Volume 36 • Issue 4 April 2008 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Stomp 39 he joint was packed, the dance floor Twas jumping, and the music was HOT. In a nutshell, the NJJS’s annual Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp delivered the goods for the 39th straight year. The fun began at noon with a set of modern The musician of the year award jazz classics, smoothly performed by a septet was presented to Eddie Bert. of Jersey college players, and was capped five The octogenarian trom- hours later by some rocking versions of bonist drove down from Swing Era standards by George Gee’s Jump, his home in Jivin’ Wailers Swing Orchestra, who closed Connecticut to pick the show to rousing applause. In between, up his award, but had the clock was turned back to the 1920s and to leave early to get ’30s as vocalist Barbara Rosene and group, back for a gig later in the Jon Erik-Kellso Group and the Smith the day! Street Society Band served up a tasty banquet And John Becker, who had been of vintage Jazz Age music. The Hot Jazz fans unable to attend the NJJS Annual in the audience ate it all up. Meeting in December, was on hand to There were some special guests in attendance receive the 2007 Nick Bishop Award. at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany on The event also featured the presenta- March 2. NJJS President Emeritus, and tion of annual NJJS Pee Wee Russell Stomp founder, Jack Stine, took the stage to scholarship awards to five New present Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Jersey jazz studies college students. Studies Director Dan Morgenstern with As for Stomp 40…same time several items of jazz memorabilia for the next year. See you there. JJ Institute’s collection, and Mr. Morgenstern joined in presenting the NJJS’s non-musician Bandleader George Gee. Photo by Tony Mottola. of the year award to the Institute’s Ed Berger. More photos on pages 16–18. JAZZFEST Jazzfest facts, PREVIEW hot off the press. See p 8 and ad p 3 Talking Jazz: Jack Livingstone . 20 Ellington Love Songs JALC . 51 Salt Creek Grille. 11 Tomaso’s . ...................39 in this issue: Four Freshmen . 26 North Carolina Jazz Festival . 52 Cape May Jazz Festival . 13 Borderline Jazz Band . .......40 NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY The Metronome. 28 February Member Meeting . 56 Margie Notte/Cecil’s. .........21 Improvisational Promotions . ....41 Pres Sez/NJJS Calendar Dan’s Den: Milt Hinton . 32 Free Film Series: Jackie Paris . 57 BergenPAC...................23 CTS Images.................. 41 & Bulletin Board. 2 Crow’s Nest . 34 Lana’s.......................25 PA Jazz Society...............43 EVENTS The Mail Bag/Jazz Trivia. 4 Jazz U: College Jazz . 36 Novita. ......................27 Don Braden Quartet. ........44 ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean . 60 Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info. 6 Noteworthy . 40 Community Theatre........ ...29 Jazzfest at Sea. ...............45 Institute of Jazz Studies/ Music Committee . 8 Brooklyn Jazz Festival . 41 Shelly Productions/Glen Rock Inn. ..30 Noldes Pianos & Organs........47 Jazz from Archives . 61 New Members/About NJJS/ Yours for a Song . 42 Margie Notte.................30 Jazz at Chautauqua. ........49 Somewhere There’s Music . 62 Membership Info . 59 REVIEWS American Fed. of Jazz Societies.... 31 Sidney Bechet Society. .........53 The Name Dropper . 63 ARTICLES Other Views . 44 RVCC. ......................33 JJ Directory .................54 Classic Stine. 9 The Priory. 47 ADVERTISERS Jazzdagen Tours...............35 Shelly Productions/Escape Rest . 55 Big Band in the Sky . 10 Fleck/Corea at NJPAC . 48 Shanghai Jazz. 5 SOPAC...................... 37 Laura Hull. ...................64 Jazz Ambassadors . 14 Eric Comstock . 50 Trumpets . 7 Riverboat Swing.............. 38 Weichert Realtors.............64 New JerseyJazzSociety NJJS Calendar Tell them you saw it in Jersey Jazz! Thursday March 27 2008 Jazz Film Series Prez Sez Chatham see p 8 By Andrea Tyson President, NJJS Wednesday ur Stomp was held March 2 — and a good time and continental breakfast. There are other deals April 23 2008 Owas had by all — I think especially those swing available, too. They took ownership several years ago dancers — can they move! A special thanks to and have renovated the guest rooms and bathrooms. Jazz Film Series member Steve Gruber for being so generous as to The jazz was hot, and the newly renovated guest Chatham see p 8 return his 50/50 winnings to NJJS — we sure do rooms were beautiful. The bar and dining room are appreciate that. The piano was donated for our use cozy and it’s easy to hear and see well from either Sunday by Joe Dorio, President of Nolde’s Pianos & Organs, space. We heard the Orrin Evans