Volume 45 • Issue 8 september 2017 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. R&B/Gospel star Mavis Staples performs with guitarist Rick Holmstrom at the Xerox International Jazz Festival on June 28. Photo by Mitchell Seidel. inding jazz at a so-called jazz director, John Nugent, proudly Digging (for) Ffestival these days is a bit like proclaims “It’s not who you know, looking for gold in 1840s California it’s who you don’t know.” Indeed, — good nuggets are there, but a bit you’re equally likely to encounter a Jazz in Upstate of prospecting is required. tunesmith from the Faroe Islands or a Nowhere is this more evident than at Toronto alt-rock trio as you are to the Xerox Rochester International find an American bebopper or New York Jazz Festival, where the definition of swinging saxophonist. Fine if you that four-letter term as been stretched have the time to pan through the Sometimes you want to to include rock, folk, blues and R&B. nine-day schedule, but what if you The nine-day event encompasses a don’t? Sometimes you want to go go with who you know massive schedule at some 14 venues with who you know. Fortunately, in and around downtown Rochester. they’re always on the schedule, and to By Mitchell Seidel This is the festival whose musical no surprise, they’re also the best- continued on page 28 New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: New Jersey Jazz socIety Prez Sez . 2 Bulletin Board . 2 NJJS Calendar . 3 Jazz Trivia . 4 Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info . 6 prez sez Change of Address/Support NJJS/ Volunteer/Join NJJs . 49 By Mike Katz President, NJJS Crow’s Nest . 50 t seems the summer has flown by and we’re almost into J . Owen Grundy Pier at Exchange Place . This concert is New/Renewed Members . 52 Ifall . I hope that many of you got to attend and enjoy one of the most spectacular events of year, with the New storIes some of the numerous jazz concerts and festivals that York skyline and the Statue of Liberty serving as Upstate NY Jazz Festivals . cover took place in July and August, and are now ready to backdrops for some incredible big band jazz . Big Band in the Sky . 8 partake of the fall jazz scene here in the Garden State . Fox’s News . 12 This year’s concert pays tribute to the centennials of Ella Talking Jazz: Alan Broadbent . 16 While not in chronological order, I want to first mention Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich and Thelonious Frank Vignola Fundraiser . 24 the upcoming 45th anniversary of the New Jersey Jazz Monk . Music Director Dick Lowenthal always puts Sounds of Summer 2017 . 26 Society, which will be celebrated with a concert on together an entertaining program and has invited several President Emeritus Writes . 32 Sunday afternoon, October 22, at the Dorothy Young guest soloists including Gilespie protégé Jon Faddis and Dan’s Den . 34 Center for the Arts at Drew University in Madison, a Cyrille Aimée . The music starts at 6 PM and there are Rhythm & Rhyme . 36 location many will recall from past Jazzfests . An several parking garages right in the neighborhood . You Bethany Baptish Jazz Vespers . 52 anniversary committee headed by board member Cydney may also take the PATH to the Exchange Place station . Halpin has been hard at work assembling the talent for reVIews n The Bickford Theatre celebrates its Opening Night for Caught in the Act . 38 the concert, which is also going to constitute NJJS’s the 2017-18 season on September 28 with the sounds of Other Views . 46 tribute to guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli in recognition of his the George Gee Orchestra . This big band, which has Russell Malone at Newark Museum . 52 years of performing at our events as well as his many played for NJJS many times, is one of the most popular in other achievements . eVeNts the country and has some great musicians, including ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean, Mercer . 48 Others who will be on the program include Don Braden, singer John Dokes, trombonist David Gibson, tenor Somewhere There’s Music . 54 on saxophone and flute, who is serving as music director saxophonist Michael Hashim, trumpeter Freddie Hendrix The Name Dropper . 55 for the event, and, to name a few, Martin Pizzarelli on and bassist Marcus McLaurine . The 17-piece big band adVertIsers bass, Dave Stryker and Ed Laub on guitar, Tomoko Ohno draws on the great music of the swing era covering a Shelly Productions . 4 on piano, and Marlene VerPlanck, vocals . Rhonda wide range of well-known tunes by everyone from Benny Marlene Ver Planck . 4 Hamilton of WBGO will serve as emcee, and Dorthaan Goodman to Count Basie . Shanghai Jazz . 5 Kirk, Newark’s “first lady of jazz,” will also participate . I’m told that the food trucks, so popular at the Theatre’s WBGO . 