IN MONTCLAIR: AUTHOR TALK + CONCERT TO FEATURE BARBARA KUKLA'S LATEST JAZZ TITLE

Posted

On Sunday, October 15 at 3 p.m., Barbara Kukla will discuss The Encyclopedia of Newark Jazz, her sixth book about the people of Newark and its rich history. This talk at Montclair Public Library includes a concert by local jazz musicians.

Kukla's previous books include Swing City: Newark Nightlife, 1925-50, and America’s Music: Jazz in Newark. Kukla’s latest work includes more than 300 capsule biographies of Newark jazz musicians and singers and more than 400 photographs. The book includes musicians from Montclair who have performed in Newark, such as Isaac (Ike) Brown (trumpeter), Denise Hamilton (vocalist), Melissa Walker (vocalist), Christian McBride (bassist), Dot Malone (vocalist), Richie McCrae (pianist), and Hunter Hayes (saxophonist).

Kukla’s visit will include a performance by The Charlie Jones Trio, featuring Charlie Jones (guitar), G. Earl Sauls (bass), Bruce Tyler (drums) and Denise Hamilton (vocals). The group will perform a selection of jazz standards during the book signing.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

This talk is free and open to the public, and the library is handicapped accessible. For more information and to register, visit montclairlibrary.org/calendar or call 973-744-0500 ext. 2235.

About the Author

Barbara J. Kukla has written five books about the people of Newark including America’s Music: Jazz in Newark. In 2005, her book Defying the Odds was cited by the New Jersey Council on the Arts as one New Jersey’s best non-fiction works. Before her retirement in 2004, Barbara spent forty-three years as a journalist, most of that time at The Star-Ledger, where she first served as a general assignment reporter and Sunday city editor. In 1979, she created and was named editor of Newark This Week, a section focused solely on news of interest to the residents of New Jersey’s largest city.

Barbara holds a B.A. degree in English from Bloomfield College, an M.A. degree in sociology from Rutgers University and an honorary A. A. degree in the humanities from Essex County College.