Artists serenade audiences with everything from big-band Jazz classics to avant-garde Rhythm & Blues sounds.
Blues powerhouse Shemekia Copeland, hailed by the Washington Post as "the greatest blues singer of her generation," joins GRAMMY nominated Georgia phenom Jontavious Willis for a rare co-headline evening of roots music that spans generations and styles. Two of the most compelling blues artists performing today, one unforgettable night.
Giants of Jazz is SOPAC's annual celebration of all-star jazz, curated by Grammy winner John Lee. This year's honoree is pianist Cyrus Chestnut, joining some of the most celebrated names in the music's history for one night, one stage, and the kind of spontaneous, joyful magic that keeps this beloved South Orange tradition selling out year after year.
Grammy winning guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli brings his acclaimed trio to SOPAC for Dear Mr. Bennett, a heartfelt centennial tribute featuring songs from across Tony Bennett's seven-decade career. With deep personal ties to Bennett and a trio of extraordinary musicians in peak form, this is an evening of Great American Songbook jazz as warm and joyful as the man it honors.
Two-time GRAMMY-winning drummer, composer, and bandleader Nate Smith, one of the most in-demand musicians of his generation, leads a powerhouse trio with Kiefer on keys and synth and CARRTOONS on bass for a night of groove-driven jazz and roots music. Organist and keyboardist Sam Fribush opens the evening with his band, Fonville x Fribush.
Cherry Poppin' Daddies have spent years as one of America's most accomplished swing and jazz acts. Expect an elegant, theatrical evening of Great American Songbook classics delivered with deep musical knowledge, lush arrangements, and the kind of showmanship that makes the whole room feel like 1938.
Martin Sexton brings his soul-marinated voice, acoustic guitar, and legendary live show to SOPAC in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Live Wide Open, his critically acclaimed double vinyl live album. Praised by Billboard, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal, and John Mayer himself, Sexton is the rare performer who makes every show feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Grammy Award winning pianist Bill Charlap and his celebrated trio are recognized as one of the leading groups in jazz and beloved for their deeply musical interpretations of the Great American Songbook. An evening with them is intimate, masterful, and the kind of live jazz that resonates.
Jazz in the Loft is SOPAC’s premier jazz series, curated by Grammy-winning producer John Lee and showcasing some of today’s most exciting and innovative artists. Experience world-class jazz in an intimate setting.
Blues legend Mike Griot curates the 4th Annual South Orange International Blues Festival: Winter Edition. Expect a dynamic lineup, deep-pocket grooves, and soul-stirring sound. It’s Blues for everyone, and the perfect way to warm up winter.
Hailed by the New York Times as "the best organ trio of the last decade," Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, and Bill Stewart have built a body of work distinguished by synergistic interplay, harmonic depth, and a refusal to settle for the expected. An evening with them is a reminder that the best jazz has always been a conversation, and these three have been talking for thirty years.
Jazz in the Loft is SOPAC’s premier jazz series, curated by Grammy-winning producer John Lee and showcasing some of today’s most exciting and innovative artists. Experience world-class jazz in an intimate setting.
Cécile McLorin Salvant is a three-time GRAMMY Award winning vocalist, composer, and MacArthur Fellow celebrated for her extraordinary musicality and gift for storytelling across jazz, blues, folk, and baroque traditions. Hailed by the late Jessye Norman for the intelligence and musicality that light up every note she sings, Salvant offers an evening of jazz unlike any other.
Take Me to the River All-Stars Live brings together a constellation of New Orleans legends for an evening rooted in the Grammy Award winning project dedicated to preserving the musical soul of New Orleans and Memphis. Expect funk, soul, second line, and the blues delivered by the very artists who have kept this music alive.
Jazz in the Loft is SOPAC’s premier jazz series, curated by Grammy-winning producer John Lee and showcasing some of today’s most exciting and innovative artists. Experience world-class jazz in an intimate setting.
The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band carries forward the legacy of one of jazz's true immortals, led by Gillespie alumnus and bassist, and friend of SOPAC John Lee with the authenticity and passion of musicians who know this music from the inside out. Expect an evening of big band brilliance built around some of the most joyful and enduring compositions in the American songbook.
Jazz in the Loft is SOPAC’s premier jazz series, curated by Grammy-winning producer John Lee and showcasing some of today’s most exciting and innovative artists. Experience world-class jazz in an intimate setting.
Avishai Cohen is a globally celebrated trumpeter, composer, and three-time DownBeat Rising Star whose restless creative spirit has made him one of the most distinctive and boundary-pushing voices in contemporary jazz. Performing with his band Big Vicious, an evening with Cohen is intimate, searching, and poignant.
Led by Cab Calloway's grandson C. Calloway Brooks, the Cab Calloway Orchestra brings the legendary Cotton Club sound back to life with vintage orchestrations, authentic big band swing, and the irresistible showmanship that made Cab Calloway one of the great icons of American music. Come ready to jump, jive, and holler Hi-De-Ho.