The "Marvtastic Jazzy New Years Eve Party" will be headlined by Mferghu and the Banana Puddin' Jazz All-Star Band: Mfergu (piano), Dave Colding (bass), Craig Haynes (drums), Frederika Krier (violin), Elijah Shiffer (alto sax), Harry Horn (trumpet), Kevin Sun (tenor sax), Sheldon Sweeper (trumpet) and Yael Acher (flute).

The celebration will also boast a variety of goodies including:

- Open Buffet

- Party Favors

- Dancing to the sounds of DJ Willie Correa

- Champagne Toast at Midnight

- The Times Square Ball Drop on Big Screen

- The chance to be a part of the first Banana Puddin' Jazz Jam and Open Mic of the year

- A jazzy art exhibition by Kazou Ooka

- Vintage Banana Puddin' Jazz footage by Mark Dungston

AND

- Free Banana Puddin' all night

Tickets are $25 purchased in advance and $30 at the door. For information and presales, visit www.nuyorican.org or call 212-780-9386.

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For an additional $20, guests may arrive early and take in the 7 PM performance of Laurence Holder's MONK, starring Rome Neal as jazz great Thelonius Monk. This one man performance with music by Bill Lee - which earned Neal an Audelco Award - is running a limited engagement through Jan. 11, 2009.

Click here for further information on MONK.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe is located in Manhattan at 236 East 3rd Street (between Avenues B and C).