Volume 43 • Issue 7 July/August 2015 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Michael Hashim leads the Billy Strayhorn Orchestra at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on June 14. Photo by Mitchell Seidel. A Strayhorn Centennial Salute NJJS presents an afternoon of Billy Strayhorn’s music at Morristown’s Mayo PAC See page 26. New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: New JerSey JAzz SocIety Prez Sez. 2 Bulletin Board ......................2 NJJS Calendar ......................3 Jazz Trivia .........................4 Mail Box. 4 Prez Sez Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info .......6 Crow’s Nest. 46 By Mike Katz President, NJJS Change of Address/Support NJJS/ Volunteer/Join NJJS. 47 NJJS/Pee Wee T-shirts. 48 hope that everyone who is reading this is July 31. It will also be a first for us, as Jackie New/Renewed Members ............48 I having a great summer so far and/or has made Wetcher and I will be spending a couple of days StorIeS plans for their upcoming summer vacation. I also there. Billy Strayhorn Tribute ...........cover hope that those plans include the Morristown Jazz At six o’clock, the music turns to the blues with Big Band in the Sky ..................8 and Blues Festival, which will be taking place on the always entertaining Roomful of Blues followed Talking Jazz: Roseanna Vitro. 12 Saturday, August 15 on the Morristown Green. Noteworthy ......................24 by the legendary blues hall of fame harmonica President Emeritus Writes ...........28 The festival is returning for the fifth season and player Charlie Musselwhite and his all-star band 92nd St. Y Jazz in July ...............30 NJJS is pleased to continue our association with at eight. All together, you get ten hours of music WBGO Photo Exhibit. .31 Sinatra Idols in Hoboken .............31 this top notch event. This year its theme will be a in a beautiful park, all for free, so bring your lawn 100th birthday salute to Frank Sinatra, Les Paul chairs, blankets and picnics and make a day of it. reVIewS Other Views. ......................32 and Muddy Waters. As in the past two years, NJJS Kudos to Mayor Tim Dougherty for continuing Susie Meissner CD .................35 will be a co-sponsor of this event, and I will be the what is now a wonderful summer tradition. You May Jazz Social. .35 master of ceremonies for the jazz portion. can learn more through their advertisement in Caught in the Act ..................36 this issue or on their website at Book Review: Dizzy Gillespie .........36 The music begins at noon with Swingadelic, a www.morristownjazzandblues.com. Book Review: Cy Coleman ...........38 small big band led by Dave Post. Swingadelic has Book Review: Billie Holiday ...........40 appeared at Jazzfest over the years and they are a n If you are over in Jersey City on Wednesday, On The Road ......................42 terrific way to get the music started. At two pm, August 19, Winard Harper & Jeli Posse will be eVeNtS our good friend, legendary guitarist Bucky presented by the City of Jersey City and New ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean .........44 Jersey City University. Part of the new “Sounds of Institute of Jazz Studies .............45 Pizzarelli, takes over, joined by his friends and Somewhere There’s Music. 50 fellow guitarists Ed Laub, Frank Vignola and Summer Concerts,” the music begins at six in The Name Dropper .................51 Vinny Raniolo. They’ve been part of this festival Lincoln Park. Flutist Andrea Brachfeld brings her AdVertISerS for several years now, and always bring a smile to exciting Latin jazz ensemble, La Charanga 76, to Jim Eigo ...........................4 everyone’s face. Following Bucky, another Jazz Washington Park on Wednesday, July 15, as part WBGO Photo Blog. 4 Society favorite, Bria Skonberg, makes her first of this series as well. There seems to be great Arbors Records .....................5 appearance at the Morristown festival. If you have music for free all over the state this summer, and WBGO ............................7 NJJS is proud to be associated with much of it. Shanghai Jazz ......................9 yet to hear this rising young trumpet and singing Ocean County College ..............11 star in person, you really don’t want to miss this n On June 28, Sandy Josephson, Mitchell Seidel, NJPAC ...........................13 opportunity. Bria will be coming to Morristown Tony Mottola and I attended a combination art Morristown Library .................15 Sandy Sasso ......................16 fresh from her debut the Newport Jazz Festival on show and concert at WBGO’s studios in Newark, State Theatre. 