The New Jersey Symphony will be conducted by David Newman on this glitzy night of Hollywood theme music. Newman is the son of legendary movie-music maestro Alfred Newman [1900-1970] and the cousin of singer-songwriter Randy Newman. The Newman family has amassed an incredible 93 Oscar nominations, winning 13. German pianist Sebastian Knauer will add his patented flourishes on such movie themes as A Beautiful Mind, Spartacus, The Robe, How The West Was Won and Basic Instinct.  

Sax man Harry Allen—who graduated Rutgers with a Bachelor of Arts degree—hits Teaneck Jan. 2. With over 70 albums as a leader, and international gigs galore, he’s blown sax for Rosemary Clooney and John Pizzarelli.  His music is heard in Hollywood movies, in commercials, and his command of the “Great American Songbook” is profound. On this night, he will have with him pianist Rossano Sportiello, originally from Vigevano in Italy and now based in NYC.

A Flock Of Seagulls, Men Without Hats, Thomas Dolby, The Romantics, Bow Wow Wow and Tommy Tutone will hit the Ocean Casino & Resort on the AC boardwalk Dec. 27 as part of the Totally Tubular festival.  Tour creator Jon Pleeter calls it, “the best ‘80s party on the planet. The audiences last year fully embraced the spirit of the tour and were wildly enthusiastic.”

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikiovsky had his Nutcracker ballet premiere at the Imperial Marinsky in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on December 18, 1892. Now the troupe at Nimbus Dance presents the 15^th year of its annual Jersey Nutcracker in Jersey City Dec. 19-23 after runs in Newark and Union. Yes, you’ll meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, her dashing Cavalier, as well as the corrupt mayor (based on the notorious Frank Hague who once ruled Jersey City with an iron fist from 1917 to 1947). The traditional toy soldiers are now hip-hop dancers and the score is infused with more jazz than classical. 

Steve Forbert will be heading to Main Street in Tuckerton to play Lizzie Rose!  So many songs to want him to sing. Will he do tunes from Things That I See, his 2015 gem that’s been remixed and remastered on its 10^th Anniversary? Sure hope he doesn’t do “Send In The Clowns.” If I ever hear that maudlin Sondheim sludge again I might have a stroke.

Steve Forbert will be heading to Main Street in Tuckerton to play Lizzie Rose!  So many songs to want him to sing. Will he do tunes from Things That I See, his 2015 gem that’s been remixed and remastered on its 10^th Anniversary? Sure hope he doesn’t do “Send In The Clowns.” If I ever hear that maudlin Sondheim sludge again I might have a stroke.

Drew U’s Concert Hall in Madison will present two tribute bands:  Tommy Scro’s Rock’n’Roll Fantasy plays the music of John Mellencamp and Human Wheels, led by Rob Santa, does the same for Bad Company. (Santa also fronts Saints In The City, a Bruce tribute). To add a seasonal twist, both bands will be rocking up holiday fare like Mellencamp’s version of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

With Marc Ribler as Music Director, Hungerthon 2025, a Benefit for WhyHunger, the organization singer-songwriter Harry Chapin [1942-1981] co-founded to help the hungry, will rock the hallowed halls of The Stone Pony on Dec. 14 at 6:00 with Steve Chapin, Tom Chapin, Jen Chapin, Amy Helm, The Dixie Dregs, Jimmy Vivino, Randy C. Moore, Danny Clinch, The Disciples Of Soul and members of The Smithereens and the E Street Band. Non-perishable canned foods collected before the concert will be donated to the Fulfill Food Bank.

This 5:00 p.m. fundraiser benefits “transformative arts education and jazz programming in communities across our greater Monmouth County region,” according to the New Jersey Jazz Society. Jazz Arts Academy students will open the show and jam with Jon Faddis, the world-renowned trumpeter.

A new concert film, You Got Gold: A Celebration Of John Prine, is touring across the country with performances and interviews with Brandi Carlile, Steve Earle, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, Bonnie Raitt, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bob Weir of Grateful Dead, Lucinda Williams and Lyle Lovett all in thrall of John Prine [1946-2020].

Here’s a rare chance to be in the same room when legendary saxophonist-composer-producer Joe Lovano performs. He’ll be playing with Judi Silvano, the singer-songwriter-dancer who uses her voice like a horn with a wild flair for improv. This is one major-league meeting of the minds. Silvano has 14 albums to her credit. Lovano has over 40. 

Rachel Carlson, Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Kean University, launched the Community Chorale initiative three years ago in an effort to get students, alumni and locals together every week to sing. Her ensemble with local high schools performs twice-yearly. On Dec. 7, at Enlow Recital Hall in Hillside, singers from Newark Arts High School will perform FOR FREE.

Vocals Extraordinaire! Singing songs from its current Joy To The World album, Grammy Award-winning acapella group Chanticleer—formed in San Francisco 47 years ago—celebrates the holiday by singing their hearts out Dec. 6 downtown Newark at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Center Street. Their innovative juxtapositioning of Renaissance motets, classic carols and contemporary compositions makes them unique.

Doors open at 1:30 for this unique day of music that they’re calling “A Festival of Expressionistic Instrumental & Experimental Sounds from the Tri-State area” at Prototype 237 in Paterson. Complete with food and venders, the artists are Garcia Peoples, Emily Robb, Emergency Group, Drew Gardner, Seawind of Battery, The Royal Arctic Institute, Ernie Francestine and David Bales.

It’s a great time to see Renaissance Man Glenn Alexander and his top-notch, tight-as-nails everything band Shadowland. With holidays in the air, Glenn’s sheer might and majesty on electric guitar will rock your socks off and he has The Asbury Jukes horn section pumping away behind him as well as the terrific vocalist they call simply Oria.

