From the South Orange Performing Arts Center
Celebrate Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, Jazz Appreciation Month (April) and more at SOPAC’s upcoming Jazz, Rhythm & Blues concerts in The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall. Experience a wide breadth of performers, such as New Orleans-influenced artists, Gospel powerhouse vocalists, Grammy winners and masterful instrumentalists.
Top row, from left: Lisa Fischer, Marcia Ball, Kindred The Family Soul Bottom row, from left: The Bad Plus, Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap, Dirty Dozen Brass Band & Nathan and The Zydeco Cha Chas.
FEBRUARY
Be My Valentine: An Evening of Love Songs with Ms. Lisa Fischer
FEBRUARY 10
Tickets: $32-$42
Known for her long-term touring associations with the Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross and Tina Turner, this powerhouse Gospel and Soul vocalist evokes infinite emotion.
Celebrate Mardi Gras with Marcia Ball
FEBRUARY 19
Tickets: $28-$38
This pianist starts a roadhouse Rhythm and Blues party when she takes the stage. Her rollicking Texas boogies, swampy New Orleans ballads and groove-laden Gulf Coast Blues make her a one-of-a-kind performer.
MARCH
Kindred The Family Soul
MARCH 4
Tickets: $42-$77
Married couple Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon are known for music that comes directly from the heart. The duo co-writes relatable and mature R&B songs that are rooted in traditional Soul and Gospel.
The Bad Plus
MARCH 12
Tickets: $28-$36
The Bad Plus is a critically acclaimed, avant-garde Jazz quartet that has been called “technically brilliant, beyond versatile” (The New Yorker) and is known for producing “moving, mighty music” (Rolling Stone).
Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap
MARCH 13
Tickets: $40-$54
These renowned Grammy Award winners ignite their musical chemistry to generate an incomparable Jazz experience.
Celebrate the Sounds of New Orleans with
Dirty Dozen Brass Band & Nathan and The Zydeco Cha Chas
MARCH 20
Tickets: $35-$48
This double-bill featuring world-famous music machines celebrates the feel-good sounds of The Big Easy!
APRIL
APRIL 3
Tickets: $35-$45
One of the most impressive guitarists to emerge from the rich Bayous of Louisiana, Tab Benoit’s guitar tone and his Otis Redding-like voice are iconic.
SFJAZZ Collective
APRIL 7
Tickets: $58-$78
The SFJAZZ Collective is an award-winning supergroup comprised of eight of the finest performers/composers at work in Jazz today.
MAY
Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band
MAY 21
Tickets: $45-$59
The iconic ten-time Grammy Award winner and NEA Jazz Master skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.
JUNE
Bria Skonberg Quartet
JUNE 11
Tickets: $29-$39
Described as “one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” (Wall Street Journal) and “the shining hope of hot jazz” (New York Times), triple threat trailblazer Bria Skonberg is a force to be reckoned with. This multi-award winning trumpeter, singer and composer combines her signature sound of fiery trumpet playing and smoky vocals. She blends Jazz, Blues and beyond with storytelling and adventurous concoctions of classics and soulful originals.
JUNE 17
Tickets: $34-$42
Jesse Cook is a global guitar virtuoso. The international appeal of this accomplished performer is his style of mixing Flamenco with Classical, Jazz, Zydeco, Blues and Brazilian samba.
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Covid-19:
At this time, all SOPAC patrons are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test and wear a mask. All current Covid-19 Precautions & Policies can be found at SOPACnow.org/Covid-19.
About SOPAC:
Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. SOPAC is home for Seton Hall University Arts Council’s performances, including the Classical Concert Series, Jazz ‘N the Hall performances and Seton Hall University Theatre productions. SOPAC programs are made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, visit SOPACnow.org.
