Community Corner

Jazz, Feast Coming to Van Neste Sunday

Music and restaurant offerings will come together for first annual Ridgewood Guild event.

More than a dozen restaurants and three noted jazz performers will be on hand Sunday in Van Neste Park for the first Jazz and Blues Feast, sponsored by the Ridgewood Guild.

Guild President Tony Damiano said the group has been working since February on the event, which they hope to make an annual offering, after a resident jazz enthusiast approached them with the idea.

“The guild has made the grade on putting together these great events, such as the spring film festival, so I jumped at the opportunity to find out what it was all about,” he said.

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They approached three New Jersey native jazz musicians about holding a festival, and Antoinette Montague, Winard Harper and Rob Paparozzi signed on for the show.

“They were all very excited to bring jazz to Ridgewood,” said Damiano.

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Harper is a progressive jazz instrumentalist, Damiano said, and Montague and Paparozzi are both vocalists – while the latter is also known for his harmonica playing and toured with the Blues Brothers. All three will play 90-minute sets for the concert.

Applebee’s, Valley Hospital, and Park Avenue Auto Group kicked in sponsorships, and Newark-based public radio station WBGO ran several promo spots for the event, setting the feast up for a strong debut Sunday.

Seventeen restaurants will be selling food, and Van Neste will also feature a wine and beer garden for the show. VIP tickets for seats up close to the stage are available for $40, but seating on the lawn around the park will be free. Food and music will run all day Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.


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