7 Get your tickets soon as this concert will surely sell out . shows this summer, will continue into the fall . Note that William Paterson University . 9 Ordering information can be found in the ad on page 15 . Ocean County College . 11 under a recent change, all seating at the Bickford is now NJPAC . .. 13 n I’d like to also direct your attention to several other reserved, so get your tickets early to assure a good seat . NJJS 45th Anniversary Concert . 15 events which NJJS is co-sponsoring in the weeks ahead . For tickets you can call 973-971-3706 or order online at CTS Images . 16 On Friday, September 15, we will again co-sponsor a free www .morrismuseum .org/jazz-showcase/ . Deer Head Inn . 17 concert in Jersey City, the Fifth Annual New Jersey City Looking ahead, the Bickford has some terrific jazz lined Bickford Theatre . 19 University Alumni Jazz Big Band Concert, on the Arbors Records . 20 Jazzdagen . 21 1867 Sanctuary at Ewing . 22 Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details. North Carolina Jazz Festival . 23 NJJS Bulletin Board Jazzfest at Sea . 25 Jim Eigo . 27 Jazz Arts Project . 31 Member Discount Claim your member privilege! Get free admission to NJJS socials, discounts Sandy Sasso . 33 to music events, discounts from partners! Leonieke Scheuble . 33 WBGO Photo Boog . 35 NJJs members discounts Hibiscus Restaurant, Morristown and The Crossroads, Garwood NJ City University Alumni Big Band . 37 offer NJJS members a discount of 10% off their check . The Berrie Center at Ramapo College offers NJJS Newton Theatre . 39 members 5% off event tickets . $5 ticket discount for monthly Salem Roadhouse Cafe jazz nights . Diane Perry . 45 Swingadelic . 50 Free Jazz socials…ongoing . Join us for music and mingling . Free for members, $10 non-members Cadence . 51 (applicable to membership) with just a $10 venue minimum . Watch calendar page 3 for upcoming dates Amani . 53 and details . Beyond the schmooze, there are some serious musical prizes raffled off at our socials!! Princeton Record Exchange . 56 2 _________________________________ September 2017 New JerseyJazzSociety French singer Cyrille Aimée will perform with the NJ City University Alumni Big Band in Jersey City on September 15. Photo by Anna Webber. up for the fall and winter seasons . The calendar includes Bickford regulars like Nicki Like this issue Parrott, Rossano Sportiello, Dan Levinson, of Jersey Jazz? Bucky Pizzarelli, Grover Have it delivered Kemble, and the Bix right to your mailbox Beiderbecke Birthday raise funds to help replace lost income and defray Bash . There are also several new additions, 11 times a year . medical expenses not paid by insurance . Those including Swingadelic, Chris Brubeck, T .S . Monk who wish to help Frank and his family should go to Simply join NJJS to get and Ken Peplowski . gofundme .com/frankvignola . All donations in your subscription . n The annual Princeton JazzFeast takes place on whatever amount will be deeply appreciated . The See page 49 for details Sunday afternoon, September 17, beginning at NJJS wishes a speedy and complete recovery for noon . This free event, under the musical direction this great musician who has entertained us so or visit www .njjs .org . of Ed Polcer, always attracts a large crowd . This many times over the years, and we hope that he year’s lineup features: Alan Dale and the New will be back up performing really soon . Legacy Jazz Band, The Houston Person Quartet, n I also bring you the news that, after 22 years in The Ben Polcer Septet, Fifteen Strings, and The business, David Niu and Martha Chang have Stan Rubin Orchestra . The one-day festival draws decided to pursue other interests, and have sold thousands of people to downtown Princeton’s Madison’s Shanghai Jazz restaurant to Tom Palmer Square, which is ringed for the day by food A New Jersey Jazz Society Donohoe . Several of us have met Tom, an stands provided by many area restaurants . experienced restaurateur who intends to continue membership makes JazzFeast goes on rain or shine . the restaurant as a place for outstanding jazz and a great birthday gift! n Some of you may have heard of the serious Asian cuisine, as well as to make this great venue, Plus, if you are already accident that befell the great guitarist Frank one of the very finest jazz spots in New Jersey, Vignola last spring . Frank is recovering from available for our socials and annual meeting . a member, a gift membership multiple broken bones and surgeries, with more We look forward to continuing our relationship with costs just $25! surgery to follow . He will continue to be out of Shanghai Jazz under its new ownership for a long action for some time to come, and friends have time to come! JJ See page 46 for details! established crowd funding page in the internet to Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details.