Deadline Approaches for Concert Ticket Giveaway

Ok, folks. Time's a wastin'. You have only until 4 p.m. to try to win tickets to see Cuban jazz musician Chucho Valdes, winner of the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album of 2011, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on Sunday, Jan. 22.

Patch is giving away five pairs of tickets for the show—to enter you need to send an email by 4 p.m. today to editor at laura.griffin@patch.com with a one-paragraph explanation of why YOU deserve to win the tickets. Send along a photograph of yourself too—perhaps of you in your coolest jazz ensemble. Paragraph is required... photo is optional.

So far we've heard from several Patch readers. Here are a few:

Brandon P. Righi, a Millburn-Short Hills reader, wrote that he’s just not cool enough, and needs the tickets to boost his cool factor.

“I am no ‘cat,’ as I've heard they say in the jazz world.  I am a vanilla suburban guy who drives a Volvo and wears sweater vests; and therein lies the heart of my appeal.  I mean, just listen to how I write!  I'm boring!  I, more than most, need exposure to the infinite coolness that is Chucho Valdes.  The guy is like a Chernobyl of cool, and I want to be in the fallout zone.”

Reader Alyssa Mullen has had long enjoyed the music and the Cuban culture.

"My love affair with Cuban culture started as soon as I took my first bite of ropa vieja, followed shortly by my first kiss. Ever since I began dating my current boyfriend, who is of Latin heritage, I have learned so much about Cuban culture and have come to appreciate all it has to offer."

Reader Ghana Imani Hylton love of Cuban music and culture began years ago with a favor she did for her brother.

"When my brother was in college as a music major, he had the opportunity to study abroad in Cuba to learn from percussion masters... but the money just wasn't there. So I worked extra hours at my part time job and missed a few classes myself, so I could surprise him with the money to go. I even threw him a Cuban themed send-off party. It was the best thing I ever did for someone else. My brother was transformed by the people, the culture, the music of Cuba. Now we are both married with kids; he in N.Y., me in N. J. We don't spend as much one-on-one time as we used to. I would love to be able to take him to this show and surprise him once more."

Reader Glade Long of West Caldwell has been a long-time singer and listener of Jazz, who has not gotten out much this year because of medical reasons.

"I especially love Latin music, having seen Tito, the Escovidos, and the like many times. But after a rough period of cancer treatments, I haven't gone out as much anymore. Getting ready for a new year of many surgeries, this would be a breath of fresh air to get my duds on and take my friend and nurse practitioner Connie Antonio out for a night of fun rhythms, good food, and maybe a little salsa dancing."

If you're not one of the lucky winners, don’t despair. Tickets are still available for sale. They are $29-$80 and are available by phone at (888) 466-5722, at the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark, and at njpac.org. To purchase tickets for groups of 10 or more, call (973) 297-5804.

The show is part of NJPAC's Wells Fargo Jazz Series and is made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Discover Jersey Arts.