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By Mabel Pais
The 14th Annual TD JAMES MOODY FESTIVAL, presented by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and co-curated by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisor CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE, will take place November 8-23, 2025. It aims to showcase jazz as a powerful cultural force for social justice.
From groundbreaking jazz masters Arturo Sandoval and Stanley Clarke to the censored “Poet of Havana” singer-songwriter Carlos Varela and hip-hop stars Chuck D, Rakim and Slick Rick baring their souls in the annual Represent! show, this year’s Festival is rooted in jazz history. Presented at various accessible locations throughout Newark, the citywide Festival offers a diverse program of several acts fusing jazz with poetry, spoken word, dance, blues, pop, African-Caribbean music, and more — making it a destination for all arts lovers. New for this year, eligible TD Bank cardholders will receive special perks at the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
NJPAC President and CEO, John Schreiber explains “Jazz has always been an art form that’s strengthened by artists collaborating, crossing boundaries, finding new inspiration in the counterpoint of different rhythms coming together. You’ll hear that in almost every show at the ’TD James Moody Jazz Festival’ this year, and especially in this year’s ’Represent!’ concert that will bring together leading voices in hip hop, jazz and spoken word poetry.”
Christian McBride, TD James Moody Jazz Festival Advisor and multiple GRAMMY® Award-Winning Jazz Bassist, said “This is going to be another all-star, can’t-miss ’TD James Moody Jazz Festival.’ I can’t wait to groove with my Big Band and the incredible vocalists Andra Day, José James and Ledisi. But as always, I’m proud that we’ve put together a festival that has something for everyone: You’ll hear inspiring words from Dodge Poets, witness the tap dance magic of Savion Glover, hear Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive sing new tunes inspired by the music of the 1940s with her friend Vilray, and move to Cuban rhythms from Carlos Varela, Diana Fuentes, Arturo Sandoval and Omar Sosa. Plus, we’ll welcome two legendary players — my fellow bassist Stanley Clarke, and guitarist Stanley Jordan — to the NJPAC stage this season. This is a rare treat, and I know fans will be looking forward to their appearances as much as I am. Our goal with the ’Moody’ festival is to ensure you’ll always hear some of your favorites — and always discover new music to fall in love with.”
Martin Melilli, TD Bank Commercial Market President explains,“TD Bank has been an active supporter of the festival since it began, sponsoring free community performances and educational events, as well as mainstage concerts showcasing jazz superstars. We are very proud to continue our relationship with NJPAC and the TD James Moody Jazz Festival as they work to educate and inspire through jazz. At TD, we believe music and the arts are a universal language we all speak, and they both have a special way of inspiring positive change and connecting diverse communities.”
2025 TD JAMES MOODY JAZZ FESTIVAL PERFORMERS
ALEXANDER CLAFFY * ARTURO SANDOVAL * BEN WILLIAMS * CARLOS VARELA with JACKSON BROWNE, DIANA FUENTES * RODRIGO TOSCANO * CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE with LEDISI, ANDRA DAY, JOSÉ JAMES * DIANA FUENTES * DJ SPINNA * GEORGE CABLES * CHUCK D · JEROME JENNINGS * KING GEORGE * LA BRUJA * LENNY WILLIAMS * LUISITO ROSARIO ORCHESTRA * NAT ADDERLEY JR. * NJMEA ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND AND CHOIR * NUYORICAN POETS CAFÉ SLAM TEAM * OMAR SOSA * POKEY BEAR * RAKIM * RACHAEL PRICE * RAINA SIMONE * RODRIGO TOSCANO * SAVION GLOVER * SLICK RICK * STANLEY CLARKE * STANLEY JORDAN * THEODIS EALEY * TUCKA JAMES * TYEHIMBA JESS * TYREEK MCDOLE * VILRAY BOLLES * WEST LOVE
Plus surprise special guests to be added.
2025 TD JAMES MOODY FESTIVAL LINE-UP (events subject to change):
When: November 8 – 23, 2025
Where: Multiple venues in Newark, New Jersey, including NJPAC (One Center Street), Bethany Baptist Church (275 West Market Street), Feldman Middleton Community Center (92 Thomas Carmichael Drive), Newark Public Library (50 Hayes Street) and Clement’s Place (15 Washington Street)
Tickets: Some are free, others paid. To purchase tickets, contact NJPAC at 1.888.466.5722 or visit NJPAC.org/jazz.
SAT 11.08 @ 6:00 p.m. BETHANY BAPTIST JAZZ VESPERS: GEORGE CABLES TRIO featuring ALEXANDER CLAFFY AND JEROME JENNINGS
George Cables – piano
Alexander Claffy – bass
Jerome Jennings – drums
Location: Bethany Baptist Church
“Anyone serious about jazz will tell you that George Cables belongs in the pantheon of the greatest jazz pianists.” – All About Jazz
Co-presented by the Bethany Baptist Church Jazz Vespers, NJPAC begins its season-long FREE concert series at Newark’s Bethany Baptist Church with legendary pianist George Cables. Since 2000, Newark’s historic Bethany Baptist Church has hosted free concerts that combine jazz and worship.
