Grover Kemble and Za Zu Zaz Reunion
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Volume 39 • Issue 7 July/August 2011 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. above: Winard Harper Sextet; below: Allan Harris. Photos by Tony Mottola. 2011 “Ring dem Bells!” azzfest 2011 on June 11 at the College of Saint J Elizabeth in Morristown kicked off with the ringing of the noon bells at Anunciation Hall just as Emily Asher’s Garden Party was set to begin playing outside its entrance. That caused only a minor setback at our brand new venue where the benefits outweighed any clouds and drizzle. All activities had been seamlessly moved indoors, which turned out to be a boon for one and all, with no missed notes. Dolan Hall proved to be a beautiful venue and the Jazz Lobsters easily fanned across its stage. The languid start to “Splanky” gave way to a crisp, sparking horn crescendo. Bari sax man Larry McKenna was featured as arranger and soloist on “You Go to My Head,” and his velvety, luxurious tone sparked bandleader/ pianist James Lafferty’s continued on page 30 New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: Deconstructing Dave NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY April Jazz Social: Dave Frank . 2 Dave Frank digs into Dave McKenna at April Jazz Social Bulletin Board . 2 Governor’s Island Jazz Party 2011 . 3 Text and photos Mail Bag. 3 by Tony Mottola NJJS Calendar . 3 Co-Editor Jersey Jazz Jazz Trivia . 4 Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info . 6 ianist and educator May Jazz Social: Sue Giles . 52 PDave Frank explored Crow’s Nest . 53 the piano techniques and Book Winner . 54 New/Renewed Members . 55 artistry of the legendary Change of Address/Support solo pianist Dave NJJS/Volunteer/JOIN NJJS . 55 McKenna at NJJS’s STORIES April Jazz Social. Using Jazzfest 2011 . cover McKenna recordings and Big Band in the Sky. 8 Talking Jazz: Sherrie Maricle. 14 demonstrating with his Noteworthy . 22 own playing, Frank Newark Museum Jazz in the Garden . 24 explained how McKenna REVIEWS constructed his unique New Orleans Jazz Fest . 26 solo performances by College Jazz. 36 combining walking bass Other Views . 38 Grover Kemble and Za Zu Zaz . 41 lines, sparkling melodic Caught in the Act: lines, inner voicings and other techniques K. Gang, L. Luna, M. Roberts Nonet, B. Charlap . 44 with a unrivaled sense of swing. The NYC- Anything Goes . 50 based Frank, who studied with Lenny Newark Songbirds at NPLibrary . 51 Tristano and was an Associate Professor at EVENTS Berklee College of Music for 17 years, ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean . 56 began offering master classes dissecting the Institute of Jazz Studies/ Jazz from Archives . 57 work of prominent musicians last Somewhere There’s Music . 58 February. Presented at New York’s Iridium The Name Dropper . 59 Jazz Club and other venues, he has taken ADVERTISERS up the work of McKenna, Bill Evans, Keith Great Connecticut Trad Jazz Fest . 4 Jarrett, Eric Dolphy and others (including WBGO . 5 the Marx Brothers!). The lively and Shanghai Jazz . 7 Jazzdagen . 9 informative sessions are videotaped and William Paterson University . 11 several, including the McKenna presentation (from an Iridium show), are available online at Hibiscus. 15 www.youtube.com and www.ustream.com. For more information visit www.davefrankjazz.com. JJ Jazzfest at Sea . 17 Sandy Sasso . 20 Spirit Cruises. 21 Morristown & Morris Twp Library. 23 Pres Sez takes a vacation this issue. Watch for it in September. PA Jazz Society . 24 Jazz Arts Project . 25 John Nobile SummerSwing Orchestra . 27 Somerville Jazz Festival . 33 Stay tuned to www.njjs.org Riverboat Swing . 34 92nd Street Y Jazz in July . 37 Jane Stuart . 39 NJJS Bulletin Board Roseanna Vitro . 40 WBGO PhotoBlog . 42 Member Discount Claim your member privilege! Get free admission Jazz House Kids . 43 Sandy Sasso . 44 to NJJS socials, discounts to music events, discounts from partners! LauRio Jazz . 46 Hibiscus Dining Discount Hibiscus offers NJJS members a discount of 10% off their check. Arbors Records . 47 See their ad page 15. Lauren Hooker . 48 Marlene VerPlanck . 49 FREE Film Series…Some Wednesday nights at 7 PM at Library of the Chathams. Swingadelic. 53 See calendar next page for details. Best of all? Free, free, free…invite your friends. Shelly Productions . 53 Jim Eigo Jazz Promo . 54 FREE Jazz Socials…Join us for music and mingling. Free for members, $10 for non-members (applicable CTS Images . 54 to membership) with just a $10 venue minimum. Watch calendar page 3 in coming issues for upcoming dates and Princeton Record Exchange . 60 details. Beyond the schmooze, there are some serious musical prizes raffled off at our socials!! 