Steps Ahead, Michael Franks, And Spyro Gyra at Td James Moody Jazz Festival at New Jersey Performing Arts Center

NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival hosts this one-night-only concert featuring three of the top hitmakers in jazz.

Steps Ahead is the stellar jazz fusion group formed by legendary vibraphonist Mike Mainieri back in the 1970s. Known for a singular sound that melds elements of jazz, funk, rock and R&B, the group has long been one of the most influential ensembles in contemporary jazz. For this concert, Mainieri will be joined by Ravi Coltrane (sax), Baron Browne (bass), Steve Smith (drums) and Adam Rogers (guitar). For more than three decades and on 17 albums, singer-songwriter Michael Franks has mesmerized listeners, weaving sensual lyrics over music that mixes jazz, soul, pop, chamber and more...

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NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival hosts this one-night-only concert featuring three of the top hitmakers in jazz.

Steps Ahead is the stellar jazz fusion group formed by legendary vibraphonist Mike Mainieri back in the 1970s. Known for a singular sound that melds elements of jazz, funk, rock and R&B, the group has long been one of the most influential ensembles in contemporary jazz. For this concert, Mainieri will be joined by Ravi Coltrane (sax), Baron Browne (bass), Steve Smith (drums) and Adam Rogers (guitar). For more than three decades and on 17 albums, singer-songwriter Michael Franks has mesmerized listeners, weaving sensual lyrics over music that mixes jazz, soul, pop, chamber and more. His songs have been covered by Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, and the Carpenters, but Franks is also a gifted vocalist (“The Lady Wants to Know,” “Popsicle Toes”), with a deliciously expressive voice. On his new Rendezvous in Rio LP, he sways to a South American beat, working bossa nova into his musical brew. The members of Spyro Gyra are contemporary jazz icons, recording and performing together for over four decades now. Their potion of jazz, R&B, funk and pop has sold over 10 million albums worldwide. Spyro Gyra’s most recent projects – The Rhinebeck Sessions and The Best of the Heads Up Years – earned raves from top jazz critics. JazzTimes called the music “inspired,” while Jazz Weekly added: “These guys still sound GREAT!”

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