Volume 43 • Issue 6 June 2015 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Singer Tamar Korn and Jerron “Blindboy” Paxton joined Terry Waldo’s Gotham City Band on stage at The Players Club in NYC on May 3. Photo by Lynn Redmile. New York’s Hot Jazz Festival NJJS Presents Old Tunes, Young Turks A Billy Strayhorn A sold-out crowd that included such music world luminaries as George Wein and Gary Giddins and 130-plus top tier musicians Centennial Tribute filled a 19th century Gramercy Park mansion on May 3 for a June 14 | Mayo PAC, Morristown 14-hour marathon of traditional and swing era jazz at the 3rd Tickets On Sale NOW! annual New York Hot Jazz Festival. Jersey Jazz’s Lynn Redmile See Page 13 was there to take in the scene and you can read her report and see more photos beginning on page 26. JerseystoriesJazz 3rd annual Hot Jazz Festival sizzles In New york Story and photos by Lynn Redmile t was everything jazz should be — wild, hot (in more ways than and James P. Ione!), and exhilarating. I arrived at noon and, by the time I left at Johnson, a 12:45 am, I had watched sixteen bands, ten solo pianists, and the pioneer of the start of an amazing jam session. Euphorically exhausted, I’m still stride style of marveling at how far this event has come in only two years, thanks piano playing. to the efforts of Director Michael “Misha” Katsobashvili, with In the Ballroom, co-producers Bria Skonberg and Patrick Soluri. the EarRegulars As with last year, the third edition of the New York Hot Jazz Festival took the stage, was held at the beautiful Player’s, a private social club in New York with Jon-Erik City’s Gramercy Park neighborhood. With two stages on two levels, Kellso (Puje a Steinway Lounge showcasing piano soloists, and the lower level trumpet), Matt featuring screenings of hot jazz films, fans could choose to move to Munisteri different rooms between song/set breaks. Completely sold out, with (guitar), Pat over a thousand fans and musicians attending, and with many of O’Leary (bass) the musicians under thirty, it’s clear to see that hot jazz is in no and Scott danger of dying out. Robinson My first stop was the Steinway Lounge, for the keyboard talents of (reeds). After Rob Reich. His primary instrument is accordion, but his early start “Back in Your and many years of piano studies shines through! After a couple of Own Backyard,” pieces, I crossed the lobby to the ballroom, where Terry Waldo’s they presented Gotham City Band was performing, comprising Dan Levinson an original, (clarinet), Bria Skonberg (trumpet), John Gill (banjo), Jim Fryer “Out of the (trombone), Brian Nalepka (bass) and Rob Garcia (drums). Terry Gate,” which is opened with “Maple Leaf Rag” followed by Fats Waller’s on their new “Everything’s Alright By Me” with guests Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton album. Warren (banjo and vocals) and Tamar Korn (vocals). Their rendition of Vaché joined “Sugar Blues” was particularly sweet. Upstairs in the Library, Nikki them for “On The Alamo.” In the Steinway Lounge, Terry Waldo Parrot’s trio performed, was tearing it up, to the joy of everyone listening. And upstairs in with Nikki (bass), the Library, a group of “youngsters” was ably demonstrating they Vinny Raniolo (guitar) have what it takes. Rhythm Future Quartet, led by violinist Jason and Warren Vaché Anick, featured Finnish lead guitarist Olli Soikkeli, Vinny Raniolo (cornet). “You’d Be So (guitar) and Greg Loughman (bass). Each virtuosos, their Django- Nice To Come Home inspired gypsy jazz was exquisitely and passionately performed, with To” was beautifully each artist clearly enjoying the music as much as their delighted done, as was “Stardust.” audience. Catch them on tour! Rebecca Kilgore, in Dan Levinson’s Bix Millennium All-Stars took to the Ballroom town from Portland stage, with Dan on reeds, Jon-Erik Kellso (Puje trumpet), Charlie Oregon (thanks to Caranicas (cornet), Brian Nalepka (bass), Mark Shane (piano) and Arbors Records), was Kevin Dorn (drums). “Big Boy” was followed by “Davenport Blues” enjoying their — such a treat. Jon Weber gave the Steinway a fabulous workout, performance when selecting random keys for his stride pieces by blindly plucking a Nikki invited her to piano string, and Margi Gianquinto’s vocals were a lovely addition. duet on “When I Grow Gypsy jazz guitarist Stéphane Wrembel’s band took to the Library Too Old To Dream” — stage, with Tim Clements (guitar), David Gastine (guitar and superb! vocals), Sebastien Chaumont of Nice (saxophone), Kells In the Steinway Lounge, Nollenberger (bass) and David Langlois (washboard). Their I caught Mark Shane beautiful performance of Django Reinhardt’s “Nuages” was playing the beautiful somehow followed by “Country Roads” which the audience joined “Guess Who’s In in singing. As Will Friedwald said, “It’s still country music, just a Vocalist Hilary Gardner performed with different country!” Evan Christopher’s Clarinet Road. Town” by Ethel Waters 26 ___________________________________ June 2015 JerseystoriesJazz Andy Farber’s After fabulously, and clarinetist Midnight Orchestra had Evan Christopher’s Clarinet their turn in the Ballroom, Road took over the with Andy (sax), Kurt Ballroom. In town from Bacher (sax), Jay Brandford New Orleans, Evan was (sax), Mark Gross (sax), joined by James Chirillo Dan Block (sax), Bill Easley (guitar), Ehud Asherie (sax), Robert Edwards (piano), Neal Caine (bass) (trombone), Wayne and Hilary Gardner (vocals). Goodman (trombone), Art Following Tommy Ladnier’s Baron (trombone), James “Mojo Blues,” Hilary sang a Chirillo (guitar), James rare Duke Ellington piece, Zollar (trumpet), Alphonso “Azalea,” which seemed Horne (trumpet), Greg made for her. I loved “China Gisbert (trumpet), Bruce Boy.” On the Library stage, Harris (trumpet), Adam Riley Mulherker’s and Birnbaum (piano), Jennifer Alphonso Horne’s Gotham “When I Grow Too Old To Dream” — Nicki Parrott is joined by Rebecca Kilgore Vincent (bass), Alvester Kings wowed the crowd for a vocal duet in The Players Club Library. Garnett (drums) and with indefatigable energy — Rebecca Kilgore (vocals). especially that of tap dancer A jam-packed stage! “The Michela Marino Lerman. Bombers,” Andy’s With Riley and Alphonso on composition, was exciting, trumpets, Patrick Bartley and Rebecca’s exquisite (clarinet), Jeffery Miller voice delighted everyone. (trombone), Chris Pattishall Back in the Steinway (piano), Ibanda Ruhumbika Lounge, Bill Charlap had an (tuba) and Sammy Miller enthusiastic audience, and (drums), they kicked it up a upstairs Mona’s Hot Four notch when Michael kept the Library swinging, Mwenso joined on vocals, with Dennis Lichtman coaxing out “Squeeze Me” (clarinet), Rob Reich and transitioning almost (accordion), Dalton seamlessly into “Truckin’.” Ridenhour (piano), Nick The Ballroom was the stage Russo (guitar/banjo), Jared for trumpeter/vocalist Bria The EarRegulars – Pat O’Leary, Jon-Erik Kellso, Matt Munisteri and Engel (bass), and Martina Skonberg & Her Jazz Scott Robinson, with special guest (2nd from left) Warren Vaché. DaSilva and Kate Davis on Compatriots, comprising vocals. Martina’s haunting Adrian Cunningham “I’ve Got It Bad and That (reeds), Dalton Ridenhour Ain’t Good,” and their (piano), Sean Cronin (bass) rendition of “If I Had You” and Darrian Douglas were simply wonderful. (drums). “Cornet Chop As the afternoon session Suey” set the mood, and wound down, and the Bria’s vocals on Valaida mansion emptied out to Snow’s “High Hat, Trumpet prepare for the evening & Rhythm” elevated it. program, I couldn’t help but Upstairs, the Library stage think how lucky we are to held banjoist Eddy Davis’s have this music in our lives. New Orleans Jazz Band, Jerron “BlindBoy” Paxton with Simon Wettenhall kicked off the evening (trumpet), Conal Fowkes festivities in the Steinway (piano), Debbie Kennedy Lounge, followed by Dalton (bass) and John Gill (drums). Chris Pattishall Rhythm Future Quartet with hot gypsy jazz: Jason Anick, Olli Soikkeli, Ridenhour “striding” Vinny Raniolo and Greg Loughman. continued on page 28 June 2015 ____________________________________27 JerseystoriesJazz HOT JAZZ FESTIVAL continued from page 27 held court in the Steinway Lounge — a treat to hear “Alligator Crawl” and the dancers loved him too. Wycliffe Gordon & Friends, with Adrian Cunningham (reeds), Ehud Asherie (piano), Jennifer Vincent (bass), Alvin Atkinson Jr. (drums) owned the Ballroom stage with “Honeysuckle Rose,” and when Brianna Thomas joined on vocals with “Mood Indigo,” everyone wanted more. Conal Fowkes had a surprise treat for us in the Steinway Lounge, James inviting his friend actor Danny Aiello to croon Chirillo, a couple of songs for us. And in the Library, Neal Caine and Evan The Grand Street Stompers, led by Gordon Au Christopher. (trumpet) and comprising Dennis Lichtman (clarinet), Jim Fryer (trombone), Nick Russo (guitar/banjo), Andrew Hall (bass) and Kevin Dorn (drums) entertained with well-known and original compositions. Crowd favorites Molly Ryan and Tamar Korn were in fine form with “Blue Skies.” Ehud Asherie closed out the Steinway Lounge Photos by Lynn Redmile session, and Glenn Crytzer’s Savoy Seven was the final Library act, performing standards and some of Glenn’s own compositions. With Glenn on guitar/vocals, he was joined by Dan Levinson (sax), Dennis Lichtman (clarinet), Gordon Au (trumpet), Jesse Gelber (piano), Andrew Hall (bass) and Kevin Dorn (drums). Hot Sardines – “Fast Eddy” Still-energetic fans crowded the Ballroom for Francisco on the Hot Sardines with brand new mom “Miz taps, with Elizabeth” Bougerol on vocals/washboard, Evan Palazzo Evan Palazzo (piano), Jason Prover (trumpet), and “Miz Nick Myers (reeds), Mike Sailors (cornet), Elizabeth” Evan Crane (bass), Alex Raderman (drums) Bougerol. and “Fast Eddy” Francisco on taps. Festival favorites (they’ve appeared each year), their unique take on well-loved standards honors the inspiration of artists before them, and brings a new audience to this thing called jazz.