Ten albums into his career (starting with his 1992 It’s A Guitar Thing debut), Filipino guitarist-composer-educator Ron Jackson, 61, will bring his trio to Teaneck on Cedar Lane Dec. 5. Jackson plays a six- and seven-string ax, and has performed all over the world, including Scotland, Newark, Israel and his home base of New York City. His current album, Standards and My Songs, was recorded exclusively on the 7-string. 

Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty will perform and tell the tales of British progressive-rock band Renaissance at the Newton Theatre on Spring Street at 8:00 p.m. The discussion will precede a visual presentation and a concert with members of both eras of the band’s history performing their classic songs together. Born from the ashes of The Yardbirds, McCarty and the Keith Relf [1943-1976] wanted to fuse folk and classical with their rock and when Haslam joined, the stage was set. This should be an extraordinary night!

Get ready for a night of Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones on North Avenue in Garwood at Crossroads Nov. 28 when Black Dog (pictured is Black Dog guitarist Dan Toto) and Stones tribute band Well Alright share the stage.

It’s always a party at a Tommy James concert. His voice is still solid 66 years into his Hall of Fame career (hint-hint). Those who go see him Nov. 22 in Englewood at the Bergen Performing Arts Center are guaranteed to rock out with their socks out. Maybe go “Barefootin’,” like that 1966 Robert Parker song. Now THERE’S a tune I’d love to hear TJ cover!  

Saxophonist-Educator Julius Tolentino will bring his quartet to Teaneck on Cedar Lane Nov. 21. He’s spent over 20 years in The Big Apple blowing with Louis Haye’s Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, Natalie Cole, Connie Francis, Gloria Gaynor, Christian McBride, Illinois Jacquet, Michael Feinstein and the ghost bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. His Just The Beginning debut hit #8 in ’06.

On Nov. 21, the Concert Hall at Drew U in Madison will rock to the soul sounds of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles plus more—including Stax Records acts—when the Motor City Review hits town. This 13-piece big-band is fronted by the exquisite Layonne Holmes from Matawan in Monmouth County. She’s already spiced up the music of Bon Jovi, Darlene Love and Ben E. King. It’s in her genes. Her mom, Delores Holmes, sang backup for Bruce.

They call him “The Bob Dylan Of Cuba.” The singer-songwriter has dedicated his 30-year career to “the problems of my people.” Banned in his native country, he maintains “words can transform. They can reach your soul and your heart. They can shake your bones. They can change your life, and that can’t be lost.” With him will be Jackson Browne, Diana Fuentes and Rodiogo Toscano.

On a Sunday afternoon at 3:00, the Chris DeVito Trio featuring bassist John Lenis and drummer Gavin Davies will perform with guitarist Sidd Suppiah at the Watchung Arts Center Nov. 16. After the show, a jam will ensue at 4:30. Pianist-Educator DeVito has been playing piano since age three. His solo gigs include a concert/lecture about legendary Harlem Stride piano man James P. Johnson [1894-1955], a major figure in the history of jazz whose early ragtime style directly and heavily influenced Basie, Ellington and Monk. (And, of course, James P. Johnson was from New Jersey.) 

Living Hour will be supporting its Internal Drone Infinity album by stopping in Lambertville at Soupcon Salon on November 15. It’s the fourth album for these indie-rock Canadians, and it features their new single “Texting.” Singer-Songwriter Sam Sarty explains: “The song was inspired by the process of trying to explain Winnipeg to someone over text. I used to drive a lot. Now I walk all over town. Things seem to slow down that way. I notice a lot more. I keep a list of things I see on my phone…like all the garbage.”

Herb Alpert once said that Newark’s own Savion Glover is to tap what Charlie Parker is to jazz. Glover will bring his drum set and tap shoes for a special afternoon dance performance at his hometown NJPAC on Nov. 15 downtown Newark. His new show is called “PROjECt9’ and includes a vocalist and three musicians as he taps his way across the stage like only he can.

South Jersey Native Joe Donnelly has been performing a satanic Black Sabbath feast for 25 years in his Sabbra Cadabra band. They will storm the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Nov. 14 with Metallica Tribute Band Death Metallic opening. Jeff Mott of Sabbra Cadabra says the band “will be playing songs from the early Black Sabbath years with Ozzy. We all like the other, later variations of Black Sabbath, but nothing compares to those first albums with Ozzy on vocals. It was something brand new then. Those four guys, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ozzy Osbourne created something that had never been heard before. They invented Heavy Metal. Fans will experience echoes of that original vibe at the show.” 

The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music has announced the premiere screening of the 2025 American Music Honors event honoring John Fogerty, Tom Morello, Smokey Robinson, Emmylou Harris and Joe Ely that took place April 25.

It’s been said that nobody plays Beethoven and Schubert like British pianist Paul Lewis, 53, from Liverpool. Anthony Tommasini, writing in the New York Times, said, “there are many prized recordings of the Beethoven sonatas from past masters and current artists but if I had to recommend a single complete set, I would suggest Mr. Lewis’s distinguished recordings.” See for yourself when he takes the stage of Alexander Hall unaccompanied at Princeton University on Nov. 6.

On a Sunday afternoon at 3:00 in Madison at the Community Arts Center on Kings Road, the winners of the New Jersey Jazz Society’s 2025 Juried Scholarship competition will perform with NJJS Advisor-Educator-Saxophonist Don Braden (who doubles on flute) and his band of seasoned industry professionals on trombone (Mariel Bildsten), trumpet (Ted Chubb), bass (Mary Ann McSweeney) and drums (Alvester Garnett). The winners are saxophonists Joseph Foglia/Nate Tota, vocalists Kyra Cioffi/Sophia Varughese and composers Matthew Cline/Aiden Woods. (The six winners are from William Paterson University in Wayne and Princeton.)