I was hired to teach journalism at Rutgers University-Newark two years ago. A month before classes were to begin, while navigating around the Rutgers website, I realized the Institute of Jazz Studies—one of the world’s largest archives devoted to the genre—was on campus. Writing occasionally about jazz over the last two decades, I thought to myself: “I’m going to like this job!”
I figured out a way to work into my syllabus a visit to the Institute at the fourth floor of Dana Library, where visitors can find Miles Davis’s trumpet, Billie Holiday’s jewelry and Ella Fitzgerald’s wig.
Newark’s place in jazz history includes Sarah Vaughan, Wayne Shorter, James Moody, Woody Shaw and Larry Young, among others. Christian McBride, American Bassist and Composer, said in a Guardian article that “coupled with its modern-day vibrancy makes Newark one of the greatest jazz cities in the world.” I couldn’t agree more.
My biggest Newark revelation thus far has been NJPAC, whose architecture and acoustics are every bit majestic as London’s Royal Albert Hall or New York’s Carnegie Hall. An all-star cast headed by Cassandra Wilson recreated Max Roach’s civil rights must-hear 1962 album Freedom Now Suite. It was simply the best-sounding jazz concert I’ve ever witnessed.
On my to-do list this semester is digging in Newark native Philip Roth’s personal book collection at the Newark Public Library.
—Larry Jaffee
Journalism Faculty at Rutgers University-Newark
