The Bergen County Jazz Society was formed by Grammy-Award Nominee and International Jazz Bassist Curtis Lundy and Ronald E. McKnight. The vision is to celebrate jazz artists in Bergen County and Internationally. The goal is to share the beauty and the richness of jazz with the audience and in the classroom with students. We will assist in providing for jazz musician in need. Housing. Homelessness, Food, Clothing and Medical.
Mission: Bergen Community College’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) fosters diversity and intercultural awareness among the college community. The Office of Multicultural Affairs is in line with the mission of the college, “to educate a diverse student population in a supportive and challenging academic environment that fosters civility and respect.” We promote cultural and diversity issues within and beyond the college community. OMA provides a forum for diversity education and training, social and cultural awareness, and self- exploration and discovery. We will provide the tools necessary for students and the community-at-large to empower themselves.
# # #
Special Guest Mistress of Ceremonies
Legendary radio personality Debi B. Jackson
Debi B. Jackson – MC
For over 30 years Ms. Jackson was known as “Debi B” on radio where her voice was heard every Sunday on 107.5 WBLS FM co-hosting the WBLS Sunday Classics beside her legendary broadcast husband, the late Hal Jackson. The program had consistently been rated as a top five program in the Tri-State area and had the largest listening audience in the history of radio.
Debi’s voice has been heard as the national radio voice for the Essence Music Festival, the Essence Awards and many radio commercials.
One of Debi’s passions is photography, which led her to become the first to annually host a one-woman photographic show at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building in New York City. All proceeds from the sales of Debi’s photography is donated to the Youth Development Foundation, Inc. (YDF) of which she is the CEO and President. For over 46 years the YDF has awarded over $2,000,000 in scholarships and prizes to young women from around the world through the Hal Jackson’s Talented Teens International (HJTTI) scholarship program.
Curtis Lundy
“Curtis Lundy is arguably one of the most prolific — in-demand bassists on the modern jazz scene — he is a disciple of the mainstream — straight ahead — hard bop school.
Highly regarded for his robust, lyrical, ‘lead from the front’ approach to the acoustic bass — he delivers an unsurpassed brand of masterful excellence in performing standards, originals and the American songbook. His fluid voicings and exceptional dexterity allow listeners to delve into a song — in any time signature — with an equal measure of challenge and enjoyment.” All About Jazz
Curtis has performed and recorded with Betty Carter, Bobby Watson, Louis Hayes, Max Roach, Wynton Marsalis, Pharoah Sanders, Johnny Griffin, Cyrus Chestnut, Larry Willis, Wallace Rooney, Warren Wolfe, Steve Nelson, as well as his sister renowned Vocalist Carmen Lundy and others.Lundy’s arrangement of “Walk With Me”, recorded by the ARC Gospel Choir, was sampled by rapper Kanye West and became the Grammy Award -winning hit “Jesus Walks .
https://walkerbranding4.wixsite.com/curtislundy
Sherry Winston
Sherry Winston has performed in many of the major concert halls throughout the U.S. including Carnegie Hall, Constitution Hall, Lincoln Center and at the Kennedy Center. She is a musician, composer, and businesswoman who handles all of her own bookings, negotiating and management of her band. Sherry performed with Icon Stevie Wonder in NYC to honor the legendary Hal Jackson on his 97th birthday. Sherry has released 6 CD’s with her first “Do It For Love,” going to #1 on BRE and the Black Excellence Charts. “Love Madnes,” and “Life is Love & Love is You,” was Top 10 at Billboard Magazine.
On the business side, Sherry worked as Director of Jazz Promotion at Columbia, Arista, Grp and Elektra Records. She has promoted such well-known artists as Kenny G, Grover Washington, jr., Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick, jr., Nancy Wilson and Ramsey Lewis to name only a few.
As a performer Sherry has opened for Sinbad John Legend & Vanessa Williams for the ELC, Grover Washington, Jr., Gerald Albright, Ramsey Lewis, Chaka Kahn, “Pieces of a Dream,” Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Diane Reeves, Nelson Rangel, Ronnie Laws and many others.
http://sherrywinston.com/
Ms Irene Renee
Born and raised in the Motor City – Detroit, Michigan, home of the famous Motown Records, and now New York based, this Indie Music Super Star – singer/songwriter, dubbed the ‘Princess of Soul,’ Ms. Irene Renee has been compared to some of the greatest 20th century musical talents that we’ve come to love and cherish. The comparison ranges from our beloved queen of neo-soul, Jill Scott, Anita Baker, Erykah Badu, Tony Braxton, India Arie, Miki Howard and yes, Phyllis Hyman.
