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Jazz is back in Asbury Park.

Well in actuality, with local eateries showcasing jazz musicians throughout the year, it never really left.

But this weekend, a city-wide resurgence kicks off with the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Asbury Park LOVES Jazz.

According to Chamber Executive Director Jackie Pappas, the event ‘celebrates’ not only the local jazz fan base but also those from New York City and Philadelphia. The lineup will include everything from Afro-Cuban Latin jazz to contemporary artists, she said.

“This is the perfect time to showcase our beautiful city,” Pappas said. “The revitalization that is underway on Springwood Ave and throughout our city from the Westside to the Boardwalk will be celebrated through music.”

The showcase launches 7 p.m. Friday at the Transportation Center off Main Street with the Afro-Cuban sounds of Karen Rodriquez and includes a silent auction with portions of the proceeds benefitting the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Monmouth County.

Saturday’s showcases will be held from 11 a.m to 6:30 p.m. at Press Plaza on Emory Street off Cookman Avenue.

Sunday’s Main event kicks off at 1 p.m. at the Paramount Theater.

The weekend line-up is designed so one can mix music with beach activity and Asbury Park’s burgeoning restaurant and nightlife scene, Pappas said.

From 6 to 10 p.m. Friday Moonstruck will feature Sextet, whose members have appeared with Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Les Paul, and Dizzy Gillespie. The Hotel Tides will feature Lauren Hooker from 6 to 10 p.m.  Sunday.

Event sponsors include waterfront redeveloper iStar Residential, Circle BMW, New Jersey Natural Gas, 1st Constitution Bank, Combined Insurance, TD Bank and T-Mobile. Wells Fargo’s ‘Together we’ll go far’ campaign is the event’s Education Sponsor. They will provide back-to-school backpacks for over 100 city students as well as tickets to Sunday’s Main Event at the Paramount Theatre.

The city’s High School students will be acting as the jazz weekend ‘Student Crew’, volunteering throughout the weekend at each venue. The program is coordinated via the district’s College and Career Readiness Program.

The Asbury Park JAZZ WEEKEND Lineup:

FRIDAY NIGHT Kick Off Celebration Hosted by The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce & The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
7pm to 10pm
Ticket Price: $10
Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz from Karen Rodriquez
Live music, silent auction – portion of proceeds to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters  

SATURDAY Press Plaza (Emory Street off Cookman Ave) A ‘Community Day of Jazz’ Live music free & open to the public – in our tent garden

11:00am – 11:30am – The Lakehouse Music Academy Kids Jazz Band

12:00pm – 1:00pm – Sympathetic Resonance with Karen Lee
1:30pm – 3:00pm – Island Motion with Desi Norman
3:30pm – 5:00pm – Boardwalk Jazz with PJ Rassmusen
5:30pm – 6:30pm – Valerie Adams & The Dimensions Band

SUNDAY

The Paramount Theater, 1300 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park
Main Event
Tickets start at $19.50 (The Stone Pony box office & ticketmaster)
Doors open at 1:00pm
2:00pm – Brooke Alford, Artist of the Violin
3:00pm – Alex Bugnon
4:20pm – Jonathan Fritzen & Vincent Ingala – The Next Generation
5:30pm – Chieli Minucci & Special EFX with special guest Marion Meadows

For more information, visit the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce website.

[Photo courtesy of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce]

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