INFORMATION FOR
Saxophonist Jerry Weldon and Friends, joined by special guest George Cables, will focus on the repertoire of the historic Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet in the opening concert of the William Paterson University spring 2025 Jazz Room series on Sunday, February 16, 2025. The concert begins at 3:00 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus.
The Jazz Room, William Paterson University’s long-running performance series, will feature a wide variety of today’s most exciting jazz musicians during the spring 2025 season. Upcoming performances include the saxophonist Chris Potter with the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra on March 9; saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman on April 6; Chico Alvarez with the William Paterson Latin Jazz Ensemble on April 13; the Christian McBride-Bill Charlap Duo on April 27; and vocalist Will Downing on May 9.
The concert will be preceded by “Sittin’ In,” the Jazz Room’s accompanying “meet the artist” concert preview featuring interviews with jazz artists and guest speakers. This informal discussion, free to all Jazz Room ticketholders, begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Shea Recital Hall.
Weldon has been the lead tenor sax voice of the Count Basie Orchestra, Joey DeFrancesco’s big band, and first gained prominence as a soloist with Lionel Hampton and the big band led by Harry Connick Jr., as well as Connick’s daytime TV show HARRY. His is truly an under-recognized tenor sax voice, and this opening spring Jazz Room concert is a chance to hear him in person. He is joined by an all-star band featuring trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, drummer Jerome Jennings, and special guest and pianist George Cables.
Tickets are $20 for the general public, $18 for WP faculty, staff, alumni, and senior citizens, $10 for non-WP students, and WP students are admitted free. For tickets or additional information, visit wp-presents.org, or contact the Shea Center Box Office at 973.720.2371 or boxoffice@wpunj.edu.
William Paterson University’s Jazz Room series is the longest-running program of its kind in the United States. Launched in 1978, the Jazz Room has welcomed more than 500 jazz legends to the stage, including Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Joe Williams, Marian McPartland, Slide Hampton, Kenny Burrell, Joe Lovano, Kenny Garrett, Clark Terry, Michael and Randy Brecker, the Vanguard Orchestra, and more. Concerts have encompassed the entire spectrum of jazz, from early jazz and swing to avant garde, and from intimate solo performances to big bands.
The performance series provides support for the University’s internationally renowned Jazz Studies Program, founded in 1973, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The program draws students from across the United States and abroad under the current direction of Grammy Award-winning pianist Bill Charlap.
The Jazz Room at William Paterson University has been made possible, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