Quartet (Orrin on Flemington Music Centre, Inc., Routes 202 & 31 and piano; Madison Rast, bass with his wife Joanne April 27 2008 Reaville Road, Hunterdon Shopping Center, Pascale on vocals; and Rocky Bryant on drums). Bucky Pizzarelli Flemington, and we thank them once again this year. These were seasoned players who put on a terrific Guitar Trio The bands kept the audience in the palm of their evening of music. Check [email protected] for Morristown hands as they sang and played some oldies — some more information. The Inn has a very ambitious newbies — and with wonderful timing and talent. lineup every month. The East Stroudsburg University see Bulletin Board p 2, From the college scholarship winners to George Gee’s of Pennsylvania Regional Jazz Coalition has a series p 8, & ads pp 19 & 29 last number, we had a beautiful afternoon. I’m glad close by which could make your stay that much more so many of you came out to support our efforts. enjoyable when combined with the Deer Head Inn. Sunday am working my way into April slowly with my ■ The Highlights in Jazz Series has also been May 18 2008 Ihead still very much in February and March (for around for many years with Jack Kleinsinger Monthly Member instance, there’s snow on the ground). Elliot and I assembling excellent groups for this very accessible went to some out-of-state venues, which is not our venue. We saw Danny Mixon and Jane Monheit, Meeting norm during the winter months: (1) the North whose groups were both very entertaining. The space see p 55 Carolina Jazz Festival (see my review on page 52), is beautiful with no sight obstructions. This spring (2) the very charming Deer Head Inn at the Delaware the series presents Christian McBride Big Band with Saturday & Sunday Water Gap, PA and (3) Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights Jay Leonhart and Wycliffe Gordon (who have both in Jazz at the Borough of Manhattan Community been at our Jazzfests in the past) on April 17 and June 7 – 8 2008 College (BMCC) Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Dave Brubeck on May 15. If you’re inclined to JAZZFEST ■ The Deer Head Inn has been around for a very venture into the Big Apple, consider an evening with Drew long time and had been recommended to us for Jack Kleinsinger, who’s always present for University/Madison years. We finally made it as a Valentine’s gift to performances. www.tribecapac.org. see p 8, 58 & ad p 3 ourselves and stayed overnight. Dennis and Mary ■ Closer to home we went to the Sharp Theater in Carrig were gracious hosts and would love to see the Berrie Center at Ramapo College for their more NJ Jazz Society members. We thoroughly Singing Astaire: A Fred Astaire Songbook enjoyed our package plan of the room, dinner, show presentation by Hilary Kole, Ronny Whyte and continued on page 55 NJJS Bulletin Board Save the Date The Bucky Pizzarelli Guitar Musicians: Join NJJS, Monthly Member Meetings Trio: Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 3 PM. Spend a Sunday Get Linked! Musicians…already NJJS Our series of entertaining meetings continues at afternoon with one of New Jersey’s jazz titans, guitar members? Contact Steve Albin ([email protected]); Trumpets on 5/18. Members attend free. See page virtuoso Bucky Pizzarelli, along with James Chirillo say you’d like a LINK on the NJJS site. Not a member? 55 and ad page 30. Future programs TBA. and Ed Laub. $15 A co-production of NJJS Just join at our regular $40 member rate and Got E-mail? Some special offers for NJJS w/Community Theatre in Morristown. See ads pages connect with your worldwide audience at members are late-breaking — so please send your 19 and 29. www.njjs.org. e-mail address to [email protected]. 2 ___________________________________ April 2008 April 2008 ___________________________________ 3 New JerseyJazzSociety Frank Capp. The Mail Bag I ATTENDED YOUR (PEE WEE Bucky and Ruth Pizzarelli and son AS A FAITHFUL RUSSELL STOMP) event at the John; Jerry Bruno, Derek Smith, JERSEY JAZZ Birchwood Manor and had a truly Dick Meldonian, John Bunch, READER for memorable afternoon. The music Sonny Igoe; the list goes on. A very over a decade, was great and very upbeat. The dear friend of mine, who is no learning about dancers added yet another longer with us, Milt Jackson, and top jazz events dimension. Thank you. I’m still close with his Mrs. Sandra — mainly Barbara Warshaw Kaye and daughter Cherise. happenings on Montville, NJ Sorry to go on like this, once I get the east coast — I’m dropping a started it’s hard to stop me. combo of one of the dwindling, REALLY ENJOY BEING A MEMBER line to let other JJ readers know legendary drummers of the big and attending the functions. I am However I will, and thank you and that there is also jazz emanating band era, Frank Capp.