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Jazz tribute to Stevie Wonder featuring James Austin, Jr. (acoustic piano), Carl Capersen (acoustic bass), and James Sexton (drums).

Tickets: $15
Doors at 6:30 pm | Show at 7pm

The Crosstown Jazz Series, presented by Strictly Jazz Entertainment in collaboration with Crosstown Arts, is designed to salute classic jazz music as contemporary musicians perform the work of the legends.

Hailing from the windy city of Chicago, James Austin, Jr. has established himself as an accomplished pianist and bandleader. He honed his craft under the tutelage of a number of legendary musicians, including extensive study with renowned jazz educator Barry Harris, receiving numerous accolades and awards along the way, including the honor of being selected as a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano competition. Each year, he has curated and led the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Jazz Jam series since its inception.

All of these experiences have culminated into a debut offering that pays tribute to one of his longtime heroes, Stevie Wonder, titled Songs in the Key of Wonder. Austin has long considered Wonder as one of the greatest composers of our time. Others have covered Wonder’s tunes on numerous occasions and for good reason, but Austin’s arrangements focus deeply on the colorizations and appealing flavor of Wonder’s mainstay hits.