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here and in New York as a young singer . Many of those folks are still around and sharing their memories and experiences with our young musicians . Young players are so thirsty , not only to learn how to play their instruments and improvise but also to understand the history of the music ,” he explains .
The TD James Moody Festival
One of the most significant stages for jazz celebration is the TD James Moody Festival . In its 14th year , the festival is the brainchild of NJPAC ’ s CEO John Schreiber . No stranger to Jazz , John began his career working for the infamous Newport Jazz Festival .
“ He ( Newport Festival Founder George Wein ) hired me right out of school , and I stayed with him for almost 20 years ,” Schreiber recalls , adding that the experience provided him with “ An enormous education as a producer , presenter , and aficionado of the music .”
Schreiber worked with and befriended many talented musicians , including the late alto sax player James Moody . “ When I came to NJPAC , Moody had already passed . His wife , Linda was a friend , and I said to her that I would like to create a jazz festival in Newark , and we would like to name it after Moody .”
The first generation of the festival was called the James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival . As John explains , it was not intended as a political statement . “ We called it that because we believe that jazz is the most democratic of music . To create great jazz , artists have to listen to each other . They have to collaborate and be respectful . At the same time , they get to exercise their creativity ,” Schreiber says . However , not long after , TD Bank joined as a sponsor and the name was updated .
The Moody Festival is a multi-day , multi-venue program running for several days in early November . The program includes performances by well-known artists at NJPAC as well as lesser-known performers and local talent at both free and ticketed performances in and around the city .
A highlight of the festival is the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz vocal competition . According to organizers , every year the festival receives hundreds of submissions from singers around the world . A panel of judges selects five finalists to perform at a live event .
“ The community comes and cheers their support ,” notes Schreiber , who notes that one of the favorite winners is Samara Joy . Last year , the 24-year-old won Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album at the Grammys . “ Watching the talent that passes through The Sarah Vaughn competition is really satisfying ,” he says .
The Archive
Surprisingly , Newark is also home to one of the world ’ s premier Jazz archives , The Institute for Jazz Studies , located at the John Cotton Dana Library at Rutgers University ’ s Newark campus on University Avenue . Founded in 1952 by jazz scholar Marshall Stearns , the program is a massive compilation of over 100 collections , including recordings , periodicals , photographs , as well as manuscripts , legal paperwork , and even unpublished materials that chronicle the story of Jazz from its roots to today . There are also fun artifacts on display , including an engraved horn owned by Miles Davis , Count Basie ’ s first Grammy , and even a wig owned by Ella Fitzgerald . The Dana Library building is also home to Clement ’ s Place , a jazz performance stage operated by the Institute for Jazz Studies .
John Schreiber , President and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center ( NJPAC )
“ Jazz is embedded in the city – it is part of our heart and soul ; it is embedded in the fabric of our community ,” Schreiber concludes .
Dee Dee Bridgewater Performing at the TD James Moody Festival .