Rio Clemente at the Watchung Arts Center

Rio Clemente returns to the Watchung Arts Center for the second in his series of “ImpresaRIO” jazz concerts for the 2017-18 performance season. Rio’s concert, originally scheduled for March 2, was postponed due to severe weather on that date, and is now slated for Friday, April 13. Rio, known as the “Bishop of Jazz”, will be joined by “his Abbots”: guitarist Flip Peters and bassist Gene Perla. The performance begins at 8PM, followed by a dessert reception offering the opportunity to meet Rio Clemente.

Master pianist Rio Clemente draws the audience up in a musical embrace and then takes them on an extraordinary journey of fanciful melodies and scintillating rhythms. Clemente mixes a strong classical background with a rich knowledge of jazz history, and then adds an amazing sense of creativity and interpretation. The result is a smorgasbord of music that is different from others, and nearly always produces a standing ovation and cries for “more.”

Rio was a child prodigy who received a BMI scholarship for musical theatre and then continued his education at the Julliard School of Music. He went from Julliard to Nashville, where he spent two years as a performer and composer, making appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, After several television appearance, Rio advanced professionally to playing at several distinguished concert halls and festivals, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Manhattan’s famous Birdland and the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, as well as the Newport and JVC Jazz Festivals, and a memorable appearance at the White House. He regularly appears with groups such as The Morris Choral Society and Orchestra and at jazz venues from Manhattan to Cape Code and from Florida to California. He has composed three masses and three musicals of which his “Dobdinob” has been published and performed around the country. He has recorded for well-known labels and has published eight CDs under his own label, Etnemelc Music Productions.

A native of Morristown, NJ, Clemente is New Jersey’s own jewel of the jazz world. He is a member of the Morristown Hall of Fame, was named by the NJ Council of the Arts as an Outstanding Professional of the Year, and recognized as one of the “Top 40 New Jerseyans” by the New Jersey Monthly, as well as being selected for Who’s Who in America.

Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 ($20 WAC members, $10 students) at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at watchungartscenter.eventbrite.com. To obtain more information about upcoming performances, classes and workshops or monthly art exhibitions, please visit WatchungArts.org or call 908-753-0190.

The Watchung Arts Center is a multi-disciplinary performing arts facility serving Watchung, the surrounding communities and the Tri-State Area.