Clements Place Jazz

05/30/2026

If Free on Sunday 5/31 @11:30 AM and love some jazz - ome Join us Cyrus Chestnut , John Lee, Winard Harper and Lynette Sheard. It's a very special and Jazz led Rev Eyesha Marable at Zion AME Millburn. 56 Church St. Millburn NJ. Street Parking - Click to join us.

https://gregoryburrusproductions.com/event/majestic-keys-cyrus-chestnut-john-lee-winard-harper-at-jesus-jazz-in-mt-zion-ame-millburn-nj/

05/28/2026

Join Us for the Rutgers IJS NJPAC Monthly Jazz Jam Session!

House Band:
James Austin Jr. - Piano / leader
Jarrard Harris - Sax
Ben Rubens - Bass
Jeremy Warren - Drums

Get ready to groove in person with the amazing James Austin Jr leading the jam. Whether you’re a jazz pro or just love good vibes, this session is the place to be. Bring your instrument or just your love for jazz and enjoy an evening packed with cool tunes and great company!

05/08/2026

Join Rutgers IJS for a chill night with Ed Cherry, live and in person—don’t miss the good vibes!

Band lineup:
Ed Cheery - band leader / guitarist
Kyle Koehler - Organ
Anwar Marshall - Drums
Monte Croft - Vibraphone

Ed Cherry is a masterful jazz guitarist whose warm tone, lyrical phrasing, and deep blues vocabulary have made him one of the most respected voices on the instrument. Best known for his long tenure with Dizzy Gillespie, Cherry spent over a decade touring and recording with the trumpet legend, bringing his soulful, melodic approach to audiences around the world. His career includes collaborations with Paquito D’Rivera, Henry Threadgill, John Patton, Hamiet Bluiett, and many other major figures across the jazz tradition. As a leader, Cherry’s acclaimed recordings showcase his elegant touch, harmonic clarity, and unmistakable swing. A dedicated educator and in‑demand sideman, he continues to shape the sound of modern jazz with artistry, maturity, and heart.

05/07/2026

Rutgers IJS and Greg Burrus present the Matt Cherkoff Quartet—swing, soul, and serious jazz energy live in the room.

Band lineup:
Matt Cherkoff - Guitar / band leader
Brandon Mccune -Piano
Anwar Marshall - Drums
Marty Jaffe - Bass

Join us for an exceptional night of jazz as Rutgers IJS and Greg Burrus present the Matt Cherkoff Quartet at Clements Place. Guitarist Matt Cherkoff leads a powerhouse ensemble through a set of deep swing, soulful improvisation, and modern jazz storytelling. This intimate performance highlights the group’s dynamic interplay, rich harmonies, and the unmistakable Clements Place energy that brings audiences and artists together. Reserve your seat and experience a night of world‑class musicianship in one of Newark’s most beloved jazz rooms.

05/06/2026

Join us in person for a cool night with trombone ace Brian Simmontacchi, brought to you by Rutgers IJS!

Rutgers IJS Presents Trombonist Brian Simmontacchi
Get ready for an awesome live session with Brian Simmontacchi in person! Whether you’re a jazz fan or just curious, this is your chance to catch some cool trombone vibes up close.

Joining n stage are: Brian Simontacchi - trombone
Danny Raycraft - tenor saxophone
Mike Carabello - piano
James Robbins - bass
Corey Garcia - drums

Don’t miss out on this fun and laid-back even aqnd very cool program brought to you by Rutgers IJS — come hang, listen, and enjoy the music!

05/05/2026

Catch the vibes of Rutgers IJS with Greg Burrus, Katie Cosco, and Laura Dreyer live on stage!

Rutgers IJS Greg Burrus Presents The Katie Cosco Laura Dreyer Project
Get ready for an awesome in-person experience with The Katie Cosco Laura Dreyer Project brought to you by Rutgers IJS and Greg Burrus! Join us for a fantastic time filled with creativity, energy, and unique vibes. Don't miss out on this special event where live performance meets great company. See you there!

The Katie Cosco – Laura Dreyer Project is a New York City–based ensemble founded in 2004 by pianist Katie Cosco and saxophonist Laura Dreyer. United by a shared passion for post-bop, modern, and mainstream jazz, the group brings a deeply rooted yet forward-looking approach to the jazz tradition, combining lyrical expression, rhythmic vitality, and sophisticated ensemble interplay.

