Best Of The Loft Premieres At SOPAC

South Orange Performing Arts Center's famed Jazz and Blues in the Loft Series, curated by Lee May & Mike Griot, is now bringing more of a great thing to SOPAC audiences with Best of the Loft on May 6 at 7 p.m. Four of the most popular artists from the series will be presented on the mainstage, making for one stellar evening of entertainment. Best of the Loft will be hosted by co-writer, producer, choreographer and star of the long-running Shades of Harlem revue show, Ty Stephens.

Performances for the night include appearances by Jazz guitarist Dave Stryker, Brazilian Jazz trumpeter Claudio Roditi, Blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Billy Hector and American Blues quartet, Michael Hill's Blues Mob.

Hailed as "one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years" by the Village Voice, Dave Stryker is one of the top Jazz guitarists in the field. Recently voted one of the top Jazz Guitarists in the 2016 Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls, his most recent CD Eight Track II reached #2 and stayed for 20 weeks on the JazzWeek Radio chart.

Claudio Roditi's unique fusion of Brazilian rhythms is tempered by a complete mastery of bebop Jazz. Passionate and enlivening, Claudio's artistry and accomplishment was acknowledged in 2009 with a Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album.

A prolific songwriter, composer, and Blues guitarist, Billy Hector has 14 albums to his credit. A master of the Blues style, he is known for effortlessly switching from sultry slidework to picking through delta blues and flat-out cranking out electric Blues/Rock. His music reflects the true soul and origins of Blues; always passionate, engaging and dedicated to making the audience move and sweat.

Michael Hill's Blues Mob embodies the passion, desire for freedom, humor and justice that define the Blues genre. Founding member Michael Hill was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist in 2011. Now, he returns to SOPAC with Bill McClellan (drums), Mike Griot (Bass), and Tony Orbach (sax).

Best of the Loft will play the SOPAC mainstage Sunday, May 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are on sale now. They can be purchased online at https://www.sopacnow.org/best-of-the-loft/ or by calling the box office at (973) 313-2787.