COLUMNS | FEATURES | EVENT PREVIEWS
featured events

originally published: 10/23/2023 

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Artists from GRP Records will pay tribute to the label's founder, Dave Grusin, on Friday, November 17, 2023 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).  The concert will feature performances by: Dave Grusin – composer/piano; Lee Ritenour – guitar; Patti Austin – vocals; Will Downing – vocals; New York Voices – vocals; Jane Monheit – vocals; Randy Brecker – trumpet; Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone; Dave Wecki – drums; and Tom Kennedy – bass. Showtime is 8:00pm.

GRP Records – A Label Built on Sound Principles

"The story of GRP Records goes back to 1976 and the label went on to make an outstanding contribution to jazz over the coming decades. " - UDiscover Music

The prolific composer Dave Grusin has over 3,000 credits as composer, producer, arranger, conductor, and performer. He has one Academy Award with eight nominations, 10 Grammy Awards with 30 nominations, and four Golden Globe nominations. Audiences will recognize his scores from films such as The Goonies, The Graduate, The Firm, and The Fabulous Baker Boys. Grusin helped build the careers of many artists as the founder of the first all-digital jazz record label, GRP Records. Some of those artists will perform Grusin’s compositions on the NJPAC stage including legendary guitarist Lee Ritenour, R&B singer Will Downing, internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble New York Voices, acclaimed vocalists Patti Austin and Jane Monheit, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker, prolific saxophonist Ernie Watts, Modern Drummer Hall-of-Famer Dave Wecki, top acoustic and electric bass player Tom Kennedy, and more.

Tickets range from $49-$79 and are available for purchase online or by calling 1.888.GO.NJPAC.The show is part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival sponsored by TD Bank.

 

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

---

“Dave Grusin’s 40-year career in the music business has led him down many paths, and all have been successful for this gifted musician, composer, arranger, recording executive, and cowboy.” - Jazz Times

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, is one of the largest banks in the U.S., providing over 10 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,100 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Auto Finance, a division of TD Bank, N.A., offers vehicle financing and dealer commercial services. TD Bank and its subsidiaries also offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States.  It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day.  As New Jersey’s anchor cultural institution, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city.  Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.  NJPAC has attracted more than 11 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

---