Two of Essex County’s most cherished artists—vocalist extraordinaire Bettye LaVette, 77, and bassist-composer-arranger-educator Christian McBride, 51, will join Aloe Blacc, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paula Cole, Rachael Price and Brian Stokes Mitchell in “A Tribute In Song” February 8 on The Betty Wold Johnson Stage, Prudential Hall, within NJ PAC in Newark.

On February 28, Christian McBride will join pop star Sting at the Ralph Pucci International Showroom in New York City for an annual school fundraiser event called “The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian.” (Past guests have included Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Laurie Anderson, John Pizzarelli and Esperanza Spalding.)

Legendary Montclair bassist-composer-arranger-educator Christian McBride, in his capacity as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Jazz Advisor, has announced the lineup for the 12th annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival, to be held in November at NJPAC and other Newark locations from the third to the 19th.