“One of the segments, titled “Southside Spring,” has beautiful 12-string acoustic guitar work at the beginning, so gentle and ethereal it reminded this old prog rock fan of guitarist Steven Howe’s acoustic introduction to “Close to the Edge,” the 1972 masterpiece by Yes.”

“The performance, scheduled for 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 5 S. Greenwood Ave., will feature a nine-piece instrumental suite inspired by the beauty and mystery of the Sourland Mountains. The composition looks to blend elements of rock, jazz, classical and blues into what Popik describes as a “rich, acoustic soundscape.””

"The Sourland Symphony" 2025 Sourland Symphony, by James Popik, is a soaring suite of acoustic instrumental music in joyous tribute to Sourland Mountain in central New Jersey .The symphony of nine original compositions reflect the landscape in various seasons; it features, besides Popik's 6 and 12-string guitars, a slew of instruments and musicians in an exhilarating mix (just listen to the instruments chasing each other on "West Mountain"). Popik's guitar playing, a blend of rock, classical jazz, and blues, is electrifying throughout. Almost all the pieces are standouts, among them "Green Mountain Melting" and "Headwaters," which feature Joe Deninzon's violin, Mark Amentt's bass, and Aaron Minsky's cello. "Southside Springs," the longest piece at eight minutes, is a masterpiece. It opens with a set of vibrant harmonics, which repeats at times throughout, enlivened by percussion and hand pan drums by Karttikeya Arul, then moves through many shifts in mood and melody. See link for more

“Recently, Wayfarer announced the addition of the highly gifted composer and guitarist James Popik to the Wayfarer Music Group family of artists. James Popik brings a unique touch and repertoire to his music. From Acoustic Jazz to electrified Fusion Jams, classical Brazilian music and American songbook masters to reworked rock anthems, James has forged a unique voice. This is one of the many reasons we are excited to have him as part of the Wayfarer family. To celebrate, James’ stunning body of work, Wayfarer has made James their Featured Artist of the Month for August to celebrate the upcoming rerelease of his album The Sourland Symphony on Wayfarer Records. The Sourland Symphony releases worldwide on Friday, August 15th! Mark your calendars for this incredible new release from one of the most gifted artists on the scene.”

“Grammy Winner Wouter Kellerman describing 'Green Mountain Melting: The song is a stunning showcase of composition and melody, offering a deeply immersive listening experience. The piece is both intricate and evocative, with transporting melodies that effortlessly draw the listener into a world of musical beauty. The interplay between the cello and violin is particularly noteworthy, as they create a rich tapestry of colors and textures that is both captivating and moving. The piece unfolds with elegance and depth, highlighting the exceptional artistry of the performers, absolutely love it!”

“The Sourland Symphony" is a fantastic instrumental collection, well written and performed and with its diverse styles is a must add to any music collection”

“And while Popik has made more than 2,000 appearances at more than 150 venues up and down the east coast including the White House it's the Sourland Festival that has special meaning for him.”

“Three sets of exhilarating instrumental compositions... the evening began with “The Jody Grind,” An excellent take on “Road Song” and “Sugar” were other highlights of the first set. After a short break, they returned with a beautiful take on Pat Metheny’s “Song For Bilbao” which featured terrific solos by James, Ben and Dave. “Green Mountain Melting,” one of James’ original numbers, started with a guitar sound reminiscent of Steve Howe of Yes but quickly moved to another place which was all James and his band, while Chuggy’s amazing percussion took the room on a trip through the mountains. Other great renderings in the set included Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Insensatez” and “Cold Duck Time” by Eddie Harris. The third set was a short one, but packed with fine musicianship. The band’s take on John Scofield’s funky “Hottentot” was second to none, and the closer, an incendiary version of The Allman Brothers “Hot ‘Lanta,” demonstrated that ja”

“James Popik & The Supernova Band combine jazz, jam and just enough rock to form what Popik describes as ‘Festival Jazz’ - fun, uptempo, danceable grooves.”