She shared the stage with artists such as Cissy Houston, Conya Doss, Atlantic Starr, Alyson Williams, Me’Lisa Morgan, Ladies of Skyy, Black Ivory, Blue Magic, Jeff Redd, Love & Hip Hop’s Amina Buddafly and Grandmaster Flash to name a few. She has also garnered the support of legendary New York DJ’s & radio personalities such as: DJ Red Alert, DJ Reggie Wells, WBLS’s Eddie Love, Jeff Foxx and Dr. Bob Lee.
http://msirenerenee.com/
Annette Genovese – Vocalist (Aband)
Annette, a professionally trained vocalist, has performed and recorded in the New York Tri-State area for over 25 years and done 3 tours in the Middle East. She directed the music ministry at her church for 20 years.
Working solo and in various groups, she has written or arranged, and recorded dozens of songs for her own albums, Indie artists, and commercials. Managing her own projects, she has created several professionally produced albums ranging from new wave, gospel rock, pop, funk, and jazz. For each project, she has provided primary creative oversight from initial vision through song arrangement/writing, recording, mixing, and final mastering.
Jim West – Pianist (Aband)
Jim, the son of the late great saxophonist, Alvy West, has performed with multi-generational jazz and pop icons such as Buddy Rich, Mel Torme, Anita Ellis, Carly Simon, Gerry Niewood, Ruby Braff, and Steve Allen. He has toured internationally including a 2007-tour in Shanghai with his own jazz trio. Recently, Jim has performed at Feinstein’s, The Metropolitan Room, and The Iridium Jazz Club in NYC.
www.abandmusic.com
Sounds of Manila-
Honorably tagged as “Ambassadors of Philippine Music,” Sounds of Manila (SOM) has been the recipient of several awards for preserving and promoting Original Philippine Music (OPM) in the United States. These awards include the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League (PACCAL) Award, the Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) Award, and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations’ (NaFFAA) Outstanding Filipino American Achiever’s Award.
SOM’s music ranges from the classic ‘60s and ‘70s to the most revered songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s; its repertoire is a blend of popular music, light rock, light jazz, R&B, and most especially OPM.
http://soundsofmanila.com/
Gary Samuels-
Gary Samuels has a heart of gold and the pipes to match. Just one listen to his voice and it’s clear that he has been touched by God. A five-octave range and a tonal quality that rivals some of today’s best singers, Gary Samuels is truly a divine instrument. Having sung in front of Presidents and the Pope, he’s experienced what some only dream of. With an entry for the 2010 BET Awards for Best Gospel Video and successful runs of his autobiographical play, “Gospel of Blues”.
God’s favor has followed Gary and he’s been blessed to sing for President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President George Bush, Pope John Paul II and Nelson Mandela. He’s performed at The Apollo and Radio City Music Hall. He’s sung with Opera Diva Grace Bumbry and Jazz Great Wynton Marsalis and opened up for Gospel Artists Kelly Price, Donnie McClurkin, and Mary Mary. He’s shared his musical talent overseas singing in Africa, Spain and other countries. Although he’s thrilled at the many opportunities he’s had to sing for notable people, he receives the most joy from singing at nursing homes, senior centers and prisons.
On the NYC jazz scene since 2006, The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra is a group filled with some of the area¹s most experienced and exciting big band musicians. A collect resume of the where these musicians have been would include the bands of Maria Schneider, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Toshiko Akiyoshi, John Fedchock, and and The Westchester Jazz Orchestra (to name only a few).
Jazz impresario Jack Kleinsinger was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of North Florida and is a former Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York. Kleinsinger started producing “Highlights in Jazz” — the longest-running, continuous jazz series in the history of New York City — 45 years ago. He has produced many concerts in New York City schools, colleges and prisons, and co-produced programs for the Newport and New York Jazz festivals as well as for the Jazz Festival in Nice, France. His honors and awards include the 1997 JVC Jazz Festival concert, “Thanks to Jack Kleinsinger for 25 Years of Highlights in Jazz,” the Charlie Parker Memorial Award presented at the 52nd Street Americana Festival, and a proclamation by Manhattan Borough President C. Viginia Fields designating February 5 as Jack Kleinsinger Day in the borough. 
(2 CD Set
Artist: CHRIS PASIN AND FRIENDS
