Rahway City Council Presents Free Jazz on February 21

Written By Mike Greenblatt

Mayor Ray Giacobbe and the city of Rahway—as part of its ongoing “Prime Time Music Series”—will celebrate Black History Month by presenting The Bradford Hayes Quartet FREE at the Senior Center on Esterbrook Avenue February 21. The 8:00 p.m. performance can only be enjoyed if you register ahead of time at www.CityofRahway.com/BHM. 

Virginian Hayes wields a mighty sax. He once blew with legendary Jersey bassist Rufus Reid (Teaneck). He’s opened shows for such iconic artists as Betty Carter and Max Roach, and spent 15 years with Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums Of Passion Band, performing at Yankee Stadium during Nelson Mandela’s historical trip to the States after being released from a South African prison. He’s also taught in the Newark school system for over 30 years.

For a sample of his playing, check out his interpretation of “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise,” the Sigmund Romberg song from the 1928 operetta The New Moon. It has since evolved into a jazz standard with recordings by George Benson, Ron Carter, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and dozens of others including vocalists Bing Crosby and Bobby Darin who sang the lyrics penned by Oscar Hammerstein II and Frank Mandel.

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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