Recently named an inaugural recipient of the 2025 Jazz Legacy Fellowship by the Mellon Foundation and the Jazz Foundation of America, Cables is described as a “humble keyboard genius with impeccable technique and a unique songbook.” ‘The New York City Jazz Record’ hails him as “a piano giant,” while National Public Radio notes that his solos “reveal a deep sense of groove and pacing and a mind at work.”
Learn more at georgecables.com.
SAT 11.08 @ 7:30 p.m. OMAR SOSA QUARTETO AMERICANOS
Omar Sosa – piano
Sheldon Brown – saxophone/clarinet/flute
Ernesto Mazar Kindelán – bass
Josh Jones – drums
Location: NJPAC’s Victoria Theater
“Omar Sosa has carved out a place for himself in the musical landscape that’s equal parts musical and spiritual. If the spirit speaks to anyone, it’s Omar Sosa.” – NPR Radio
It’s Latin jazz — plus pizzazz — with multi-GRAMMY® nominee Omar Sosa and his Quarteto Americanos. Playing with boundless energy, the Cuban-born composer, pianist and bandleader is “one of those rare birds whose keyboard skills are near those of Chick Corea and Chuco Valdes” (The New York Times).
Learn more at omarsosa.com
SUN 11.09 @ 3:00 p.m. STANLEY CLARKE N•4EVER with special guest Ben Williams
Stanley Clarke – bass
Ben Williams – bass
Julius Rodriguez – piano/keyboard
Jeremiah Collier – drums
Wallace Rooney Jr. – saxophone
Colin Cook – guitar
Location: NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.
“In the truest sense of the word, Stanley Clarke is a legend.” – NPR Radio
An evening of bass! Four-time GRAMMY®-winning film composer, bassist and NEA Jazz Master Stanley Clarke is one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world. Opening the show is fellow bassist Ben Williams – one of the most acclaimed and versatile bassists in modern jazz. A GRAMMY® Award winner, he won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2009 and has been landing impressive accolades ever since.
Learn more about Ben Williams at benwilliams.com.
WED 11.12 @ 4:30 p.m. JAZZ IN THE STACKS/BOOKS ON THE MOVE
TD Jazz for Teens
Location: Newark Public Library Springfield Branch.
Enjoy a FREE performance by TD Jazz for Teens at local Newark Public Libraries! Kicking off NJPAC’s monthly series in each of the NPL branches, it will host a Jazz in the Stacks performance preceded by a free engaged reading of ‘Playing at the Border,’ Yo-Yo Ma’s children’s book as part of the ‘Books on the Move’ series.
THU 11.13 @ 7:30 p.m. ARTURO SANDOVAL
Arturo Sandoval – trumpet
Location: NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.
“a consummate musician, a true virtuoso” – Omaha World-Herald
At 75 years old, jazz trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval still practices every day. Even after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kennedy Center Honors and 10 GRAMMYs®, he’s never let the acclaim distract him from the most important thing: the music. As a child growing up in Cuba, he found freedom in jazz, Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban jazz. And “freedom,” he says, “is the most important word in any dictionary in any language in the world.”
Learn more at arturosandoval.com.
FRI 11.14 @ 7:00 p.m. NJMEA / ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND AND JAZZ CHOIR
Location: NJPAC’s Chase Room.
Catch the next generation of great jazz artists from New Jersey. This annual concert event, co-presented by NJPAC’s Arts Education Department and the New Jersey Music Educators Association, brings together some of the very best young musicians and vocalists from across the state for a dynamic group performance. Performers include NJMEA All-State Jazz Band and NJMEA All-State Jazz Choir.
Learn more at NJMEA.org.
SAT 11.15 @ 3:00 + 7:00 p.m. SAVION GLOVER: PROjECt.9
Savion Glover – tap dance + percussion
PROjECt.9 – band + vocalist
Location: NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.
“Savion is to tap when Charles Parker is to jazz.” – Herb Alpert
Boldly breaking ground for over a quarter century, Savion Glover brings his drum set and tap shoes to NJPAC. In his latest production PROjECt.9, Savion is lead percussionist as well as tap dancer in an illustrious celebration of sound. The group comprises a vocalist and three other musicians (names TBA) performing original dance compositions and instrumental score written by Savion. In addition to presenting his award-winning tap dancing, Savion also displays his musicianship as percussionist.
What makes PROjECt.9 particularly unique is Savion’s emphasis on the collaboration of sound and improvisation. His performances evoke themes of identity, community and resilience, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of Afrocentric culture. Learn more at instagram.com/the_savionglover
Watch Savion perform at the Apollo Theater, New York City – youtu.be/dZcqD-m4ng4
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Visit njpac.org for more information.
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
For the 14th consecutive year, the Festival is sponsored by the TD Bank is the title sponsor of all jazz programming during NJPAC’s season, including free community performances and educational events, as well as mainstage concerts showcasing jazz superstars. TD Bank, a subsidiary of the Toronto Dominion Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. by assets, providing over 10 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,100 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. To learn more, visit td.com/us.
Find TD Bank on Facebook at facebook.com/TDBank and
on Instagram at instagram.com/TDBank_US.
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, Education, Business, and Cuisine.
