Volume 35 • Issue 06 JerseyJazz June 2007 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Jazzfest Is Here! flight jazz artists presenting con- We Like Jazz he New Jersey Jazz Society’s 35th tinuous music from Tanniversary summer jazz festival noon to 6 PM Saturday and Sunday at and picnic is all set for the weekend of three venues on the Drew campus. in June… June 9–10 at Drew University in The sanofi-aventis Jazzfest Saturday Madison, NJ. The state’s oldest jazz artists include: the Winard Harper How About festival will feature more than 60 top Sextet, Five Play, Hendrik Meurkens’s You? continued on page 21 Five Play JAZZFEST Jazzfest facts, PREVIEW hot off the press. See pp 2, 8, 10 and ad p 3 ARTICLES REVIEWS Shanghai Jazz . 7 in this issue: Classic Stine . 9 Sonny Rollins at NJPAC. 30 Lana’s Fine Dining . 11 NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY Crow’s Nest . 9 CDs+ DVD: Other Views. 34 Grove Street Stompers . 12 Pres Sez/NJJS Calendar & Bulletin Board. 2 Jazzfest Preview: The Tent. 10 Oosterdam Jazz Cruise . 38 Newark Museum Jazz in the Garden . 15 Salt Creek Grille . 17 The Mail Bag. 4 Big Band in the Sky . 13 EVENTS Jazz Trivia . 4 Trumpets . 27 Dan’s Den . 18 Toots Thielemans at the Blue Note . 42 Stonefire Grille . 29 Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS info. 6 Jazz U: College Jazz Scene . 20 Institute of Jazz Studies. 43 Jazzdagen Tours . 31 Notes from the Music Committee . 8 NJJS Honors Frank Sinatra, Jr. 21 ’Round Jersey: Bridgewater, Morris, Ocean . 44 Jazz at Chautauqua . 35 In the Mainstream . 40 Benny Carter . 22 Somewhere There’s Music . 46 CTS Images. 36 Riverboat Swing . 37 New Board Member C. Lanneaux . 40 The Name Dropper . 47 Generations of Jazz.. 26 Arbors Records . 39 New Members . 41 Coleman/Coltrane Win Pulitzers.. 28 ADVERTISERS Laura Hull . 48 About NJJS/Membership Info . 41 Savannah—King Oliver.. 28 Cornerstone . 5 Weichert Realtors. 48 New JerseyJazzSociety NJJS Calendar Sunday May 20 2007 MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING Trumpets/Montclair see p 8 Sunday May 20 Prez Sez Swing dance field trip Lyndhurst see p 2 By Andrea Tyson President, NJJS Saturday June 2 2007 Free pre-Jazzfest concert Duke Ellington Legacy Band won’t go into details about Jazzfest; really enjoyed the show and the with Ed Polcer and His All-Stars IJoe Lang has done a fantastic job in venue, as you should know, is Drew Univ./Madison that area. But here we are and we’re gorgeous. What a gem in the crown of see pp 2, 8 & ad p 3 very excited. New venue, great line-up the Jersey jazz scene. And right down Saturday/Sunday — what more could we ask for? Good weather — the street a brand new supper club, The Key Club, June 9/10 2007 ah, yes, that’s a good idea to put on my wish list. has opened, offering jazz, too. We were fortunate Jazzfest But we’re OK putting on performances in two Winard Harper Sextet, Midiri enough to attend recently and met owner Elliott Brothers Band, Earl May Quintet, indoor venues and one large, comfortable tent so James. They’re just getting their sea legs but for Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz rain or shine — we’re psyched. Please join us, after being open only one month, the place looks great, Quintet, Sarah Partridge Group, Madison’s art show during the day, at Drew on Bob Dorough Trio, Ken Peplowski especially the series of artworks on the walls by Saturday evening, June 2 starting at 6 PM, for a free Quintet, Dick Meldonian Big Bradford Brown. His jazz art is unique and his Band, Five Play, Nilson Matta’s pre-Jazzfest concert. We’ve lined up Ed Polcer’s gallery is in East Orange. So, get out, go to NJPAC, Brazilian Voyage Band with Harry All-Stars and the Ellington Legacy Jazz Band. head over to the Key Club and enjoy a day/evening Allen, Jay Leonhart Trio, Nancy Then, on June 5, we’ve scheduled a concert led by Nelson Group. of jazz in Newark. There’s ample parking right Drew Univ./Madison Pam Purvis on the Rooke Family Plaza at across the street and the people-watching outside see pp 8, 10 and ad p 3 Morristown Memorial Hospital for the patients, is terrific. hospital employees and family members of Saturday June 30 2007 ■ Also, we caught Sol Yaged at Richie Cecere’s Bridgewater see ad p 33 & p 44 patients as part of a Jazz and Blues on the Roof Summer Concert Series. Finally, on June 9 and 10, in Montclair. Sol is still formidable after all these Saturday July 21 2007 for the heart of the matter — Jazzfest! We’re years. His band was swingin’ and the dance floor Bridgewater see ad p 33 & p 44 honoring Evelyn Self of