Monday, June 4, 2018

USA: 1st Thursdays Jazz Returns to Orama in Edgewater, NJ, June 7th with Curtis Lundy and Friends

1st Thursdays Jazz returns to Orama in Edgewater, NJ, June 7,
featuring live music by Grammy-nominated bassist Curtis Lundy and Friends

Celebrate the start of summer with stellar 1st Thursdays Jazz
presented by the Bergen County Jazz Society

Music lovers can get a jump-start on weekend fun with an evening of great jazz from acclaimed bassist and bandleader Curtis Lundy on Thursday, June 7. The event marks the return of the yearly 1st Thursdays music series at Orama Restaurant in Edgewater, NJ. Signaling the unofficial start of summer, the popular annual concert is presented by the Bergen County Jazz Society.


For the past several summers, 1st Thursdays has been a destination for a lively and enthusiastic crowd looking to soak up the sounds and the scene. Bandleader Curtis Lundy can be counted on to assemble a brilliant ensemble of friends from the musical world to set the mood.


Whatever your top picks are for a perfect summer evening, you’ll find them at Orama. In addition to the exciting music, it’s hard to beat the atmosphere: Sited on the Hudson River, Orama’s floor-to-ceiling windows frame amazing scenes of lower Manhattan. Relax, take in the spectacular views, peruse the eclectic menu ranging from sushi to small plates to full meals, along with a creative cocktail program and extensive wine list. Or kick back at an outdoor table, enjoy a cigar and watch the boats go by, with the Manhattan skyline gleaming just across the river.


Providing a live soundtrack for it all is the multi-talented Curtis Lundy. He has long been recognized among the premiere figures in straight-ahead jazz as a bassist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. Lundy gained attention early, accompanying the renowned vocalist Betty Carter, who was famous for seeking out the best young players. Lundy later carried on that tradition with Horizon, a band he co-led with saxophonist Bobby Watson. Favorably compared with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, one of the most celebrated and beloved jazz ensembles ever, Horizon built a reputation as a proving ground for many of the most promising up-and-comers on the jazz scene.


Besides leading his own bands, Curtis Lundy is an in-demand sideman, appearing and recording with giants like Pharoah Sanders, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard, Don Pullen, Clark Terry, Elvin Jones and Jon Faddis. He is also known for collaborations with his sister, acclaimed singer Carmen Lundy. A Grammy-nominee himself, Lundy’s vocal choir arrangement of “Walk with Me” was sampled by Kanye West on his Grammy-winning “Jesus Walks.”


For his previous 1st Thursdays gigs, Lundy has drawn from a who’s who of the current jazz scene for his band at Orama. No matter who’s on the schedule, when Curtis Lundy is on the bandstand there’s always a chance of surprise musical guests dropping by to join in the fun


Founded in 2016 by Ronald E. McKnight and Curtis Lundy, the Bergen County Jazz Society aims to help people of all ages have a greater appreciation of jazz. Besides working in the school system and mentoring programs, the BCJS assists musicians in need of food, housing, work and medical care.
You won’t want to miss the fun on June 7, when 1st Thursdays   returns to Orama!
1st Thursdays Jazz Featuring Curtis Lundy and Friends
Thursday June 7
7 to 10 P.M.
Orama Restaurant
595 River Road
Edgewater, NJ

For reservations, call Ronald E. McKnight 877-869-7121, or register online at https://1stthursdaysjune7.eventbrite.com