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Community Corner

Free CONCERT ON MAIN: jazz vocalist Kristen Lee Sergeant with pianist Jon Weber

At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14 the Concerts on Main series continues at Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church (286 Main Street, Chatham, NJ) with a free performance of THE MOMENT BEFORE: standards and the stages that shaped them by jazz vocalist Kristen Lee Sergeant, pianist Jon Weber, and bassist Chris Smith. The program, engaging for listeners of all ages, features hits from the American Songbook. Pieces by Rodgers & Hart, Loesser, Weill, and others are coupled with their unique backstories, as well contemporary tunes, and a seasonal Irish surprise.

Vocalist Kristen Lee Sergeant is making a lasting impression in the jazz world as an artist of significant interpretive skill and musical talent. Her NYC highlights include performances at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Joe’s Pub, The Iridium, Zinc Bar, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She appears monthly at Tomi Jazz Club and regularly collaborates with both seasoned jazz masters and new stars such as David Budway, Ray Gallon, Jeb Patton, and Joris Teepe; for years she appeared as the singer for “Our Father Who Art Blakey,” a big band featuring exciting young talents led by former Jazz Messenger Valery Ponomarev. Noted cabaret artist Steve Ross shares that “Kristen has it all. She wins the audience with her poise, but poise doesn’t swing and Kristen, in addition to her musicianship, DOES swing! She brings heart and rhythm to whatever she performs.” Heralded as “especially entertaining” (The Boston Globe), her theatrical background includes a range of work – from Gilbert & Sullivan to Jacques Brel and beyond – with the Huntington Theater Company, The York Theater Company, The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Gallery Players, and as part of the NYC International Fringe Festival. Kristen originated the role of Nancy Kerrigan in “Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera” last appearing at the American Repertory Theater’s Club Oberon. She received praise from diverse media outlets including the Boston Herald and the Ice Network, plus appeared on CNN and in ESPN Magazine. Kristen earned a B.A. in Music from Brandeis University where she was awarded the Ira Gershwin prize. She has been a featured soloist for Sunday worship at Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Pianist Jon Weber’s performances, compositions, and recordings have been received with critical and popular acclaim in the United States, Europe, India, Japan, and Australia. Praised for “outstanding technique plus boundless imagination and enthusiasm,” (Jazz Journal International) his collaborators have included Dick Hyman, Cyrus Chestnut, and Bill Charlap; he has opened for Pat Metheny, Buddy Rich, Freddie Hubbard, and Stanley Turrentine. CNN, BET, CNBC, Bravo Arts, National Public Radio’s Piano Jazz with the late Marian McPartland, Voice of America, Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, Birdland, The Blue Note, Lincoln Center, Sirius Jazz Radio and the BBC have profiled Jon’s unique musical depth and vast knowledge of his craft. In 2012 he began hosting an updated version of NPR’s popular Piano Jazz program, now called Piano Jazz with Jon Weber.

About Concerts on Main: Free and open to all, hour-long performances are held in Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church’s historic and acoustically-engaging sanctuary. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy stellar NJ and NYC professionals sharing a variety of musical genres. As needed, younger listeners can take advantage of a nearby indoor playspace during the concerts. Ogden is located a block from Chatham’s train station, with easy and fast NYC access; there is ample free parking in the vicinity of the church. Additional information is available at www.ConcertsOnMain.org and www.KristenLeeSergeant.com.



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