When you stop to consider it, while both rock and symphonic music may have long-haired musician types, most listeners would put classical music and classic rock in completely different categories. The truth of the matter is that music is universal, and nowhere more so than New Jersey Symphony’s collaboration with Windborne Music. Under Brent Havens who conceived, arranged and conduct with Berklee-trained expertise, the select players from our New Jersey Symphony welcomed Dan Clemens on bass, Powell Randolph on drums and percussion with George Cintron – each player a deity in his own right. Cap it off with Justin Sargent, who took a break from touring as King George with “Hamilton”, add a pinch of May the 4th be with you, and we had us a DAY!

Everywhere, rock fans were sporting their favorite Zeppelin t-shirts and as we all took our seats, we were ready for anything. And what we got was everything! We knew we were in for some fun when Sargent mentioned Star Wars Day and flashed his Princess Leia Resistance shirt! Sargent’s patter throughout the concert gave us insight and depth in what we were hearing. Randolph’s percussion had my hands and feet tapping his rhythms and George Cintron showered us with virtuosity in ways that galvanized the orchestra. Havens whipped everything to a frothy gorgeous peak with favorites like “Kashmir” that took us to Morocco, “Black Dog”, “Thank You” that is not usually part of the rotation but special for the NJ shows since Sargent hails from West Orange and the first act closed far too soon with “The Ocean”.

The second act opened with “Since I’ve Been Loving You” then during “Going to California” the band got to flex with first Cintron, then a brilliant drum cadenza by Randolph. The lovely and sentimental “All of My Love” was followed by “Rock and Roll” that had the whole joint jumping. Where else could you go but “Whole Lotta Love”? My favorite of the entire concert, hard as it was to choose, was “Immigrant Song” followed by the timeless “Stairway to Heaven”. In the hands of these experts, even as many times as tney’ve performed it, it’s like hearing it for the first time.

There’s still more to come this season! Visit www.njsymphony.org today!