Volume 37 • Issue 11 December 2009 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Rio Clemente and Frank Nissel pose with the NJJS's Kawai grand piano at the instrument’s new home at Hibiscus Restaurant in Morristown. Perpetual Piano Story by Linda Lobdell he invitation arrived by E-mail the company of jazz musicians and November 5 reception: the rededi- Photos by Tony Mottola Tand a few days later, a group of aficionados. The venue was Hibiscus, cation of the gorgeous NJJS piano Co-Editors Jersey Jazz 40 or so NJJSers and friends found the restaurant in the Best Western placed in the service of jazz at this themselves enjoying food, drink, and Morristown Inn. The reason for the relatively new haven for live music. continued on page 20 New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY Pres Sez/Bulletin Board . 2 NJJS Calendar . 3 The Mail Bag . 4 Jazz Trivia . 4 Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info . 6 Music Committee . 8 Prez Sez October Jazz Social. 52 New Members . 54 By Andrea Tyson President, NJJS Crow’s Nest . 55 Change of Address/Support NJJS/Volunteer/JOIN NJJS . 55 s you probably know some new kids on the block. I’ve enjoyed my ARTICLES by now, this is my last presidency. It afforded me the opportunity to Big Band in the Sky . 10 meet and greet many of you within a framework Soupy Sales. 14 Prez Sez column. Centenary College Jazz in January . 19 A of a musical genre we all love. Talking Jazz: Charlie Rice . 22 When it all began four years ago I didn’t know ■ Photo Exhibit: H.Leonard at JALC. 32 what to write. But I caught on pretty fast, As I leave the presidency to join that fine group Bensi Restaurants Jazz . 33 of people known as our past presidents, I do want Noteworthy . 34 deciding to offer readers ideas for getting off the Institute of Jazz Studies B. Goodman/ couch and into the clubs, parks, concert halls, to mention something that’s dear to my heart: our B. Carter Archives . 36 festivals and schools to hear and see live jazz — educational scholarship program could certainly JazzFirst Books Online Store . 37 Savannah Stompers’ Disney Deal. 38 all kinds of jazz. use a boost. If you are looking for a tax deduction, Lenny and Laura . 39 think of our scholarship program as a very worthy I have had a very supportive Board during my REVIEWS cause with no administrative costs. Every dollar presidency and I thank each one of them. I have VerPlanck Tribute . 40 goes toward the scholarships we award to deserv- College Jazz. 41 had a less well-known team of presidential ing New Jersey jazz studies students. We’d like to Other Views . 44 advisors not on the board and those unsung Caught in the Act: Susie Meissner/ increase the amounts we give, so if we have more, Carol Fredette . 48 heroes have been just as supportive. Many have Hyman/Topilow AxelrodPAC. 50 become dear friends and I thank them for all of we’ll give more. Thanks for thinking of us. If you EVENTS their assistance. decide to donate to our scholarship fund, please ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean, make checks payable to “NJJS Scholarship” and Bridgewater. 56 I am passing my portfolio and gavel to Laura Institute of Jazz Studies/ mail to: NJJS Scholarship, c/o Mike Katz, Jazz from Archives . 57 Hull. Laura has been our Vice President and Treasurer, 382 Springfield Ave. Suite 217, Somewhere There’s Music . 58 chairs the Music Committee. I know the organiza- Summit, NJ 07901. For more information The Name Dropper . 59 tion is in very good hands with the new executive contact Frank Mulvaney at 908-233-4824, ADVERTISERS board structure she’s putting into place, which or [email protected]. WBGO . 5 will be introduced at our Annual Meeting Shanghai Jazz . 7 ■ Cecil’s Sundays P. Purvis/B. Ackerman. 8 Sunday, December 6 at Shanghai Jazz. Bring That fund is getting a boost on January 30, Centenary College Jazz in January . 9 friends; you can sign them up with a $20 gift 2010. The Folk Project is sponsoring an event Arbors Records . 11 with a portion of the proceeds going toward our Attilio’s Tavern . 15 membership. Pam Purvis will be entertaining us Judith Kramer . 16 with her trio and I’m sure it’ll be a fun afternoon. education fund. Please join us as Reeds, Rhythm Jazzdagen . 17 You know the music and food will be good, so & All That Brass (led by our past VP Lou Iozzi Arbors Records Dick Hyman. 19 Folk Project/ what’s not to like? Please join us at around 2 PM as with several other NJJSers on the bandstand) play NJJS Swing Dance Benefit. 21 I step down, Laura steps up and we introduce their big band charts so we all can dance the night Chicken Fat Ball . 