Central Park's Jazz & Colors Festival 2012

The 1st Annual Jazz & Colors Festival will take place November 10, 2012 from noon to 4pm at Central Park in NYC.  It will consist of 30 different jazz ensembles of different shapes and sizes.  All ensembles will be at landmarks throughout the park.  All groups will be far enough away as to not disturb each other's sphere of sound.  Of course, with 30 very different ensembles playing the same setlist, the interpretations of each song will be hugely different.  Between sets, soloist student musicians will perform.

Part of the fun of this event, besides obviously checking out great music, is how to approach your visit.  The list of 30 venues has been released and you can find the best entrance which is closest to the most venues.  Or, once bands are confirmed at specific venues, you can find ensembles headed by your favorite, maybe a lead tenor sax, a big band, or a trio.  Also keep in mind with 30 bands throughout the park, just showing up would probably work as well. 

See the links below for more info.

Jazz & Colors Website

Jazz & Colors Press Release

‘Jazz & Colors’ to Fill Central Park With Standards - NY Times ArtsBeat

Jersey City Artists' Studio Tour 2012

The 22nd Annual Jersey City Artists' Studio Tour will take place this weekend, Sat Oct 13th and Sun Oct 14th, noon to 6pm both days.  There will be over 85 venues participating.  Most sections of Jersey City will be represented with the Kick Off Celebration taking place Friday Oct 12th, 6pm - 9pm, at the Tenmarc Building at 430 Communipaw Avenue.  Free bus service to this event from Grove Street will be available.
 
If you've never been to the Jersey City Artists' Studio Tour, here is a bit of a summary of what goes on.  Throughout Jersey City, mostly concentrated on the Waterfront back to Monmouth Street, artist studios, churches, restaurants, stores, apartments and other venues real and imagined open their doors to the public. There is no admission and some venues will have wine, soda and other light refreshments.  The type of art along the tour includes sculptures, paintings, visual arts, pottery, greeting cards and many other mediums.
 
I think I've been to five different artist studio tours in other cities and neighborhoods and this one is my favorite.  If you haven't been to the Jersey City Waterfront area and the neighborhood between Grove Street and Monmouth Street, there are some great discoveries to find.  You'll come across parks, brownstones and other neighborhood features and businesses which are unique and worthwhile even outside of the tour itself.  The stops along the tour can also be an adventure. You'll find great art you never imagined liking and some art which may not be your style. There are always great people at every stop.

There are other events also coinciding with the Studio Tour, most notably, the 4th Street Arts and Music Festival.  Further information regarding this festival, the tour itself and other happenings in Jersey City this coming weekend, are in the links below.

Local Artists Banding Together for 22nd Annual Jersey City Artists Studio Tour This Weekend

22nd Annual Jersey City Artists' Studio Tour - digital guide

Digital Map for 2012 Jersey City Artists Studio Tour

4th Street Arts and Music Festival

Event Listings October 2012

 Thomas Wesley Stern

 October 11th at Rockwood Music Hall

Saturday October 6, 2012
Streetlight Circus
9:00pm
Vibe Lounge
60 North Park Avenue
Rockville Centre, NY

Saturday October 6, 2012
The Porchistas
6:00pm
NJIT College of Architecture & Design Gallery
367 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Newark, NJ

Sunday October 7, 2012
Spook Handy
2:00pm
Paramus Public Library
116 East Century Road
Paramus, NJ

Thursday October 11, 2012
Thomas Wesley Stern
11:00pm
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen Street
New York, NY

Saturday October 13, 2012
Hello Radio
Radical Dads
Birthwater
9:30pm
Maxwell's
1039 Washington Street
Hoboken, NJ

Saturday October 20, 2012
Elevator Art - Martian Diver EP Release Show
with Special Guests:
Indiana Bones
Mad Feather Group
The Shady Street Show Band
7:00pm
The Stone Pony
913 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ

Thursday October 25, 2012
The Amboys
8:00pm
The Trash Bar
256 Grand Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY

Friday October 26, 2012
The Flemtones
10pm
Tierney's Tavern
136-138 Valley Road
Montclair, NJ

Wednesday October 31, 2012
Halloween Bash featuring:
Mad Feather Group
8:30pm
Cee Gee's Bar and Grill
400 S New Prospect Road
Jackson, NJ