When trumpeter Wallace Roney, Jr. performed at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY, in October 2022, Rudy Lu of nippertown.com, the arts website of Schenectady’s Daily Gazette, reported that Roney “is no stranger to the world of jazz,” pointing out that he is the son of the late trumpeter Wallace Roney and the late pianist Geri Allen. Lu added that Roney, Jr., “is making his own name in the jazz world,” having played with such luminaries as the late pianist Chick Corea and saxophonist Ornette Coleman as well as drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Buster Williams. He added that, Roney, Jr. had recently performed with alto saxophonist/vocalist Camille Thurman at the Lake George Jazz Festival and “has recently been leading his own ensembles.”
Roney, Jr. will be the headliner at the first of two Soundcheck Series concerts presented by the Montclair Jazz Festival as preludes to the MJF Grand Finale on September 14. His group will perform at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, preceded by a Jazz House Kids emerging musician band and an opening band to be announced.
The other Soundcheck Series concert, featuring vocalist Vanessa Perea and the Robert Edwards Big Band, will be held on Thursday, August 22 (This date was incorrect in the July/August issue of Jersey Jazz Magazine). Perea and Edwards will perform at 8 p.m., preceded by a student feature, to be announced, at 6 p.m. and the Lolivone de la Rosa Quartet at 6:40 p.m.
The Soundcheck concerts will be held in the Wellmont Arts Plaza, adjacent to the Wellmont Theater, located at 5 Seymour St. in Montclair. The concerts are free, but a cash bar will be available.