The band has performed at many of New York City’s premier jazz venues, including Smalls, Cellar Dog, Ornithology Jazz Club, The Zinc Bar, Jazz at the Kitano, The Roxy Hotel, Open Arts LES, The Beanrunner Café, and has appeared at festivals such as St. Peter’s Church’s All Night Soul Festival, Gossman’s Dock Jazz Festival (Montauk), and The Lady Got Chops Women’s Jazz Festival, among others.

Performing primarily as a quintet, the ensemble features a classic two-horn frontline of alto saxophone with trombone or trumpet, paying homage to the post-bop tradition while offering a fresh contemporary voice. Their repertoire spans swing, Latin, Brazilian, funk, and fusion within a modern jazz framework, with special attention to enduring jazz compositions and sophisticated arrangements.

The project showcases the music of seminal composers including Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Chick Corea, Kenny Dorham, Cedar Walton, and Don Grolnick.

All members of the ensemble are accomplished performers and educators committed to artistic excellence and audience engagement. The Katie Cosco – Laura Dreyer Project offers festival audiences an authentic, vibrant post-bop experience that honors the legacy of the music while speaking in a contemporary voice.

05/04/2026

SHOUT! - Clem's resident big band led by master saxist and composer Lance Bryant return for their monthly roof raising performance

SHOUT! features some of the finest musicians in the NY/NJ area in a modern big band setting performing hip arrangements of new jazz classics and originals by master arranger and tenor saxophonist Lance Bryant. This full sixteen piece big band performs compositions and arrangements by Lance and occasionally arrangements of his colleagues. Lance has been arranging for other artists and bands for over twenty five years, starting with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. “Lionel Hampton always encouraged me to keep writing,” Lance says of the iconic Jazz legend. “I found that when commissioned to write for artists or band leaders there was often some level of restrictions or parameters to adhere to.” That was until Lance was commissioned to write a program of arrangements to be performed live by vocalist Carla Cook and the NDR Big Band in Hamburg, Germany in 2002. Given ample freedom to create by Carla, Lance wrote nine arrangements for the program. “I was so pleased with the results, I never forgot that feeling.” In the Spring of 2022 Lance finally decided to start his own band. “For me there’s nothing like that range of power and expression we can achieve with sixteen great musicians. Not to mention the sense of community and family that we enjoy working as a big band.”

Regular Members:

Lance Bryant - conductor, arranger, composer and saxophone

Saxophones: Matt Hong, Zoe Obadia, Craig Rivers, Mike Lee, David Schumacher

Trombones: Juanga Lakunza, Peter Lin, Clarence Banks, James Borowski

Trumpets: Nathan Eklund, Eddie Allen, Ted Chub, Bill Mobley

Rhythm: Oscar Perez, Caylen Bryant, Jerome Jennings

05/03/2026

Get ready to groove as Ma Rainey's blues vibe meets Sharpe's soulful beats live and in person!

Ma Rainey’s Living Tradition of the Blues Experience an extraordinary afternoon as Avery Sharpe, Charlie Apicella, Steve Johns, Pat Tandy, and Beareather Reddy bring Ma Rainey’s legacy into the present moment. Together, this powerhouse ensemble channels the raw emotion, deep groove, and storytelling spirit that shaped the earliest blues traditions. Immerse yourself in a performance that honors the past while celebrating the living, breathing heartbeat of the blues today.

Presented by North Jersey Blues Society and the Puffin Foundation.

05/03/2026

Join us today 3 pm Clements Place Jazz

Ma Rainey's Living Tradition Of The Blues featuring Avery Sharpe

Ma Rainey’s Living Tradition of the Blues Experience an extraordinary afternoon as Avery Sharpe, Charlie Apicella, Steve Johns, Pat Tandy, and Beareather Reddy bring Ma Rainey’s legacy into the present moment. Together, this powerhouse ensemble channels the raw emotion, deep groove, and storytelling spirit that shaped the earliest blues traditions. Immerse yourself in a performance that honors the past while celebrating the living, breathing heartbeat of the blues today.

Presented by North Jersey Blues Society and the Puffin Foundation.

Get ready to groove as Ma Rainey's blues vibe meets Sharpe's soulful beats live and in person!