Legendary jazz pianist McCoy Tyner will be the Jazz Master Honoree at this year’s annual Giants of Jazz Concert at South Orange Performing Arts Center.
The concert will feature an spectacular gathering of jazz artists who will play in tribute to McCoy Tyner. Last minute additions to the roster of artists are expected. The tribute will be a celebratory event as renowned jazz artists come together to honor one of their own.
Now in its seventeenth year, Giants of Jazz has become an annual music showcase — a one-night festival that has established South Orange as a major New Jersey venue for world-class jazz.
Giants of Jazz was founded in 1997 by John Lee to honor exceptional musicians and to keep jazz visible and prominent in South Orange, home to many musicians and jazz lovers. The concert is linked to other musical events in South Orange, namely the Free Summer Concerts in the Park which Giants of Jazz helps to support.
As this year’s South Orange Jazz Master honoree, McCoy Tyner will join a cast of distinguished artists whose creativity has had a major impact on jazz performance and/or education. Previous recipients include renowned musicians Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Benny Powell, Dr. Billy Taylor, Frank Foster and Marian McPartland, and Slide Hampton.
This year the lineup includes: Roy Assaf, Gary Bartz, Tommy Campbell, Sharel Cassity, Cyrus Chestnut, Dezron Douglass, Vince Ector, Josh Evans, Gerry Gibbs, James Gibbs, Greg Gisbert, Russell Hall, Billy Harper, Antonio Hart, Jimmy Heath, Freddie Hendrix, Julian Lee, Mike Lee, Abelita Mateus, TS Monk, Jeb Patton, Claudio Roditi, Wallace Roney, Renee Rosnes, Evan Sherman, EJ Strickland and Steve Turre.
The concert will take place Sat., November 29 at 8 p.m. at 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ. Tickets are priced from $40- $60. To purchase, contact SOPAC at 973.313.ARTS (2787) or visit www.SOPACnow.org<https://www.
Giants of Jazz is produced by John Lee & Legacy Productions, SOPAC and the Baird.
