Mark Gross News

Elio Villafranca & The Jass Syncopators will take the stage at Aaron Davis Hall on Friday, April 26, for a magical musical journey “Crossroads from Cuba to New York.”

Trumpeter Antoine Drye is set to release his new album 'Retreat To Beauty'. Collaborating with esteemed orchestrator Isaac Raz and an ensemble of over twenty musicians, the album delivers lush arrangements of jazz standards and original material, giving a modern twist to a classic orchestral jazz sound.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) has announced the line-up of the highly anticipated 12th annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival, running from November 3-19, 2023.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the state's anchor cultural institution, celebrates 26 years of offering thousands of high schoolers from Newark and beyond music lessons and performance experiences through its popular TD Jazz for Teens program.

New Jersey Repertory Company has announced the Weeks & Peterson Quintet will be performing two sets at NJRep on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7:00pm and 8:30pm.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 19 at 8PM! That's when Giants of Jazz, an annual Jazz festival featuring nearly 30 performers, returns to the South Orange Performing Arts Center for the first time since 2019.

On Friday, June 17, 2022, Flushing Town Hall’s Queens Jazz Orchestra will return live to the stage with 'Bird Flight,' a special tribute program honoring Phil Schaap and the genius of Charlie Parker.

Co-produced by NJPAC, City Verses, and Jazz House Kids, this popular concert unites youth musicians from NJPAC's City Verses jazz and poetry initiative, NJPAC's Jazz for Teens ensembles featuring James Moody Jazz Orchestra and The George Wein Scholars Ensemble, JAZZ HOUSE Big Band, and local high schools.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center has announced a free musical celebration in honor of International Jazz Day 4/30 featuring performances by 100+ young New Jersey musicians with special guest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. 

Kick off the new year with Jazz in the Loft, a South Orange Performing Arts Center concert series curated and hosted by Grammy-winning bassist John Lee.

Julie White has been set to star in CBS' new comedy series 'Smallwood', joining the previously announced Pete Holmes. Based on the life of professional bowler Tom Smallwood, the series is written by Mark Gross and produced by David Hollander and Brian D'Arcy James. The series will also star Katie Lowes and Chi McBride.

Join Anastacia (Dr. Phylicia Elder on NBC's 'New Amsterdam,' Opal on CBS's 'The Good Fight,' an Original DIVA from Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Nurse Norma in Waitress & in the upcoming 2021 revival, and May in Secret Life of Bees).

NJPAC's In Your Living Room Series continues with Tunes on Tuesday Jazz Masters in Conversation. Mark Gross takes over Instagram LIVE alongside James Austin JR., and Wayne Winborne, executive director of the Institue of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University-Newark. Tune in for a discussion about the multi-generational Marsalis jazz family. 

What happens when a Broadway company has to stay apart? They come together via technology! Ain't Too Proud Music Director Kenny Seymour asked the show's Classic Five Temptations as well as everyone in the orchestra send in videos performing the opening number- a?oeThe Way You Do The Things You Do.a??

On Friday, June 21, Flushing Town Hall's Queens Jazz Orchestra will return to the stage to present new music by National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, Dr. Jimmy Heath. 'It Ain't Over Yet' will span the corridors of Dr. Heath's musical and creative imagination, showing that jazz continues to be a vibrant musical force.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Presents "This Music We Call Jazz: The Latin Connection Exhibit," on Sunday, November 4th at 2 p.m."This Music We Call Jazz: The Latin Connection Exhibit," a multi-media display by 16 New Jersey and New York artists, will be the centerpiece of a collaborative tribute to the musical genius of Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Graciela, Eddie Palmieri, and many other personalities associated with Latin-American, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian jazz.

Acclaimed jazz violinist Regina Carter will serve as Artistic Director of this summer's All-Female Jazz Residency, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) announced today. Carter succeeds the late jazz pianist and composer Geri Allen, the residency's founding Artistic Director.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts: