ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT
Exploring Newark ’ s Influence on Jazz
Rediscovering The Brick City ’ s Musical Heritage
By Larry Feld Contributing Editor
New Jersey has a rich musical history . The birth home to everyone from Frank Sinatra to Whitney Houston and Red Bank ’ s very own legendary William “ Count ” Basie , the Garden State grows musical talent as much as it does cranberries .
For all of New Jersey ’ s musical wealth , Newark earns special respect for its role in jazz music and culture . From first-class venues like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Newark Symphony Hall to local clubs and summer street festivals and even a venue on Rutgers University ’ s Newark Campus , the city continues to be a proud , living celebration of jazz .
Newark is also home to the only Jazz radio station in the metropolitan area , WBGO , 88.3 FM . A non-profit publicly-funded broadcast station , the station ’ s roots go back to 1949 when it was established by the Newark Board of Education . The station was first housed in Central High School . Eventually , the station became the state ’ s first public radio station in 1979 when the license was transferred to Newark Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting .
“ Since signing on in 1979 , WBGO has played a role in legitimizing Newark as a touchstone for jazz authority and has become the world ’ s most
Headquarters of WBGO-FM , Newark ’ s Jazz Radio Station .
recognized and most listened to broadcaster of jazz ,” relates Steven A . Williams , CEO and President of WBGO . “ Responsive jazz status quo in a constant state of renewal , as evidenced in the celebrated work of Newark native and 2017 MacArthur Fellow Tyshawn Sorey ,” he notes .
The players who put Newark ’ s jazz scene on the map included all the most significant headliners of the day , from Billy Eckstine , Miles Davis , and Dizzy Gillespie to homegrown locals .
“ Sarah Vaughan , Wayne Shorter , and Larry Young , as well as Woody Shaw , Scott LaFaro , and James Moody , were just a few of the numerous artists that were unsuspecting ambassadors of the Newark vibe ,” notes WBGO ’ s Williams . ( For the record , technically , Moody was born in Georgia , but his family moved to Newark where he was raised .)
Why Newark ?
“ Years ago , going back the 1930s through the 1960s , Newark was a predictable stop for all sorts of very significant jazz ,” notes John Schreiber , CEO and President of Newark ’ s New Jersey Performing Arts Center .
“ During that time , Newark Symphony Hall , called the Mosque in those days , was where all the greatest names in music performed ,” he recalls , naming stars ranging from Aretha Franklin to Tony Bennet .
Steven A . Williams , President and CEO of WBGO-FM , Newark ’ s Jazz Radio Station
“ Broad Street and Halsey Street were hot strips of jazz performance , with clubs such as Cadillac Club ( later known as Sparky J ’ s ) and The Piccadilly ,” adds WBGO ’ s Williams .
“ Redd Foxx , long before he was an international film and TV star , performed comedy at the Cadillac Club . He was also responsible for hiring the musicians . A big jazz fan , Foxx booked many well-known artists there , including all-star saxophonist Hank Mobley . He made his first live recording at The Piccadilly , which was made public in the 2012 release “ Hank Mobley : Newark 1953 ”, notes Williams .
Keeping Jazz Alive
While Newark ’ s impressive renewal in recent decades continues to reshape downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods , its jazz past has been well preserved . Besides jazz radio , performances still grace stages around the city .
“ What I love ,” NJPAC ’ s Schreiber offers , “ Is that we still have older Newark residents who remember when Sarah Vaughn would play clubs
Continued
12 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com