Volume 45 • Issue 10 noVember 2017 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Jonathan Russell performed with guitarist Vinny Raniolo at JazzFeast on September 19. Photo by Lynn Redmile. COMING OF AGE AT JAZZFEAST A Former Prodigy Jonathan Russell at Returns To Princeton JazzFeast in 2006 onathan Russell began to play the violin at age three and was the slain Wall Street Journal reporter and violinist Daniel Pearl. Jalready performing with trad jazz ensembles in New York City Now 22 and a newly minted college grad, Jonathan returned to clubs by age seven. At nine he played the New Orleans Jazz & Princeton JazzFeast on Sepember 19, this time a leader in his own Heritage Festival and two years later made his first appearance at right, and performed an impressive 10-song set with guitarist Vinny JazzFeast, sitting in with Ed Polcer’s group (inset photo). Raniolo. Russell, who’s blossomed into a polished musician, played As a teenager Jonathan receieved awards from the American String a five-string violin that he also used to great effect walking bass lines Teachers Association and the U.S. Embassy in Hungary. In 2010 he and comping chords when guitarist Raniolo soloed. The perform- earned an honorable mention in the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer ance, which included two memorable Russell originals, and a crowd Awards for his composition “Danny’s Groove,” written in tribute to favorite “Besame Mucho,” was a festival highlight. More on JazzFeast on page 24. New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: new Jersey Jazz socIety Prez Sez . 2 Bulletin Board . 2 NJJS Calendar . 3 Jazz Trivia . 4 Prez sez Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info . 6 Change of Address/Support NJJS/ By Mike Katz President, NJJS Volunteer/Join nJJs . 43 Crow’s Nest . 44 New/Renewed Members . 45 USPS Statement of Ownership . 45 ’ll begin this month’s column by mentioning bers and others on our E-blast list our own events storIes Isome recent changes in the composition of our as well as those of our partner organizations and Princeton JazzFeast . cover New Jersey Jazz Society Board of Directors. During member musicians. This function has now been Big Band in the Sky . 8 September’s meeting, Ted Clark was elected to the assumed by Board member Carrie Jackson. Thank Andrea Brachfeld Receives Grant . 10 Board, to serve until the annual meeting in you Lowell for your service! If anyone out there NJCU Alumni Jazz Band . 12 December, at which time he will stand for election who is reading this is not receiving e-blasts from us Mattan Klein . 13 by the membership-at-large to a full three-year and would like to, please forward your e-mail Talking Jazz: John di Martino . 14 term. Ted has been a member of NJJS for about address to [email protected]. Janis Siegel . 22 ten years, and is a director of global strategy for a 3Divas at Shanghai Jazz . 23 n The annual business meeting of the New Jersey major electronics corporation. As an amateur NJPAC 20th Anniversary . 26 Jazz Society will take place on Sunday, December Noteworthy . 28 musician, he plays bass and has studied 7-string 10, at Shanghai Jazz in Madison, beginning at 2 Richard Lowenthal Retires . 29 guitar with Bucky Pizzarelli. He has had consid- pm. At that time I will report on the Society’s President Emeritus Writes . 31 erable experience in the non-profit world, having activities during the year about to end, and Dan’s Den . 32 served in various capacities with the United Way treasurer Kate Casano will report on the state of Swingadelic at Bickford Theatre . 37 of Bergen County, Bergen County Emergency our finances. The members present will then elect Rhythm & Rhyme . 34 Medical Services Advisory Board, Allendale directors to the Board for three-year terms, includ- reVIews Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Archdiocese ing current members standing for re-election and Caught in the Act . 35 of Newark. Ted lives with his wife Karen and their those seeking election for the first time. After that, Other Views . 38 three children in Allendale in Bergen County. the Board will conduct its December meeting, at Book Review: Dave Frishberg . 40 The Board accepted with regret the resignation of which it will elect the officers of the Society to eVents Lowell Schantz, due to time constraints arising serve in 2018, including the president, vice ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean, Mercer . 42 from other activities, including playing in the presidents, secretary and treasurer. Somewhere There’s Music . 46 eponymous jazz band led by his 16-year old The Name Dropper . 47 We welcome candidates for service on the Board, trumpeter son, Florian, who recently marked his so anyone who is interested is urged to contact adVertIsers 300th public appearance as a musician. Quite a members of the nominating committee, including Jim Eigo . 4 record for someone of such a tender age! While on Reeves-Reed Arboretum . 