sanofi-aventis on her was crowded. Saturday August 11 2007 retirement and for her years of support and ■ Bridgewater see ad p 33 & p 44 All the people who flowed into Rutgers sponsorship of NJJS. Also, we’re honoring Hot University’s Nicholas Music Hall for Frank Saturday September 8 2007 House Magazine for 25 years of service to the jazz Bridgewater see ad p 33 & p 44 Sinatra, Jr. on April 10 had a ball! The music and community. What an achievement. Gwen Calvier, the performer made for just a totally enjoyable Saturday September 15 2007 Hot House President, will be on hand to accept the evening. We were delighted with Frank’s stage JazzFeast award. I look forward to seeing everybody. Princeton (details TBA) presence and how he deferred to the student ■ Since our last chat I’ve been to NJPAC for a musicians. NJJS Vice President Mike Katz Sunday September 23 2007 MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING tribute performance to Ray Charles. The audience presented Sinatra with an NJJS lifetime Trumpets/Montclair continued on page 40 Sunday September 30 2007 NJJS 35th Anniversary Dinner Dance The Pines Manor, Edison NJJS Bulletin Board (details TBA) Jazzfest Hospitality the Patron level or above, see page 41 in Jersey Jazz. So if you haven’t already, Sunday October 21 2007 Tent for Patrons and for information. We thank you for your please send your e-mail address to MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING Above extra support of NJJS. [email protected]. Trumpets/Montclair Calling all NJJS Patrons, Benefactors and Got E-mail? JazzDance Angels! Come to the membership table Let us know you’re interested in dancing! Sunday November 18 2007 We may not have your e-mail address, to be escorted to the Hospitality Tent Contact Linda at [email protected] MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING where you’ll enjoy food and champagne, especially if you joined before 2005. or 201-306-2769. YOU DON’T NEED A Trumpets/Montclair see and chat with musicians at this year’s Some special offers for NJJS members PARTNER. ALL AGES WELCOME. NO Jazzfest. If you’re not yet a member at are late-breaking, not possible to include EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.Tell a friend! 2 June 2007 JerseyJazz Society New Jersey Jazz SUNDAY, JUNE 10 Gates open at 11:00 am — Music begins at noon , JUNE 9 The Ken Peplowski Quintet SATURDAY The Dick Meldonian Big Band The Earl May Quintet Gates open at 11:00 am — Music begins at noon The Winard Harper Sextet Featuring Houston Person The Midiri Brothers Band Nilson Matta’s Brazilian Voyage Band Five Play featuring Harry Allen Nancy Nelson Group Hendrik Meurkens’ Samba Jazz Quintet The Jay Leonhart Trio Sarah Partridge and her Trio The Bob Dorough Trio 3 Jazz June 2007 Jersey New JerseyJazzSociety The Mail Bag MANY THANKS TO NJJS for the I have to tell you I still pay my It takes a writer with the word two-column space. Focus on opportunity to attend the Sonny dues to the New Jersey Jazz Society power and perspective of Jack melodic, understandable modern Rollins Concert at the NJPAC by — (the last 20 years). I was afraid Stine to give us more insight into compositions and their players. It being one of the Trivia Contest it was going to disappear from departed figures that get multiple follows: you run obits on advanced winners. Sonny Rollins plays what this world. coverage. In April, Stine offers a players like Michael Brecker, then I think is considered “Hard Bop,” The new magazine Jersey Jazz is fetching remembrance of Whitney why not recognize the living Baby Boomer and European players, as which I hadn’t been too familiar wonderful and gives me great hope Balliett — The New Yorker jazz Zwerin suggests? with, so it was a good learning for the future of our still terrific writer and amateur pianist whose experience for me. music! Keep up the good work! career is covered in “Big Band in John Farina Atlantic City, NJ Alec Vinopal Shirley Cook the Sky” in the same issue. I had Union, NJ Hackensack no idea that Balliett was treated [To some degree, we’re in the hands badly by his recent editors, who, of our contributors. We welcome WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME at LOOKING THROUGH BACK ISSUES according to Terry Teachout, did your suggestions for coverage and the [Sonny Rollins] concert and of Jersey Jazz, I see an ongoing not grasp “the significance of his the topics you’d like to see in the ate in the Ironbound district first, emphasis on the good old days and work.” That, rather than his long journal. For example, as we also great fun.