The Brick City Wedding Cocktail Hour

In our latest wedding cocktail hour playlist, we turn to Newark New Jersey, also known as the “Brick City.” Newark has a rich history of musical talent and artists from or associated with its city. Artists from Newark include Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Sarah Vaughan, Gloria Gaynor, Frankie Negron and Junior Sanchez. Newark has historically offered a vibrant jazz scene with clubs like Sparky’s (1970’s) and Clement’s Place (present), as well as a booming house music scene with the now defunct iconic club Zanzibar. The list that follows is a sampler of Newark’s musical offerings. The set begins on the classic jazz tip, before progressing into soul, pop, disco and house music.

For a signature cocktail, we turn to a delicious cocktail recipe from the recently opened All Points West Distillery located in Newark’s Ironbound district and founded by former architect Gil Spaier. The Pink Pepper Tom Collins is mixed using 1.5 oz. of the distillery’s Cathouse Pink Pepper Gin, 3/4 oz of lemon juice, and 3/4 oz of simple syrup or ginger syrup. Shake these ingredients with ice, and then pour over ice into a Collins glass, topping with sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon and sip with a straw. Cheers!

The Brick City Wedding Cocktail Hour - Compiled by DJ Gregg Ambient

1. Alfie - Rahsaan Roland Kirk

2. Newark Blues - Nick Scheuble

3. Tell Me a Bedtime Story - Christian McBride , Marc Whitfield

4. Newark News - Peter Bernstein

5. Plaza De Toros - Larry Young

6. El Gaucho - Wayne Shorter

7. I Put a Spell on You - Queen Latifah

8. You Give Good Love - Whitney Houston

9. Overjoyed (cover) - Frankie Negron

10. Whatever Lola Wants (Gotan Project Remix) - Sarah Vaughan

11. Ain’t Nothin Goin’ On But the Rent - Gwen Guthrie

12. I Will Survive (Eric Kupper Mix Edit) - Gloria Gaynor

13. Follow Me (Club Mix) - Aly-Us

14. Figure of Jazz - Junior Sanchez & Todd Terry

15. Lovelee Dae - Blaze

16. Back to Zanzibar - Ly

17. Exhale (Shoop Shoop) - Whitney Houston

Listen on Spotify

A wedding cocktail hour comprised of artists from or associated with Newark NJ also known as "Brick City" The set begins with moody jazz, before moving on to pop and a house music finish.

The Pink Pepper Gin Tom Collins using Cat House Pink Pepper Gin distilled in Newark’s Ironbound District by All Points West Distillery