4 myself, executive vice president Stew Schiffer and the Board, Lowell served as the manager of our Elliott Tyson, as soon as possible, and no later than Shanghai Jazz . 5 e-blast function, by which we publicize to mem- WBGO . 7 30 days before the meeting. Membership in NJJS William Paterson University . 9 Ocean County College . 11 Marlene VerPlanck . 13 Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details. CTS Images . 13 Bickford Theatre . 15 NJJS Bulletin Board Rutherfurd Hall . 16, 20, 33, 44 Chicken Fat Ball . 17 Member Discount Claim your member privilege! Get free admission to NJJS socials, discounts Amani . 19 to music events, discounts from partners! NJPAC . 21 Sandy Sasso . 29 nJJs members discounts Hibiscus Restaurant, Morristown and The Crossroads, Garwood Arbors Records . 31 offer NJJS members a discount of 10% off their check . The Berrie Center at Ramapo College offers NJJS 1867 Sanctuary . 31 members 5% off event tickets . $5 ticket discount for monthly Salem Roadhouse Cafe jazz nights . Pennsylvania Jazz Society . 33 Diane Perry . 37 Free Jazz socials…ongoing . Join us for music and mingling . Free for members, $10 non-members Swingadelic . 38 (applicable to membership) with just a $10 venue minimum . Watch calendar page 3 for upcoming dates Cadence Magazine . 41 and details . Beyond the schmooze, there are some serious musical prizes raffled off at our socials!! Princeton Record Exchange . 56 2 _________________________________ November 2017 New JerseyJazzSociety The Florian Schantz Jazz Combo performed at a World War I exhibit at the Jewish Historical Society in Whippany, NJ on October 3. Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Like this issue Richard Rodgers, which of Jersey Jazz? received a rave review from Joe Lang in October’s Have it delivered for at least a year is a requirement, as is a Jersey Jazz. As usual, there right to your mailbox commit-ment to regularly attend monthly is no music charge for NJJS members (others 11 times a year . board meetings (which are held at the Best are welcome with payment of a $10 music Simply join NJJS to get Western Hotel in Morristown), perform charge), and only a $10 food and drink various ongoing functions as needed, and minimum, so mark your calendars and come your subscription . attend and help out at Society events such as on out for what promises to be a terrific See page 43 for details the Pee Wee Stomp, Jazzfeast and Jazz afternoon of music and comraderie during or visit www .njjs .org . Socials. As the Society has no paid staff, we the holiday season. rely on Board members to do most of the n Incidentally, I have been very pleased with work needed to carry on our activities. the recent monthly Socials, which have been n As has been customary for many years, the of particularly high quality and attracted annual meeting will include two sets of near full houses to Shanghai Jazz. These music presented by a group chosen by the events have become a major part of NJJS’s president. For this year’s meeting, I have activities, and we hope to continue them well A New Jersey Jazz Society selected a quartet led by the reed players into the future. membership makes Peter and Will Anderson, both Juilliard Many thanks to our music committee for graduates, who have performed for NJJS and a great birthday gift! selecting and engaging the musicians, David elsewhere in the metropolitan area and Plus, if you are already Niu and Tom Donohoe of Shanghai Jazz, throughout the nation. Most recently, they and Morris Arts (formerly the Arts Council a member, a gift membership appeared at this year’s Pee Wee Russell of the Morris Area), which provides partial Memorial Stomp, and in the entire month of costs just $25! funding for the Socials, and last, but certainly August they presented a series of four con- not least, the musicians whose participation See page 43 for details! certs in Manhattan featuring the music of has so greatly enhanced this year’s Socials. JJ Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details. November 19 December 10 January 7 January 21 NJJS JAZZ SOCIAL NJJS ANNUAL MEETING CHICKEN FAT BALL NJJS JAZZ SOCIAL Loren Daniels, pianist Peter and Will Anderson Randy Sandke, Randy Reinhart, Artist TBA FREE NJJS members, President’s report to the membership and Adrian Cunningham, John Allred, FREE NJJS members, $10 public, $10 minimum election of Board officers for 2018, plus two Conal Fowkes, Paul Wells and $10 public, $10 minimum Nicki Parrott Shanghai Jazz | Madison sets of music | FREE admission NJJS members, Shanghai Jazz | Madison 2 sets, doors open at 3 PM $10 all others, $10 food/beverage minimum $35 | Table seating, please bring 2 sets, doors open at 3 PM www .njjs .org Shanghai Jazz | Madison your own drinks and snacks www .njjs .org 2 – 5:30 PM | www .njjs .org The Woodland | Maplewood NJJS Calendar 2 – 5 PM Funding for the NJJS Jazz Socials program has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the N.J.