John Lee & Friends

Non-member tickets go on sale on April 22.

This will be an evening of jazz featuring repertoire based on the vast experience of these musicians. Led by Dizzy Gillespie’s longtime bassist John Lee, this Quartet has been performing together for three years and their sound continues to grow and evolve. Their collective credits include work with the groups of: Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Gregory Hines, Alicia Keys, Miriam Makeba, James Moody, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner, the Count Basie Orchestra, Christian McBride Big Band, Lenny White, and Stevie Wonder. Included in their performance will be works by Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Ivan Lins, Wayne Shorter, and Stevie Wonder.

John Lee and Friends featuring:

John Lee – bass
Freddie Hendrix – trumpet & flugelhorn
Alex Collins – piano
Karl Latham – drums

About John Lee

From 1984 thru 1993, John Lee was Dizzy Gillespie’s bassist. Performing and recording in the trumpet master’s various bands including the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, and Dizzy’s Grammy Award winning United Nation Orchestra. After Dizzy’s passing, his family asked John to create an ongoing tribute to the great man and his music—and the concept for the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars was born. John is the bassist and director of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience. John has worked in the bands of Gary Bartz, Larry Coryell, Jon Faddis, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Gambarini, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Gregory Hines, Miriam Makeba, James Moody, Claudio Roditi, Sonny Rollins, and McCoy Tyner. John is also a Grammy Award winning record producer and audio engineer. He has produced over 100 recordings and is the co-founder of the record label JLP, Jazz Legacy Productions. The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band’s have performed in major concert halls and jazz festivals throughout the world including; Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Curaçao, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, and Wales

Back Deck Visitor Information and Guidelines

Attendees must bring their own chairs and are welcome to bring refreshments. Tickets are $63 for an 8’x8’ block that accommodates up to two patrons or $33 for a block that accommodates one. There is a $3 handling fee per block included in the price. Concerts begin at 7:30 PM. Patrons are welcome to arrive as early as 6:30 PM to enjoy their picnics. In the event of inclement weather, outdoor performances will be held in the Museum’s Bickford Theatre, general admission. For assistance and to make purchases by phone, call the box office at 973-971-3706.

About the Back Deck

Since launching in July 2020, The Back Deck has presented over 72 performances of critically acclaimed artists, welcomed more than 11,000 patrons, and received critical praise from local and national media. The series has presented established artists and rising stars with several ensembles going on to receive national acclaim. Now an established part of the regional cultural landscape, the Museum’s elevated parking deck has become known for elegant tailgates and world-class music each summer.