TD James Moody Jazz Festival offers many unique events

Tony Bennett performs at the TD James Moody Jazz Festival at NJPAC in Newark, Nov. 12-13.

The TD James Moody Jazz Festival began on Wednesday, with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and continues through Nov. 15 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and other Newark venues. Along the way — and this is the most notable thing about the festival — there will be a lot of events that will never be repeated anywhere else, whether that means Bruce Hornsby and Christian McBride teaming up with an evening of music and conversation, or a panel discussion on the lives of the wives of jazz musicians, moderated by Moody’s widow, Linda Moody.

Here is a schedule of events:

Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.: Oliver Lake Organ Quartet at Bethany Baptist Church. Free.

Nov. 8, 4 p.m.: Judy Carmichael Trio with Harry Allen at Chase Room at NJPAC.

Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.: “The Real Sinatra Songbook” at Victoria Theater at NJPAC. Tom Wopat, Sue Raney and Kevin Mahogany, under the musical direction of Ken Peplowski, inspired, commissioned, published or composed by Sinatra, with a post-show panel discussion with Sinatra experts Charles L. Granata and Will Friedwald.

Nov. 10, noon: Joe Alterman Trio at Gateway II. Free.

Nov. 10, 7 p.m.: Screening of “Keep on Keepin’ On,” a documentary about trumpeter Clark Terry and his relationship with blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin, at the Newark Museum. Free.

Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.: Dorado Schmitt & Django Festival Allstars at Victoria Theater at NJPAC. Music influenced by “gypsy” guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli.

Bruce Hornsby and Christian McBride.

Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.: “Christian McBride with Bruce Hornsby: One on One” at Victoria Theater at NJPAC. An evening of music and conversation.

Nov. 12-13, 8 p.m.: Tony Bennett with special guest Antonia Bennett at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.

Nov. 13, 7 p.m.: NJPAC and the New Jersey Music Educators Associaton present All-State Jazz at Victoria Theater at NJPAC.

Nov. 14, 11 a.m.: Day of Swing at NJPAC’s Center for Arts Education. Family-oriented workshops and activities. Free.

Nov. 14, 1 p.m.: “Jazz Wives, Jazz Lives” at Newark Museum. Panel discussion moderated by Linda Moody, widow James Moody, and featuring WBGO’s Dorthaan Kirk (widow of Rahsaan Roland Kirk), Brenda Feliciano (wife of Paquito D’Rivera), Cecilia Foster (widow of Frank Foster), Sandy Jackson (widow of Milt Jackson) and Laurelyn Douglas (wife of Jon Faddis). Free.

Nov. 14, 3 p.m.: “Bill Charlap: Miles Davis’ ‘Birth of the Cool’ ” at Victoria Theater at NJPAC. Tribute to the landmark 1957 album. Pianist Charlap will be joined by trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, baritone saxophonist Frank Basile, alto saxophonist Jon Gordon, trombonist Jason Jackson,  horn player Jeff Scott, tuba player Bob Stewart, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington.

Nov. 14, 8 p.m.: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Dianne Reeves and Christian McBride, at Prudential Hall at NJPAC.

Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.: T.S. Monk Sextet, “Dorthaan’s Place” jazz brunch at NICO Kitchen + Bar at NJPAC.

Nov. 15, 3 p.m.: Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition at Victoria Theater at NJPAC. Finalists are Emma Lee Aboukasm, Lulu Fall, Arianna Neikrug and Nicole Zuraitis. The judges will include Christian McBride, singers Vanessa Rubin and Cyrille Aimée, WBGO’s Michael Bourne and artist manager Edward Arrendell.

For information, visit njpac.org. And to enter contests for ticket giveaway for the Bennett, McBride/Hornsby and Jones/Reeves/McBride concerts, visit njarts.net/ticket-giveaways.