Leaders and students of the Jazz Arts Project in Red Bank are joined by borough officials at the official opening of its new location at 50 White St. Dec. 6. A door mural of jazz great Miles Davis was unveiled. Patrick Olivero 
Students perform in the new Jazz Arts Project space. Patrick Olivero 
Local artist Michael White created the bold orange-and-black portrait of Miles Davis that drew cheers as the cloth dropped during the ribbon-cutting Dec. 6. Patrick Olivero
By Patrick Olivero
RED BANK – The Jazz Arts Project celebrated a milestone nearly two decades in the making recently as community members gathered at 50 White St. to unveil a new mural marking the organization’s first dedicated home.
The doorway to the space now features a striking image of jazz legend Miles Davis, created by local artist Michael White, whose bold orange-and-black portrait drew cheers as the cloth dropped during the ribbon-cutting Dec. 6. “I wanted to do a major jazz figure,” White said in a statement, explaining that he based the piece on “a specific iconic photo” that captured the essence of bebop’s cool confidence.
For Jazz Arts Project founder and artistic director Joe Muccioli, the moment symbolized both a fresh chapter and a continuation of the nonprofit’s long-standing commitment to bringing world-class jazz education and performance opportunities to Red Bank.
Elected officials, including Deputy Mayor Kate Triggiano and members of the borough council, joined representatives from the Red Bank Chamber of Commerce and the Jazz Arts Project board to welcome the organization into its new home. Several speakers noted how fitting it was for the nearly 20-year-old nonprofit – an institution that has hosted concerts in parks, theaters, restaurants and community rooms across the borough – to finally have a place to gather, practice and teach under one roof. The mural, they said, stands as a public invitation and a promise of what is to come: a vibrant hub where students, professionals and residents can continue shaping the town’s deep jazz legacy.
Guests were treated to live music throughout the celebration, with student musicians performing both outdoors and inside the newly refreshed space. Bundled-up attendees paused on the sidewalk to listen as young players filled White Street with the sounds of horns, guitar, and drums – a reminder of the educational mission at the heart of the Jazz Arts Project.
Inside, families and longtime supporters tapped their feet to the ensemble’s set, offering warm encouragement on a cold afternoon.
As Muccioli noted, the new home is not just a building, but “a place where the next generation of jazz musicians can discover their voice.”
The article originally appeared in the January 1 – 7, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
