Steppin' out at the Stomp
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Volume 43 • Issue 4 April 2015 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Steppin’ Out At The Stomp Despite yet another Winter 2015 snowstorm on March 1, a large crowd of jazz fans and swing dancers made their way to Whippany’s Birchwood Manor for the 46th Annual Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp. See story and photos on page 26. While a snowstorm swirled outside, dancers danced up their own storm at the March 1 Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp. Strutting their stuff in the Birchwood Manor’s Grand Ballroom are Nissreen Almazouni and Daniel Bates. Photo by Lynn Redmile. New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: New Jersey Jazz socIety Prez Sez. 2 Bulletin Board ......................2 NJJS Calendar ......................3 Prez Sez Jazz Trivia .........................4 In The Mailbag. .4 By Mike Katz President, NJJS Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info .......6 Crow’s Nest. 46 Change of Address/Support NJJS/ Volunteer/Join NJJS. 47 he 46th annual iteration of the Pee Wee service as an NJJS board member, and the Pee NJJS/Pee Wee T-shirts. 48 TRussell Memorial Stomp is now history. Wee Russell Musician of the Year Award to New/Renewed Members ............48 Unfortunately, one of the many snowstorms we bassist Ray Drummond for his many musical storIes have had in the Northeast this winter occurred achievements over his long career. Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp ..cover during the Stomp, and the increasingly Thanks be to music chair Mitchell Seidel for Big Band in the Sky ..................8 pessimistic weather forecasts as March 1 Talking Jazz: Alan Paul ..............14 selecting and engaging the musicians for the approached held down the advance sales and Roseanna Vitro at Luna Stage ........19 Stomp, treasurer Harry Friggle for managing especially the walk-ups on the day of the Stomp. Catherine Russell at Dorthaan’s Place ..19 ticket sales and other financial aspects, secretary Diary of a Nighthawks Fan – Part 7 ....20 Despite the weather outside, a very respectable Al Parmet, Bruce Gast and John Becker for Stephane Wremble at MoFiddles ......28 turnout of members and friends filled the running the sound system, executive VP Stew Lady Day’s 100th ...................30 Birchwood Manor’s Garnd Ballroom and a great NEA Jazz Masters Awards ...........31 Schiffer for supplying the drum set that was used time was had by all. Once again many swing Noteworthy .......................32 by all the groups, Jack Sinkway and Sheilia Lenga dance enthusiasts were on hand, and as in past Sinatra Exhibit at NY Public Library ....33 for handling CD sales and the 50-50 raffle, and Dan’s Den ........................34 years they greatly livened up the event with their everyone else who helped out. Marlene VerPlanck Jazz Social ........35 dancing and the period attire worn by many of reVIews them. Our thanks to Gordon Au, Adrian Last, but certainly not least, on behalf of the NJJS Other Views. ......................36 Cunningham, and especially Mike Hashim and Board I wish to thank everyone who came and Caught in the Act ..................38 his band members, who agreed to stay on for an hope that everybody got home safely. We will be On The Road ......................42 unplanned second set when Jon Erik Kellso’s looking forward to better weather when we Has Jay Leonhart Found the Way? .....43 group, which was the last one scheduled to reconvene next year for the 47th Pee Wee! EVENTS perform, was unable to make it to Whippany n During the past month, we bade farewell to ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean .........44 from New York City due to the steadily two people long associated with jazz in New Institute of Jazz Studies .............45 worsening road conditions. Somewhere There’s Music. 50 Jersey who passed away, trumpeter Clark Terry, The Name Dropper .................51 During the Stomp we were also delighted to at the age of 94, and Cephus Bowles, long-time general manager of WBGO and a patron member adVertIsers recognize Vincent Pelote of the Rutgers Marlene VerPlanck ..................4 University Institute of Jazz Studies by presenting of NJJS, who died prematurely at the age of 62. WBGO Photo Blog. 4 him with the New Jersey Jazz Society Jazz Among his many accomplishments Clark was Arbors Records .....................5 Advocate Award, for his many years of activism one of the few musicians who played in both the WBGO ............................7 on behalf of the jazz community, including Basie and Ellington bands, as well in the Tonight Shanghai Jazz ......................9 New Jersey City University ...........11 NJPAC ...........................13 Ocean County College ..............15 Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details. Diane Perry .......................16 Michael Hashim’s Strayhorn Orch .....17 NJJS Bulletin Board Swingadelic .......................18 Jazzfest at Sea ....................21 Claim your member privilege! Get free admission to NJJS socials, discounts The Jazz Room at WPU ..............23 Member discount Jazzdagen ........................25 to music events, discounts from partners! Jim Eigo ..........................29 NJJs Members discounts Hibiscus Restaurant, Morristown and The Crossroads, Garwood Sandy Sasso ......................37 Novu Restaurant ...................39 offer NJJS members a discount of 10% off their check. The Berrie Center at Ramapo College offers NJJS Rosalind Grant .....................40 members 5% off event tickets. $5 ticket discouwnt for monthly Salem Roadhouse Cafe jazz nights. Cadence Magazine .................41 LauRio ...........................42 Free Jazz socials…ongoing. Join us for music and mingling. Free for members, CTS Images .......................47 $10 non-members (applicable to membership) with just a $10 venue minimum. Watch calendar page 3 for Patrice Jégou ......................49 upcoming dates and details. Beyond the schmooze, there are some serious musical prizes raffled off at Princeton Record Exchange ..........52 our socials!! 2 ____________________________________ April 2015 New JerseyJazzSociety 2015 Pee Wee Russell Awards: Posing at the Birchwood Manor on March 1 are (l-r): NJJS president Mike Katz, Musician of the Year Ray Drummond, Jazz Advocate Vincent Pelote and Music Programming vice president Like this issue Mitchell Seidel. of Jersey Jazz? Photo by Tony Mottola. Have it delivered right to Show band until the late night NBC TV n Also, hearty congratulations to NJJS your mailbox 11 times a year. show moved to California (New Jersey musician member Bria Skonberg, who has Simply join NJJS to get musicians Tony Mottola, Bucky Pizzarelli been invited to appear with her quintet at your subscription. and Derek Smith were also among the this year’s Newport Jazz Festival during the members of that group while it was in New weekend of July 30-August 1. Jackie See page 47 for details York). Clark Terry was for many years a Wetcher and I are planning to go (we’ve or visit www.njjs.org. distinguished member of the jazz faculty at never been), and we hope that some of you William Paterson University in Wayne. will do likewise. Sandy Josephson’s obituaries for both Terry and Bowles appear in the Big Band in n Finally, I frequently see publications the Sky column in this issue of Jersey Jazz. from other jazz societies. In a recent issue of the bulletin of the Jazz Appreciation n A few of our favorite musicians were the Society of Syracuse, NY, its president, subjects of recent articles in the Bobby Morris, urged each member to mainstream media. The March issue of purchase a reduced cost gift membership New Jersey Monthly featured a four-page New Jersey Jazz Society spread on Bucky Pizzarelli, noting that at for another person, noting that if each age 89 he is still going strong and making member did so, the organization’s membership music all over the country, and membership would double. This strikes me makes a great gift! emphasizing his roots in the Garden State. as an excellent way of maintaining the Plus, if you are already organization’s membership level, and I And the New York Times, in its Sunday a member, a gift membership Metropolitan section of March 1, carried urge all of our members to do the same an article titled “Jazz in Jersey – Women and purchase a $25 gift membership for a costs just $25! Take the Mike,” which featured New Jersey friend or relative. Thank you, Bobby! See page 47 for details! resident vocalists Carrie Jackson, Sarah (Note that gift memberships are for new Partridge and Roseanna Vitro. members only). JJ Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details. Sunday April 18 Sunday May 16 Sunday June 14 NJJS JAZZ SOCIAL NJJS JAZZ SOCIAL NJJS SPRING CONCERT NJJS Jazz Scholarship Quartet Artist TBA Michael Hashim’s Billy Strayhorn Orchestra FREE admission NJJS members, FREE admission NJJS members, Mayo PAC, Morristown | 3 PM $10 all others, $10 food/beverage minimum $10 all others, $10 food/beverage minimum 15-piece big band performing a Shanghai Jazz | Madison Shanghai Jazz | Madison Billy Strayhorn Centennial Tribute 3 – 5:30 PM 3 – 5:30 PM Tickets: $20–$25 973-539-8008 | www.mayoarts.org NJJS Calendar April 2015 ____________________________________ 3 New JerseyJazzSociety Jazz Trivia MARLENE VERPLANCK By O. Howie Ponder Surprise Me Somewhere! (answers on page 45) Marlene Returns to Rhode Island WHO SAID THAT? April 29 Sardella’s Restaurant A landmark in Newport. Dick Lupino always brings This month, Howie turns his finely tuned ears to prose, instead of music. the best players, including Mike Renzi when he’s Can you identify which jazz personality uttered the comments below? moonlighting from Tony Bennett — ta super fun crowd. 401-849-6312 April 12 1. ” If you have to ask what 7. “ By and large, jazz has jazz is, you’ll never know.” always been like the kind Fort May 1 2. “ The boppers flat their of a man you wouldn’t Lee Chanler’s On the cliff walk in Newport.