Rutgers IJS Presents Greg Burrus Community Jam feat Jerry Weldon / NBJP

Saxophonist • Jam Leader • New Brunswick Jazz Project All‑Star

Internationally renowned tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon has been a force on the jazz scene for more than four decades, bringing a powerful, soulful sound shaped by deep roots in the New York and New Jersey jazz communities. A graduate of the Rutgers University Jazz Studies Program, Weldon launched his career with the legendary Lionel Hampton Orchestra, performing with the band from 1981 into the early 2000s. His résumé reads like a Who’s Who of Jazz, including collaborations with Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Joey DeFrancesco, George Cables, Cedar Walton, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb, George Benson, and Mel Tormé.

Weldon is also widely known for his long association with Harry Connick Jr.’s big band, touring internationally, appearing on Broadway, and performing as part of Connick’s television house band.

As a jam leader, Jerry brings the same fire, generosity, and swing that define his career. His sessions are known for their warmth, mentorship, and straight‑ahead energy — the kind of gatherings where young players learn, veterans stretch out, and the music always wins.

For this special performance at Clements Place Jazz on April 23, Weldon is joined by his Friends from the New Brunswick Jazz Project, a collective of top‑tier musicians who have helped shape NBJP into one of the most respected jazz presenter organizations in the region. Together, they deliver the spirit of the jam session: spontaneous, soulful, and rooted in community.

Expect hard‑swinging bebop, deep blues, and the unmistakable Weldon sound — big, bold, and full of heart.

Presented by the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, this performance is part of their ongoing commitment to celebrating jazz heritage and supporting emerging voices in the genre.

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Host or Publisher The Institute of Jazz Studies Rutgers-Newark