2_________________________________ July/August 2011 New JerseyJazzSociety Tell them you saw it in Jersey Jazz! The Mail Bag WHOLE FOODS MARKETS 6TH BI-ANNUAL JAZZ AGE LAWN FEATURES SOME TERRIFIC PARTY ON GOVERNORS ISLAND JAZZ around north Jersey, Saturday & Sunday, all free of charge. Their June 25 & 26 and West Orange store has had August 20 & 21, 2011 music every Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 for a 11:00 am to 5:00 pm couple of years now. In Admission $7/advance (available at addition, the website — www.dreamlandorchestra.com), bossanovamusic.com — $10/door (Children Under 12 Free) lists the schedules for their Michael Arenella and His Dreamland West Orange, Ridgewood Orchestra invites you to this hidden gem just off the southeastern tip and Edgewater stores. of Manhattan, nestled in the heart of Featured artists have majestic New York Harbor. included Howard Alden, Take the FREE ferry to the site with Mulgrew Miller and many centuries-old trees, caressed by fresh others recognizable I’m sure sea air, a sprawling green surrounded to readers of Jersey Jazz. Thanks to James Pansulla Lynn Redmile Bloomfield for her great Editor’s Note — The Whole photographs Foods music program is the of last year’s brainchild of Detroit event. guitarist Paul Abler and the Brazilian singer Yashmin by historic officers quarters and 18th century naval ramparts — a true who formed Bossa Nova Gatsby affair. Widely anticipated by flappers, sporting gents and tiny tots Music Productions. The series alike, this event has been featured and reviewed consistently by The New is sponsored by Baldwin York Times, who selected the Jazz Age Lawn Party as one of the most Pianos, Gibson Guitars and memorable parties of 2009 and 2010. Music, food & drink, and activities Jazz Radio WBGO-FM. are open for all ages to enjoy. JJ WELCOME RECENT/NEW ADVERTISERS! Jersey Jazz magazine seeks your help to cover jazz in Jersey as NJJS is proud to welcome Jazz House Kids, Spirit Cruises, Great Connecticut comprehensively as possible. Please help us expand our reach to all Traditional Jazz Festival, Princeton Record Exchange, Roseanna Vitro, John corners of the musical Garden State. Consider submitting a story or Nobile Summerswing Orchestra, Morristown & Morris Township Library, Lauren Hooker, Sandy Sasso, 92nd Street Y, Jazz Arts Project, Somerville Jazz even a brief paragraph when you visit any venue featuring jazz. If you Festival and Jane Stuart as recent/new advertisers. Please see their ads in this can include a high-res photo, even better. We’ll happily credit your and other issues. Advertisers help to support our work and mission while work when we print it and you’ll have the satisfaction of spreading the keeping their names in the minds of our readers. Please support them as well! jazz message and fulfilling your creative impulses! JJ for updates and details. Saturday Sept 10 Sunday Sept 25 Wednesday Oct 26 Wednesday Nov 16 JAZZFEAST JAZZ SOCIAL — TBA FREE FILM FREE FILM TBA Shanghai Jazz TBA TBA Palmer Square, Princeton 24 Main St, Madison Library of the Chathams Library of the Chathams 12 – 6 PM 3–5:30 PM 214 Main Street 214 Main Street Chatham 7 PM Chatham 7 PM Wednesday Sept 21 Sunday Oct 23 FREE FILM JAZZ SOCIAL — TBA Sunday Nov 20 TBA Shanghai Jazz JAZZ SOCIAL — TBA Library of the Chathams 24 Main St, Madison Shanghai Jazz 214 Main Street 3–5:30 PM 24 Main St, Madison Chatham 7 PM 3–5:30 PM NJJS Calendar July/August 2011 _________________________________ 3 New JerseyJazzSociety Jazz Trivia By O. Howie Ponder II ARRANGERS The sound and style of a big band is determined by the person writing its musical arrangements. Can you identify these famous arrangers from the generous hints provided by your interrogator? (answers on page 54) 1. Born Generoso Graziano in Boston, this arranger 4. A graduate of the Count Basie trumpet section, 7. Originally from Newark, this arranger served made his mark with Artie Shaw (“Begin the he wrote several charts for the band while there; on Glenn Miller’s arranging staff and charted some Beguine”) and Glenn Miller (“String of Pearls”) “Red Bank Boogie” and “Avenue C” among them. In of the band’s biggest hits, including ”Sunrise before leading a career as an independent music later years he concentrated on arrangements Serenade” and “Song of the Volga Boatman.” arranger. performed by his own big band. He later formed an experimental big band with 2. Although he is remembered for his arrange- 5. Although Don Redman is often credited as the another famous arranger — whose name will get ments played by Benny Goodman’s orchestra, this “father of big band arranging,” many feel that this you extra credit. contemporary deserves equal credit for his work for arranger originally sought a career as a chemist. His 8. Starting as a tenor sax player, his early Jean Goldkette and Paul Whiteman. “King Porter Stomp” and “Sometimes I’m Happy” arrangements for the Stan Kenton orchestra, charts are characteristic of the Goodman era.