NJPAC Free Concert Series Kicks Off in July

When DJ Felix Hernandez fired up his turntables for his debut at New Jersey Performing Arts Center's (NJPAC) outdoor summer concert series nearly two decades ago, people were literally dancing in the streets.

"We were out on Center Street ... Theater Square wasn't built yet," recalls the 56-year-old Brooklynite, a favorite of WBGO Jazz88.3 FM listeners. "I played the song 'Dancing in the Street' and everybody went wild."

There are many longstanding traditions at NJPAC, but in the heat of July nothing rivals the blast of coolness that Hernandez's Rhythm Revue Dance Party brings each year to Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City. The customary opening concert, Rhythm Revue Dance Party returns on July 7 to kick off the Thursday twilight series of free music.

"For many summers, the Rhythm Revue has established itself as one of the best scenes for lovers of Motown and R&B - of all generations - to mingle on the dance floor," says David Rodriguez, NJPAC's Executive Vice President and Executive Producer. "NJPAC is always glad to welcome Felix back to sound the opening for our summertime lineup of reggae, jazz, world music, soul, salsa and hip-hop."

"Thousands of people who live and work here enjoy Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City, and it is rewarding to Horizon as a Newark company to harmonize with NJPAC on something that energizes the entire downtown region," says Jonathan R. Pearson, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Horizon BCBSNJ.

Traditionally, Hernandez is first in line to open the eight-concert series. The outdoor music plays from 5 to 9pm and admission is always free. Here's what's coming up:

• The dial on dance music is set to high for the following date, July 14, with the arrival of Tiempo Libre, a triple GRAMMY-nominated group that's considered one of the hottest Latin bands in the metro. Their blend of Afro-Caribbean music, described as "dance music of sophistication and abandon" by The New York Times, features an irresistible, exhilarating mix of jazz harmonies and seductive Latin rhythms. A globe-circling band that's at home in concert halls jazz clubs or dance venues, Tiempo Libre has been seen on The Tonight Show, Live from Lincoln Center and Dancing with the Stars, as well as on many programs on Univision and Telemundo.

Opening for Tiempo Libre is pianist and composer Nicki Denner and her trio. Denner has worked with Sheila E., Savion Glover, Doc Severinsen and many jazz artists here and abroad, and is musical director for the group Cocomama. Her album Moliendo Café was named one of the "Top 10 Picks of 2006" by Latin Beat magazine.

• Hip-hop great Rakim appears with other emcees and rap artists gathered for Universal Hip Hop Museum's The Peace, Unity & Love Show on July 21. Hosted by Roxanne Shante, this creative showcase is a fist-pumping salute to hip-hop culture, bringing such names to the stage as Renee Neufville (formerly of the group Zhane), T Ski Valley, Original B Fats, Reggie Reg (of the Crash Crew), Lakim Shabazz, Chip Fu and Lava Pit recording artists Antonius The Realist and Milwaukee Lateef. Other music is provided by Grand Wizard Theodore (one of the founders of Universal Hip Hop Museum with Kurtis Blow), Cutman LG of SiriusXM radio and Miranda Writes. Rakim, critically acclaimed for his lyric-writing talents as half of Eric B. & Rakim, and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee, was ranked on all-time-best-album lists (MTV, Rolling Stone magazine) for his groundbreaking work on the top-selling Paid in Full.

Founded in 2012, the Universal Hip Hop Museum gives voice to the stories of the people, events and artifacts that shaped hip-hop, through digital collections, virtual exhibits, interviews, pop-up experiences, award shows, and other educational programs and activities.

• On July 28, Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City presents Kamasi Washington, the eclectic saxophonist who began his career with The Young Jazz Giants and has toured with Snoop Dogg, Gerald Wilson and R&B legend Raphael Saadiq. He also has performed and recorded with such artists as McCoy Tyner, Lauryn Hill, Chaka Khan, Freddie Hubbard and Kendrick Lamar (on his acclaimed 2015 Grammy award-winning album To Pimp a Butterfly).

Washington's music, described by The Los Angeles Times as "defiantly modern ... with runaway-train momentum," encompasses jazz to hip-hop. His most recent CD, The Epic, features The Next Step - his 10-piece band - along with a full string orchestra and choir.

• Summer means it's time to uncork the reggae. Junior Marvin's Wailers - fronted by the blues-rock guitarist whose credits include a part in The Beatles' film Help - draws on years of collaboration with Bob Marley and the Wailers in a concert on August 4. Junior Marvin, an innovative and expressive musician, was an original member of the London cast of the musical Hair and served his musical apprenticeship in America by performing with the likes of T-Bone Walker and Ike and Tina Turner.

DJ Lumumba aka Revolution opens this performance.
• August 11 brings Avery*Sunshine, one of the most dynamic voices on the creative music scene, who also is known for her compelling and honest songwriting. The singer has collaborated with the likes of Roy Ayers, Will Downing and Musiq Soulchild and choral-directed for live performances by Michael Bublé, David Foster, Anthony Hamilton and Jennifer Holliday. She is heard on the soundtrack of The Fighting Temptations.

Singer and songwriter Bradd Marquis opens the performance. A spiritual troubadour with the pulse of the common man, he boasts a baritone dipped in Southern soul. Since breaking through the New York airwaves with the R&B hit "Radio," he has been seen on Apollo Live, 106 & Park and Showtime at the Apollo.

• Tortured Soul - three distinctive guys, from three different backgrounds - get the crowd dancing to their deep, soulful house music on August 18. Influenced by the classic songcraft of Prince, Heatwave and Kool & The Gang, the members of Tortured Soul are united under a groove-centered rhythm. The band's frontman and songwriter, John-Christian Urich ("Might Do Something Wrong"), can be seen simultaneously drumming and singing with effortless mastery, while bassist Jordan Scannella and keyboardist Isamu McGregor are virtuosos at generating the pulsating accompaniment.

A'ndre Davis, an R&B/hip-hop singer and songwriter, warms up the stage. Born and raised in Newark, he toured with The Temptations as their opening artist.

• The final concert on August 25 features Philly-born Bilal, one of the most eclectic of R&B vocal artists, who takes his inspirations from gospel, jazz, soul, blues and hip-hop. Bilal's 2010 album, Airtight's Revenge, yielded the GRAMMY-nominated song "Little Ones." Three years later, his release A Love Surreal garnered critical acclaim when it was named one of People magazine's Top 10 albums of the year.

Walter Christopher, who opens the evening, is known to fans as "Walt Chris": a singer-songwriter who can slide effortlessly from playing an R&B gig to a sanctified gospel church to a swinging jazz club.

"I like to think of Sounds of the City as a gather of all types of people, from all walks of life. It's a place where everybody can come together and celebrate their love of music. I think music, more than anything, brings people together, " adds Hernandez.

Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City is made possible through collaboration between NJPAC and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. Other sponsors include RWJ Barnabas Health, BD and Blue Moon Brewing Company.

Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City
July 7 - August 25, 5-9pm

Enjoy eight FREE exciting outdoor concerts and discover for yourself why NJPAC is the place to meet and mingle on Thursday nights in the summer!

July 7 Felix Hernandez's Rhythm Revue Dance Party
July 14 Tiempo Libre
July 21 Universal Hip Hop Museum with Rakim and special guests
July 28 Kamasi Washington
August 4 Junior Marvin's Wailers
August 11 Avery *Sunshine
August 18 Tortured Soul
August 25 Bilal

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