JASON "MALLETMAN" TAYLOR AND HIS ALL-STAR BAND ALONG WITH LEGEND BERNARD PURDIE AND LATIN LEGACY TITO PUENTE, JR. COME TOGETHER AT CROSSROADS FOR A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY SHOW

A special Valentine’s Day event is being held on Saturday, February 14th beginning at 7:00 pm at Crossroads, 78 North Avenue in Garwood. The event will feature the Jason “Malletman” Taylor (Lionel Hampton’s protégé), his All-Star Band, along with the world’s most recorded drummer of all time Bernard Purdie who was with Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, BB King and more, and Tito Puente, Jr., who has seamlessly continued his father’s epic legacy in Latin music along with special guests.

Jason “Malletman” Taylor, jazz recording artist and protégé of the late, legendary Lionel Hampton, has a fresh, “explosive” approach to playing the vibraphone. This five-time Grammy ballot-nominee, who is recognized for his unique presentation of jazz, R&B and swing, has developed his own signature sound known as “Vibrafunk.” Malletman continues to perform with his 5-piece band. He became the first artist to play at Bed Bath & Beyond stores with his Mini Holiday Tour. His music attracts people of all ages.

In addition to being a talented recording artist, the accomplished musician is CEO and President of Mallet Records, Inc., a company dedicated to keeping real music alive, host of Mallet’s Place-TV, a public access television program that is cultural and educational entertainment at its finest and a clinician who is passionate about inspiring and educating our youth about the beauty and wonder of keyboard percussion instruments.

Bernard Purdie began as a six-year-old to banging out rhythms on improvised equipment. At 14 years of age he purchased his first real drum set. He moved to New York in 1960 after finishing high school and played with (among others), Lonnie Youngblood before landing his first hit with King Curtis. This led to his engagement with Aretha Franklin in 1970 and the beginning of an unparalleled career. Since then, he has been a regular guest in the studios of the stars of Jazz, Soul, and Rock, working together with Paul Butterfield as well as Larry Coryell, Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, Al Kooper, Herbie Mann, Todd Rundgren and Cat Stevens, as well as regularly producing his own solo albums under his own name. He has laid down the beat on over 3000 albums to date. Colleagues describe the drummer’s style as the “funkiest soul beat” in the business. Bernard has decidedly never limited his talents to the realm of jazz but rather has consistently sought out new musical experiences beyond its borders. He has anchored sessions with the Rolling Stones, James Brown and Tom Jones with equal ease and proven that - with all his attention to precision playing - terms such as “drive” and “GROOVE” are definitely not missing from his vocabulary. This is certainly why his rhythms have appeared as samples on nearly every “Acid Jazz” record released in the past few years - the new genre that has so successfully hosted the renaissance of Soul Jazz. His recently created new album is called “Soul To Jazz.”

Tito Puente, Jr. carries his father’s legacy of Latin music with him. It’s in his looks, locked in his soul, his joy, and his music. He is on a passionate mission. The younger Puente is determined to nurture the musical legacy left by his father. He refuses to let his father become a distant memory. He was described as vibrant and exciting. There was magic in the music his father made. It made people happy all over the world. He has found captive audiences who echo his passion. Crowds lured to a venue by the father are returning to see the son and to once again participate in the high voltage celebration that takes place on stage.

Tito Puente, Jr. has become an audience favorite in casinos, performing arts centers, symphony halls and jazz festivals worldwide, performing more than 300 shows over the past 5 years. His 2004 album, “In My Father’s Shoes” featured the classic Puente titles and was spun into a BET Jazz television special of the same name. He was seen in a tribute to his father’s music on NBC’s two hour special--“The Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem.” He has also appeared on the ABC soap opera hit “One Life to Live” in performance with his big band.

Symphony appearances include Dallas, San Antonio, Colorado, South Bend, and upcoming performances with the Palm Desert Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch.

Tito, Jr.’s new CD release, “Got Mambo?” is a mixture of the old and the new as he takes a musical departure into some powerful new music he can truly call his own. Guest artists Bobby Cruz and Hansel & Raul help make this a coming of age project for Puente, Jr. and the album is receiving heavy praise from Tropical and Latin Jazz critics alike.

Tickets for this special Valentine’s Day event can be purchased on www.Ticketfly.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsNJ or visit or call Crossroads at (908) 518-0323. Doors open at 6:00 pm. Children under 21 must be accompanied with a parent or legal guardian. Food and beverages can be purchased separately throughout the evening.

Pictured here from left to right: Jason “Malletman” Taylor with Legend Bernard Purdie and Latin Legacy Tito Puente, Jr.