn "Nutcracker Suite" by the William Paterson Jazz Ensemble, directed by David Demsey, as well as holiday performances by pianist James Williams, director of the William Paterson Jazz Studies program, and other special guests.

Each concert opens with a half-hour set by a student jazz ensemble. Admission prices are $12 standard and $9 senior citizens. For information, call Shea Center for Performing Arts Box Office at 973-720-2371. Funding for The Jazz Room at William Paterson University has been made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.

Launched in 1978, The Jazz Room is one of the largest and most prestigious college-sponsored jazz events in the country. Performers include renowned professionals who encompass the complete spectrum of jazz, from practitioners of traditional jazz to avant-garde to bebop to swing to Afro-Latin jazz – as well as William Paterson’s own student ensembles. The series has won numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its innovative programming.

NOTE: High resolution, downloadable publicity photographs are available at: http://ww2.wpunj.edu/adminsrv/pub-info/photos/index.htm

Log #24-12 – TR

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For Further Information, contact:

Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966

8/28/03