Two Jazz Concerts at Local Libraries this Weekend

The Monmouth County Library System is hosting two jazz concerts this weekend - one of which has some holiday flare!

Home for the Holidays Concert

The Billy Lawlor Jazz Trio is holding a “Home for the Holidays” Concert at the Howell Township Library on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. This is the third time the Billy Lawlor Jazz Trio will be performing a holiday concert for the Monmouth County Library System.

The trio, made up of Billy Lawlor on piano, Tommy LaBella on saxophone, and Gary Mazzoroppi on bass, will perform traditional holiday songs with a jazzy twist!

Lawlor studied at the Berklee College of Muisc in Boston along side Bruce Hornsby. He was also Count Basie's substitute and an arranger and pianist for Billie Holiday, according to the biography on his website.

Light refreshments will be served following the concert. Concert-goers are asked to share in the giving holiday season by bringing non-perishable food donations for the Howell Food Pantry.

Art Baron and the Duke's Men

Art Baron and The Duke’s Men will be putting on a jazz concert at the Monmouth County Library Headquarter in Manalapan Township on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. 

The Duke’s Men is a band made up of the Duke Ellington band alumni. Baron, a jazz trombonist and alum of the Berklee College of Music, became a member of the Duke Ellington band in 1973, which was the last year that Ellington was band leader.

Baron has performed and recorded with a variety of popular and famous musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Mel Torme, Lou Reed, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and more.