New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Smooth Vocals, R&B and All that Jazz at The Woodland on April 23rd

originally published: 03/23/2022


(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- Spring fever is at its peak at the historic Woodland Mansion in Maplewood, NJ on Saturday, April 23rd. Smooth Vocals R&B with Maysa Leak (Deep Waters) Grammy Nominee. All that jazz with classical flutist turned Jazz flutist Alexander Zonjic (multiple winner Detroit Music Awards) and funk provided by the incomparable keys of James Lloyd from Pieces of a Dream, Kris Kurzawa (Guitar), Jeff Candy (Drums), and Mike Harrington (Bass). The event starts at 8:00pm and is presented by Smooth Jazz NJ and the Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture at the Woodland in Maplewood.

Maysa Leak - Maysa, the former backup singer in Stevie Wonder’s female group Wonderlove, quickly made the leap to lead singer in the British mega group Incognito. Now with 14 highly charted solo albums, this Grammy Nominee, and Soul Train “CENTRIC” award winner will release her 2022 “Music for Soul” album this summer. Maysa, who has performed for Machelle Obama, has distinguished herself as a vocalist in the Jazz and R&B worlds.

James Lloyd - Master keyboardist James Lloyd is founder, and current member of the internationally acclaimed Contemporary Jazz and R&B super group Pieces of a Dream. James has performed and co-produced 20 albums with the group on Electra and Shanachie labels. He currently has released his first solo album on the Schanachie label entitled “Here We Go”. James transforms his “George Duke- like” energy into a unique dynamic of his own, sure to be one of many highlights in the show.

Alexander Zonjic - Discovered by Bob James, leader of the group Fourplay, Alexander Zonjic has released 12 solo albums, served as morning drive host for the long time Smooth Jazz station WVMV Detroit, and currently hosts a half hour TV show that airs Sundays at 10PM on WADL TV-38.  His latest 2020 release “Playing It Forward” enjoyed its first single “Motor City Sway”, an infectious R&B groove, was the most added on the Billboard charts. The album was produced by 2019 Grammy winner Jeff Lorber.

You can meet and greet Maysa, James, and Alexander, and enjoy a glass of wine at the JESPY House wine bar after the show in the upstairs Woodland Parlor.  The South Orange-based nonprofit JESPY House, which supports adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, will be providing a wine bar in the second floor Parlor, where the meet and greet and merchandise sales will also take place. Purchase your open wine bar ticket where 90% of the purchase price goes directly to JESPY to support their amazing work.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



The Woodland is located at 60 Woodland Road in Maplewood, New Jersey. Tickets are $58-$78 and available for purchase online.  The Open Wine Bar is available for $20.

After decades of presenting Smooth Jazz in New York either as a Producer for NY based Marquee Concerts, or as a Promotor, the founder of the CD101.9 Smooth Cruise is bringing live “Smooth Jazz” to New Jersey. 

Rich Engel a New Jersey resident has for decades, been involved with Smooth Jazz in NY with a particular concentration on the “Smooth Cruise” a two-hour music sailing with a view of the New York City skyline.

With the advent of Covid 19, the Smooth Cruise ended operations after the summer of 2019. Recognizing that approximately half of the passengers on the Smooth Cruise New York were making the trip from N.J. to see the top names in Adult Contemporary Jazz, it seemed apparent that a void existed.

With venues to few and far between, that present live nationally recognized Smooth Jazz artists, the creation of Smooth Jazz New Jersey now exists. The mission is to bring live adult contemporary music to various venues throughout the state. Venues Interested in having Smooth Jazz New Jersey come to you should contact them at info@smoothjazznj.com




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

An

An Interview with Dan Kurtz of The New Deal

Formed in 1999, Toronto, Canada based trio The New Deal, is a pioneer in jam-based electronic music. The group was founded by remaining members Dan Kurtz (bass) and Jamie Shields (keys), along with Darren Shearer (drums) who left tND in 2011. Since its inception, tND has remained committed to its improvisational roots and has served as a model for other jamtronica bands bridging the gap between multiple music genres as well as the border between Canada and the United States.



Rick

Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young to bring the "I Want My 80s Tour" to NJPAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Get ready to revive the spirit of the 1980s! Iconic rock star and eternal heartthrob Rick Springfield, a true emblem of the '80s music scene, is set to take the stage on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Showtime is 7:00pm.



Young

Young the Giant to Play Tropicana Atlantic City

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Critically-acclaimed, multi-platinum selling band Young the Giant announces the In The Open 2025 Acoustic Tour. An intimate concert experience performed in beautiful spaces and venues around the country, the band will be supported by Cassandra Coleman (debut album produced by Jack Antonoff out June 6 via Warner) throughout. Locally, the tour comes to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, July 12, 2025.



West

West Windsor Arts presents Summer Music and More: Channel Collective

(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- West Windsor Arts presents Channel Collective on Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. Dan Kassel and Friends, featuring Gregg Merkle, will open the night. This is the first of three in their free summer concert series sponsored by Site Centers. Admission is free.



Asbury

Asbury Lanes presents There, There - A Tribute to Radiohead

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Lanes presents There, There on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 8:00pm. They are the premier Radiohead tribute act, playing songs from throughout the band's iconic multi-decade catalogue.



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.


Frisson

Frisson Winds

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Damn

Damn The Torpedoes - The Music of Tom Petty

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

There,

There, There (A Tribute to Radiohead)

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Asbury Lanes
209 4th Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
category: music


 

Band

Band Infusion Musical Night by GG

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 7:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music