At Dykstra Park.
NOTE: if the threat of rain causes a postponement, the show will be rescheduled for Saturday September 5th at Dykstra park.
Please check back on the home page after 2pm on Friday September 4th for any updates. Our Facebook page will also have updated information.
Please note that Dykstra Park concerts must adhere to Sparta Township regulations, including the prohibition on dogs (except for service dogs with a current valid permit presented) being in the park.
Big Fun(k) Brings Jazz To Sparta Concerts.
This week the Sparta Summer Concert Series is proud to welcome jazz ensemble Big Fun(k) to The Nicholson Pavilion stage. The Big Fun(k) band describe themselves as A Groove/Jazz/Soul journey! Led by Internationally renowned musicians saxophonist/composer Don Braden and drummer Karl Latham, Big Fun(k) is a hard hitting groove/jazz/soul machine that will get you moving one way or another! Come out and hear the ongoing funky/jazzy explorations of classics by Earth, Wind and Fire, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and others, plus hot new originals -- all from the band’s upcoming album release, Big Fun(k) Journey and from the previous CD, Big Fun(k) Live.
Don Braden is a Jazz musician of the highest caliber. For over 30 years he has toured the world leading his own ensembles on saxophone and flute, as a special guest, and as a sideman with Jazz greats Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, and many others. He has composed music for ensembles ranging from duo to full symphonic orchestra, in many styles, for recordings (including 19 CDs as a leader and over 80 as a sideman), film, and the television networks NIckelodeon and CBS. Braden is a leading arranger of contemporary standards, and has built a solid collection of newer American songs into his Jazz repertoire. He is also a world renowned educator, having spent over two decades giving master classes at countless schools and universities, and running first class educational programs such as the Litchfield Jazz Camp, NJPAC's Wells Fargo Jazz For Teens, and most recently, the Harvard University Monday Jazz Band. He is an imaginative, technically excellent, soulful saxophonist, and his harmonic and rhythmic sophistication give him a unique approach to improvising as well as composing and arranging. Most important of all: he has a beautiful sound, and he swings! All this combines with his joyous yet disciplined personality to make him one of the most important musicians working today.
Karl Latham’s career has spanned the globe performing, recording with and producing with Grammy Award winning artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and multitude of internationally acclaimed musicians. Karl is known for his exceptional ability to dig into a variety of musical styles, playing funk, rock, Latin, modern jazz, straight-ahead jazz, and avant-garde. Karl is included in the Drummerworld Top 500 Drummers list and was nominated with Mark Egan and Ryan Carniaux for the BMW 2016 Welt Jazz Award. Karl is an endorsing artist for Paiste Cymbals, Yamaha Drums, Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Big Fat Snare,AEA Microphones and RME. Karl is currently an adjunct percussion instructor at Drew University, County College of Morris and Passaic County Community College.
As a freelance drummer Karl has performed Ali Ryerson; The Bernie Worrell Orchestra; Charlie Elgart; Michal Urbaniak; Jerry Vivino; Andy Snitzer; Edgar Winter; Johnny Winter; The Shirelles; The Real Deal Big Band; John Lee (Executive Director Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra); The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars; The Fantasy Band (Dave Valentine; Dave Samuels; Chuck Loeb, Noel Pointer, Victor Bailey, Cornell Dupree, Roy Ayers, Larry Coryell); Claudio Roditi; Slide Hampton; Clark Terry; Tomoko Ohno; Michael Dease; Sharrel Cassidy; Yotam Silberstein; Jon Faddis; Roy Assaf; Ed Cherry; Clifford Carter; Paul Rose; Bobby Messano; Liz Queller; Johannes Mossinger Quartet (with guests Joel Frahm, Don Braden, Seamus Blake, Johannes Enders and Joe Lovano); Howard Paul with guests Tom Scott and Jody Espina; Johannes Mossinger Quartet (with guests Joel Frahm, Don Braden, Seamus Blake, Johannes Enders and Joe Lovano); Don Byron; Pete Levin; Dave Stryker; David Spinozza; Atilla Zoller; Oz Noy; Clifford Carter; Paul Rose; Bobby Messano; Mattias Schieffel; Andy Hunter; Stefanie Schlesinger and the great vibraphonist/composer Wolfgang Lackerschmid and subbed on the Broadway productions of “Bring It On” , “Hamilton”, and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”. Karl was co- leader with Ryan Carniaux and Mark Egan of the “2016 BMW Welt Jazz Award” nominated group “Constellations” and a member of the electric jazz jam group, Unit1, with Mark Egan and guitarist John Hart.
As a sideman, Karl has appeared on countless recordings. To date Karl has released three CD’s as a leader: “Dancing Spirits” (1999) and “Resonance” (2007). As co leader Karl has released Don Braden/Karl Latham “Big Fun(K) Live” (2012) and Karl Latham/Ryan Carniaux/Mark Egan “Constellations” (2014) and his latest release Karl Latham “Living Standards” with Mark Egan and Vic Juris.
Opening for Big Fun(k) is Raph KP. Raph KP blends elements of modern pop and funk with jazz harmony to create his original music. With influence from John Mayer and Stevie Wonder, Raph and his band look to create a show that excites audiences and gets them on their feet. Debut single coming soon. Raph KP’s website is www.raphkp.com.
The FREE concert begins at 7PM on Friday night in Dykstra Park, 22 Woodport Road, Sparta. Bring family and friends, lawn chairs, picnics and masks. Protocols for social distancing and the safety of the public will be strictly enforced. All attendees are asked to stay with their groups. All are asked to wear masks when entering and when walking around for any reason. Each group will be asked to provide contact tracing information. In the case of inclement weather, the show will be held on Saturday or Sunday. Please visit www.spartaarts.org or Sparta Arts @ Facebook for additional information and updates.
For more info, please see: