New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "For Jaco" by Edmar Castaneda


By Bob Makin

originally published: 09/22/2023


Jersey City-based jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda will particpiate in the inaugural Middlesex County Jazz Festival next week. His “For Jaco” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

The inaugural Middlesex County Jazz Festival kicks off next week, and in celebration, Grammy-winning Jersey City-based jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

“For Jaco,” a very inspired Weather Report-like salute to electric jazz bass great Jaco Pastorius, appeared on Edmar’s “Family,” which won the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “For Jaco” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 22 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and MixCloud.

Middlesex County Jazz Festival will take place Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 in Edison, Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, Metuchen, and Woodbridge. Edmar will share the stage with his quartet on the Oct. 1 bill at Parker Press Park in Woodbridge with fellow Jersey City-based jazz artist Alicia Olatuja and her quintet and Woodbridge High School Jazz Choir. They will perform from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



For more about Edmar, visit https://www.edmarcastaneda.com.

The rest of the fest will feature:

* Victor Quezada and his Latin Jazz Band, The Delegations, and JP Stevens Jazz Ensemble under the direction of John Zazzedi, 6-8:30 p.m. Sept. 28, Papaianni Park, Edison

* Forbidden Tropics and Julian Meyers Koncept, 7-9 p.m. Sept. 29, Historic Perth Amboy Ferry Slip

* Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, Conrad Herwig Latin Side All-Stars, and New Brunswick Jazz Project Brass, 1-5:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Livingston Avenue in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center

* Cyrus Chestnut Quartet, Molly Ryan and Manhattan Premier, Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble Big Band under the direction of John Messenger, and Jill Justin Dance Alliance, 6-9:30 p.m., Halsey Street Metuchen Station Lot 6.

The Middlesex County Jazz Festival is presented by New Brunswick Jazz Project, Perth Amboy Artworks, New Brunswick Cultural Center, and Metuchen Arts Council and sponsored by Amazon, Puffin, KW by the Bay, Johnson & Johnson, State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick City Center, Worldwide Piano, Friends of Metuchen Arts, Westerhoff School of Music & Art, and Manasquan Bank.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



For more details, visit https://middlesexcountyjazzfestival.org.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected]



New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

 

EVENT PREVIEWS

The

The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Princeton Folk Music Society presents two-time Grammy® award winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer on Friday, October 17, 2025 at Christ Congregation Church. They are a duo of master musicians with a career spanning over 35 years. Showtime is 8:00pm. A livestream option is available.



McCarter

McCarter Theatre Center presents Aida Cuevas - The Queen of Mariachi

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Prepare for an unforgettable evening of passion, tradition, and soul-stirring music as Aida Cuevas, the unrivaled "Queen of Ranchera Music" and La Voz de México ("The Voice of Mexico"), graces the McCarter stage on her 50th Anniversary U.S. Tour 2025 on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 7:30pm.



NJ

NJ Jazz Society Offers Daylong Visit to Louis Armstrong House Museum and Archives

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Louis Armstrong House Museum and Archives in Corona, Queens, sustains and promotes the cultural, historical, and humanitarian legacy of Louis Armstrong by preserving and interpreting his house and grounds, collecting and sharing archival materials that document Armstrong's life and legacy, developing programs for the public that educate and inspire, and engaging with contemporary artists to create performances and new works.



Jersey

Jersey Arts Podcast: Staying 'Jersey Fresh' with John Pizzarelli

John Pizzarelli is a guitarist and singer who has been hailed by the Boston Globe for "reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz." He's been established as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook and has even expanded that repertoire by including the music of Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim and the Beatles.



South

South Jersey Jazz Society presents "Jersey Fresh" Jazz Festival in October

(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- South Jersey Jazz Society (SJJS) wiill presents its annual jazz festival, JazzatThePoint, from October 16-18, 2025 at two Somers Point venues. Titled "Jersey Fresh," the three-day festival will highlight headlining artists that either were born in or currently reside in New Jersey. Headliners include John Pizzarelli, Howard Paul, Michael Pedicin, Paul Jost, and Matt Cappy.





FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Aída

Aída Cuevas – “The Queen of Mariachi”

Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music


 

Juan

Juan Fernando Velasco

Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Lucy

Lucy Kaplansky

Friday, October 17, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Cécilia

Cécilia

Saturday, October 18, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Studio Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: music


 

The

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD - "La Sonnambula"

Saturday, October 18, 2025 @ 1:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music