17 Rutherfurd Hall Jazz Picnic ...........19 Beacon Hill Musicians Guild ..........21 Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details. CTS Images .......................22 Patrice Jégou ......................23 NJJS Bulletin Board Barron Arts Center .................25 Montclair Jazz Festival ..............27 WPU Summer Jazz Room ............29 Member discount Claim your member privilege! Get free admission to NJJS socials, discounts Jazzology Records ..................33 to music events, discounts from partners! Swingadelic .......................34 Diane Perry .......................36 NJJS Members discounts Hibiscus Restaurant, Morristown and The Crossroads, Garwood LauRio ...........................37 offer NJJS members a discount of 10% off their check. The Berrie Center at Ramapo College offers NJJS Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival ......39 members 5% off event tickets. $5 ticket discount for monthly Salem Roadhouse Cafe jazz nights. 92nd St. Y Jazz in July ...............41 Jazzdagen ........................43 Free Jazz Socials…ongoing. Join us for music and mingling. Free for members, $10 non-members Marlene VerPlanck .................47 (applicable to membership) with just a $10 venue minimum. Watch calendar page 3 for upcoming dates Rosalind Grant .....................47 Cadence Magazine .................49 and details. Beyond the schmooze, there are some serious musical prizes raffled off at our socials!! Princeton Record Exchange ..........52 2 _________________________________ July/August 2015 New JerseyJazzSociety A guitarist who also plays brushes? Jazz great Bucky Pizzarelli exhibited some of his paintings at WBGO-FM in Newark. Photo by Mitchell Seidel Theater in Morristown on May 18 that featured Like this issue members of the Beacon Hill of Jersey Jazz? Musicians Guild, led by Have it delivered multi-reedman Marty Eigen, which featured the aforementioned Bucky along with pianist Rio Clemente and singer right to your mailbox Pizzarelli both as artist and musician. Also Carrie Jackson. Much of the program was 11 times a year. in attendance were former NJJS Board devoted to the music of Duke Ellington, member Stan Myers and adviser Don Jay with the remainder consisting of original Simply join NJJS to get Smith. Turns out that Bucky, in common compositions by Rio. The Musicians Guild your subscription. with Tony Bennett and other jazz figures, was founded by Marty and others with the See page 47 for details (including Miles Davis) has been painting objective of enhancing work opportunities for many years, strictly as an avocation (it for jazz musicians and otherwise assisting or visit www.njjs.org. was pointed out that unfortunately, his them with their careers. works are not for sale). Also on display were jazz collages by Evelyn Graves. During the n Finally, I am sad to report the death of event Bucky performed two sets, Ray Kennedy, who was an incredible pianist accompanied by Ed Laub and featuring who worked for a long time with John some of his signature pieces. This provided Pizzarelli. Several years ago, Ray stopped an opportunity for us to meet and speak performing with John, and it was learned with the station’s new president, Amy Niles, that he had multiple sclerosis, which New Jersey Jazz Society as well as with Dorthaan Kirk and other although it had been first diagnosed 20 years membership ago, up until the time he stopped working staffers about matters of interest to the makes a great gift! station and NJJS. We hope to continue a seemed to have no evident effect on his dialogue with the folks at WBGO going playing. Our deepest sympathies to his Plus, if you are already forward, as both organizations are dedicated family and friends. An obituary on Ray will a member, a gift membership to the preservation and promotion of jazz in run in the September issue of Jersey Jazz. costs just $25! New Jersey (and elsewhere). Have a great summer and we’ll see you in See page 47 for details! n Another outstanding event I attended September! Mark your calendars for the recently was a concert at the Bickford Princeton Jazzfeast on September 20! JJ Stay tuned to www.njjs.org for updates and details. August 15 September 18 September 20 September 27 MORRISTOWN JAZZ & CENTRAL JERSEY JAZZ FESIVAL JAZZFEAST NJJS JAZZ SOCIAL BLUES FESTIVAL Sarah Partridge Quartet, Mona’s Hot Alan Dale New Legacy Jazz Band, Bassist Harvie S and guitarist Swingadelic, Bucky Pizzarelli Guitar Four, Chuck Lambert Blues Band, Bria Ken Peplowski Quintet w/Harry Allen, Sheryl Bailey perform music Summit, Bria Skonberg, Roomful of Skonberg Quintet; gourmet food stands Willie Martinez La Familia Sextet from their CD Plucky Strum Blues, Charlie Musselwhite Band and trucks w/Warren Vaché, Marlene VerPlanck FREE admission NJJS members, On the Green, Morristown Historic Courthouse, Flemington Quintet w/Houston Person, Dennis $10 all others, $10 minimum Noon – 10 PM | Rain or Shine | FREE 6 – 10 PM | Rain or Shine | FREE Lichtman’s Brain Cloud w/Tamar Korn Shanghai Jazz | Madison www.morristownjazzandblues.com www.downtownflemington.com Palmer Square, Princeton 3 – 5:30 PM | www.njjs.org Noon – 6 PM | Rain or Shine | FREE NJJS Calendar www.palmersquare.com July/August 2015 __________________________________ 3 New JerseyJazzSociety Jazz trivia IN THE MAILBAG By O. Howie Ponder thANKS For the ArtIcLe oN our JohNNy Mercer (answers on page 45) PROGRAM in June’s issue of Jersey Jazz. [“Rutherfurd Hall Mercer Tribute Accentuates the Positive,” page 29, June issue] I must give credit where it is due.