Overview

Join us for International Jazz Day, the world’s largest celebration of jazz!

Presented by NJPAC, City Verses and JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, this free performance spotlights the next generation of jazz artists from across our community. Prepare to be wowed by the incredible talent of Greater Newark’s student ensembles:

• Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens (James Moody Jazz Orchestra and George Wein Scholars Ensembles)
• City Verses Jazz & Poetry Ensemble
• JAZZ HOUSE KiDS
• Science Park High School Jazz Band
• Arts High Afro-Latin Big Band

Hosted by WBGO’s Sheila Anderson with special guest poet Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark and the Angolan Jazz Quintet from Luanda, Africa. This event is free, but seating is limited, so register today.

More about City Verses

This unique partnership between NJPAC and Rutgers University-Newark celebrates the rich historical connection between jazz and poetry, creates opportunities for public engagement, strengthens community ties through the arts, amplifies the authentic voices of the people of Greater Newark, and engages a new generation of poets, jazz musicians and teaching artists.

More about Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens

This comprehensive and sequential jazz education program develops well-rounded young performers through access to life-changing experiences. Students are provided access to top-notch musical training and study with world-class working artists, opportunities for artistic exchange within the community, and college and career exploration. Through this unique program, students become more than musicians—they grow into exceptional people ready to take on the world.

More about JAZZ HOUSE KiDS

The JAZZ HOUSE KiDS directed by Nathan Eklund is part of the JAZZ HOUSE Pre-College Academy, an award-winning flagship training program providing expansive instruction for advanced students from across the region.  The Academy is held on Sunday afternoons throughout the school year, and helps students take their musicianship to the next level. Many JAZZ HOUSE KiDS alums go on to attend world-class conservatories and prestigious academic institutions with significant merit-based music scholarships and are recognized on today’s jazz scene as tomorrow’s rising stars. This year, the ensemble has been delving into the music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thad Jones and Charles Mingus, developing concepts for style, feel, phrasing and interpretation that are true to the approaches each composer brings to large ensemble music. Building from these concepts, the students create a professional sounding ensemble that can authentically play all eras and styles of the big band tradition. 

Your safety is our priority. Please read about all of NJPAC’s health precautions and safety requirements before purchasing your ticket.

A fee of $3.50 has been added to all performance tickets to offset the cost of COVID-19 upgrades and maintenance for performances taking place between September 1, 2021, through July 1, 2022.

NJPAC values the safety of our audiences, artists, and staff. It regularly updates its COVID protocols and procedures based on CDC, federal, state, city, and other scientific data. NJPAC reserves the right to alter safety protocols at any time and at its sole discretion including but not limited to social distancing, vaccines/testing, masks, food service limitations, venue capacity, and entrance requirements as it deems appropriate.