23 Jazz in Bridgewater. 25 North Carolina Jazz Festival . 26 Berrie Center Ramapo College . 27 NJJS Bulletin Board Newark Jazz Elders. 29 Hibiscus. 31 BE A STAR for NJJS! We always need help with our efforts. Volunteering is fun! [email protected] SOPAC . 32 Skipper’s . 33 FREE Jazz Socials Our series of Jazz Socials (formerly called Member Meetings) continues January 24 at Pio Costa/Circa 27 . 33 Shanghai Jazz. These Socials offer a great opportunity to meet other jazz lovers, while being entertained and informed. John Nobile SummerSwing Orchestra . 35 Members pay only a $5 venue charge; open to the public for just $10 + the $5 minimum, so invite somebody! We often 7th Wave Recording . 36 Jim Fryer & The Unusual Suspects . 39 have great items to raffle at these meetings — tickets to shows, concerts from our partner organizations. Watch for details Arbors Records Party . 45 at www.njjs.org or via E-mail. Swingadelic. 47 Jim Eigo Jazz Promo . 48 FREE Film Series Next Film in February in Chatham. Details on page 8 and watch for E-blasts. Melissa Nadel . 49 Got E-mail? Friends got E-mail? Get on board for raffles, freebies, discounts! Union CountyPAC . 51 CTS Images . 54 Some special offers for NJJS members are late-breaking — so please send your E-mail address to [email protected]. WBGO PhotoBlog . 60 For example, some of our partners make discounts and free tickets available to us. We are only able to pass those deals on Shelly Productions Glen Rock Inn. 60 via our E-mail list. 2 _________________________________ December 2009 New JerseyJazzSociety NJJS Record Bin Tell them you saw Featured $10 titles: Allan Vaché — Revisited! (Nagel Heyer/NHCD 044) it in Jersey Jazz! Scott Whitfield — Live At Birdland (Summit/SMT 390) Metz Family — Metzin’ Around (Arbors/ARCD 19299) Complete list at www.njjs.org, or write J. Sinkway, 43 Windham Place, Glen Rock, NJ 07452. away or just sit and listen. There will be Anniversary recreation in 1988? I was light food offered as well, for your modest absolutely thrilled to be there and then NJJS ★ entrance fee of $15 in advance. See the ad when I saw our seats — WOW — front row on page 21 and please come out and center. I must have sent in my check first! ★ support us. And the concert was spectacular, led by Bob AnnuaL Wilber. That was surely one of the highlights ■ Those of you who attended the Blues in ★ of my association with NJJS. MeetinG Bridgewater evening at the Bridgewater Vo-Tech recently know what a terrific ■ More recently, I saw String of Pearls at The end-of-year member evening it was. Robert Ross is a very talented the Bickford. A group of lovely female sum-up and thank-you! and entertaining blues and jazz singer/ singers fronts a terrific trio and they sing songwriter who got a terrific response from beautifully in the style of the Andrews December 6 the audience. The evening started with a Sisters and McGuire Sisters. But these at Shanghai Jazz ★ dinner offered on premises in the school’s harmonizing women, Holli Ross, Jeanne very own restaurant, Trade Wins (that’s the O’Connor and Susan Halloran, don’t just 2 – 5:30 PM spelling, honestly). Joni Krieg, Executive sing the songs of old, they re-invent and 24 Main Street, Madison NJ 07940 Director of the Business & Education reinvigorate them with their own style, with Alliance, Inc., put the evening together and well-placed scatting, delightful harmonizing Mingle while Pam Purvis delights she is also involved with the Benny Bash and their unique stage presence. They closed with her trio. This free concert is a Saturday evening, January 16, 2010, on the with “Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy” and the member benefit. audience cheered! What a cool way to spend 72nd anniversary (to the day!) of Benny Food and drink available for Goodman’s famous Carnegie Hall concert. a Monday night — beats TV anytime! Bruce purchase. See their ad on page 25. There is a dinner/ Gast handles the programming for these theatre package discount for NJJS members. evenings and does a wonderful job. We’ll introduce new board It’s usually a sell-out so don’t delay! Joni L. ■ We went into Manhattan to see Hot Jazz members, officers, volunteers. Krieg is working with NJJS member James from New Orleans to Israel at one of the Holiday gifts for sale — CDs, Bourke as the concert promoter, who hap- last of Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights in Jazz memberships, signed copies of pens to be the nephew of our past president performances and were thrilled by Evan Stine’s Songs.