Jazz artist at Cupcakes and Coffee Art Show

Jazz artist JuJu Gordon will be the featured entertainer Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Cupcakes and Coffee Art Show at The Gallery in Red Bank.

Gordon comes from a family deeply rooted in music - she's a niece of jazz tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon, says local jazz trumpet player Tom Cordell. In a career spanning 30 years, she has honed her talents as a composer, bandleader, musician and vocalist.

Gordon grew up in upstate New York, where she was known as a diligent music student, according to her online bio. She often participated in classes of jazz master Barry Harris at the Jazz Cultural Theater in New York City. As a teenager, her first professional gig was singing backup on Don McLean's "American Pie."

She then moved on to competition as the New York state-champion teen saxophonist, which led to traveling and performing with the USO band in the horn section (she also plays congas). She credits her USO travels with teaching her stage presence, as she performed with a who's who of pop and jazz entertainers, including Lola Falana, Wayne Newton, the Righteous Brothers, Andy Williams, Leslie Uggams, Lou Rawls, Michael McDonald and Sergio Mendes.

After appearing off-Broadway in "The 1940s Radio Hour," she was invited to audition for The Right Thing Tour as one of Ray Charles' Pepsi Girls. She toured with him all around the world, according to her bio, playing in small and large concert venues across the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia.

Her composer credits include the songs "Soul Searching," "I Got News for You," "The Jazz Musician" and "This Is Love," which has been recorded by other artists as well.

The Cupcakes and Coffee Art Show will feature wall-to-wall art by local and regional artists, plus a rooftop experience, with coffee provided by The Meeting House and treats from Iced Out Cakes. The event runs from 2 to 6 p.m., with Gordon featured between 3 and 5 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Call 404-834-1664 for more information.