MPACK & Carlos Frias in NJPAC Jazz Crawl Across Downtown Newark 10/1

Make an afternoon of good friends, good food and good vibes at the NJPAC Jazz Restaurant Crawl. Co-presented by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisory Committee, Invest Newark, Newark Arts Festival, Newark Restaurant Week and WBGO.

Five restaurants in downtown Newark host live jazz sets on the hour starting at 12 PM at a champagne brunch in Dutch’s Restaurant and the last set ending at 5 PM at Medallion Restaurant. Food and drinks are as varied as the styles of jazz which will include fusion, modern, the blues, smooth, Latin and more. No purchase required.

Curated Live Music Bands

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the 2023 NJPAC Jazz Crawl! Gregory Burrus, an NJPAC Jazz advisory member, is thrilled to bring you some incredible live music bands. Don't miss the renowned R&B powerhouse, MPACK band, as they serenade you with smooth jazz instrumentals at the newly opened and incredibly popular Just Fish Restaurant. And that's not all! Prepare to be energized by the Latin Jazz sounds of Carlos Frias and Circulo Social. Best of all, these events are completely free! Indulge in the delicious cuisines available at each location as you explore the town and immerse yourself in the magic of jazz.

Clarence Conover's MPack Band

MPack is a band, a brand, and a musical production enterprise, consisting of multiple elements in an ever-evolving flow. Like a river, it's unpredictable and never flows the same way twice. It is an ever evolving, thought provoking, limitless musical experience that will elevate your mind, body & soul and make you shake your behind all at the same time. MPack is the musical brainchild of bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer and vocalist Clarence 'Groove Master' Conover. He’s the founder, leader, and vocalist of the Clarence Conover Project, the MPack Band and the founder and CEO of M-Pack Music productions whose motto is “Life Changing Sounds”. He released his first CD “My Time” in 2014. In his formative years, his musical influences included Herbie Hancock, Grover Washington, Phyllis Hyman, Luther Vandross and Prince, just to name a few. Clarence has performed and recorded with Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Grover Washington Jr., the Delfonics, Bo Diddley and others. He is a product of the Philly sound. Clarence is a specialist in Funk, Smooth Jazz, Blues, Fusion, Neo-soul and R&B grooves.

Carlos Frias and Circulo Social Band

With roots in the Dominican Republic Carlos Frias is a singer songwriter, Visual Artist, Drummer and percussionist and the front man of the Latin jazz and world music band – Carlos Frias & Circulo Social.

Based out of Bloomfield NJ, we play mostly original music that we blend with Rock, Jazz and Latin rhythms. In our music you can hear the heart of the Caribbean, the peasant chant, the voice of those speaking against injustice accompanied by Afro Caribbean rhythms.

Carlos, a talented musician, has captivated many audiences in Northern NJ at popular venues including Crossroads, Suzy Ques, Hat City, and Abuja International amongst others. Carlos Frias and Circulo Social kicked off the Patterson NJ Jazz Festival and recently earned the honor of opening for Tito Puente Jr. and has sold out stellar performances at Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies Clements’ Place Jazz.

Jazz All Over Town

Join us for a day of fun and excitement in Newark! With beautiful weather in the forecast, it's the perfect time to experience the following:

• Newark Restaurant Week where you can embark on a flavor-filled journey at the 3rd Annual Newark Restaurant Week! From Sept 22 - Oct 1, indulge in diverse flavors, pre-fixe menus, and special offers. Savor new culinary experiences while exploring the best local eats in Newark's 5- wards. Over 70 Restaurants Participating!
• Newark Art Festival, This year’s Newark Arts Festival 2023 celebrates Cross Cultural Perspectives and the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop. Here is a roundup of some of the stellar performances with a hip hop focus offered throughout the festival September 27-October1 [Full Press Release]
• NJPAC Jazz Crawl. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to make unforgettable memories. See the list below for all locations of the NJPAC Jazz Crawl. Multiple Locations – See here for map RSVP Here: https://njpac.tfaforms.net/145?id=a2F8X00000AVN51UAH

It's going to be an incredible day!