Has there ever been a more colorful, controversial figure within The Jersey Sound as Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Famer Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, the original drummer for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band? Now, on the precipice of Vini’s unfinished tell-all book, The Madman (his former nickname) tells it like it is, and how it should have been. Fired by Bruce in 1974, ostensibly for his explosive temper, Lopez tells a different story.

On Chick Corea’s 2-CD package, "Plays" (Concord), he needed no rhythm section, no blaring horns to make his points. His 10 fingers cascading wildly over the 88 keys of his piano creates new vistas of meaning to 300 years of compositional gems by varied composers. Corea explained the joy of making "Plays.”

In 2015, on the second evening of the largest jazz festival in the world, the downtown streets of Montreal around Place des Arts, Canada’s most sizable cultural and arts complex, are crowded with people pressed front to back taking in performances on outdoor stages. Stanley Clarke Band is performing at the Théâtre Maisonneuve. Our story begins here…

‘American Songwriter’ magazine recently likened Asbury Park singer-songwriter Jake Thistle to Jackson Browne, John Hiatt and Steve Forbert. Kid’s only 19. Between his lyrical prowess, his voice, his guitar and his messages, there’s certainly a lot to digest. We caught up with the promising star-in-the-making.

There must be something in the air or the water when it comes to kids growing up in New Jersey. The De Leo Brothers went on to form Stone Temple Pilots in California but, as younger brother Robert says, when he was attending Point Pleasant High School in Ocean County, he breathed music night and day, all kinds of music. He couldn’t get enough of it.

Originally hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Glenn Alexander has the kind of chops most guitarists would die for.

When bassist/composer/vocalist Esperanza Spalding walked up to the stage on four different occasions to pick up Grammy Awards, drummer Otis Brown III had to smile.

When people a hundred years from now read about American icons like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen, they’ll most likely be reading the words of Bob Santelli.

Back when the drinking age in New Jersey was 18, clubs all over the state exploded with bands of every imaginable genre from punk to pop, disco to country, metal to funk. The Aquarian Weekly was the glue that held the scene together.

Ricky Byrd may be in the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame as part of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, but he’s also been in the bands of Mott The Hoople’s Ian Hunter, The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. As a solo artist, he’s put out a string of Stones/Faces-inspired rock’n’roll that never fails to satisfy.

In 1977, a quirky, funny, infectious Top 20 hit single about a stoned Jewish vegetarian hippie girl in a peasant blouse standing by the Paramus Mall waterfall captured the attention of America.

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist/Pianist Katie Henry, after a flirtation with blues-rock on her 2018 High Road debut, has settled into a rockin’ Americana groove on the follow-up, On My Way (Germany’s Ruf Records) where she casts off her former lovers like a snake shedding off skin.

Teaneck resident Lenny White has had a lot to do with moving the music forward in his illustrious career on the drums. After hitting it off with pianist Chick Corea, the two would ultimately change the face of modern music in the band Return To Forever.

Singer, Songwriter, Keyboardist, Felix Cavaliere, 77, is in so many different Hall of Fames, you need a scorecard to figure it all out.

Rudresh Mahanthappa, 51, is the greatest living American alto saxophone player. Period.

With a style reminiscent of the late Michael Brecker, he can get funky and syncopated, yet smooth and soulful. His sax is like a human voice and, man, does it sing!

Those lucky enough to have seen Prophet, TT Quick or Nuclear Assault witnessed one of New Jersey’s greatest lead guitarists, Dave DiPietro.

From Dreamer, The Game and Phantom’s Opera, Nic Luciano played the Jersey club scene five nights a week, three sets a night, everything from hard rock, almost-metal, prog-rock and Queen covers.