Volume 39 • Issue 5 May 2011 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Ellington Legacy Band Headlines Jazzfest at New Venue College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown Saturday, June 11 Lineup and details, see page 26. 2011 New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY Prez Sez . 2 Bulletin Board . 2 Jazz Trivia . 3 NJJS Calendar . 3 The Mail Bag . 4 Prez Sez Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info . 6 Crow’s Nest . 24 By Laura Hull President, NJJS New/Renewed Members . 47 Change of Address/Support on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth NJJS/Volunteer/JOIN NJJS . 47 Up jumps Jazzfest! in Morristown, NJ. The format will be slightly STORIES ■ Before I move into Jazzfest country, I’d like to different from last year in that we will not present Big Band in the Sky. 8 thank everyone for coming out to the April Jazz an outdoor concert mainstage, however, we will Jimmy Heath Book Signing Bethany. 14 Social. We featured pianist-educator Dave Frank, offer outdoor activities including vendors, food Talking Jazz: Hod O’Brien . 16 Attilio’s Jazz Nights: M. Freeman . 25 who presented a master class format to a room court and dining, and live music. We will present Notes from a Jazz Volunteer . 25 filled with members and non-members alike. in two indoor venues: Dolan Hall in the brand Noteworthy . 29 What an afternoon that was! I felt like signing up new Annunciation Center, and in the Octagon Jazz Journeys . 30 for classes, it was so interesting. You can see all of Theatre located in an adjacent building. Our REVIEWS Dave’s master classes at YouTube.com, and he has stellar lineup of artists for the afternoon includes College Jazz. 31 quite a number of them. The Jazz Lobsters, Ken Peplowski Quartet, Jay Highlights in Jazz Salute Derek Smith . 32 ■ The May Jazz Film series will present “Johnny Leonhart Trio featuring Joe Cohn and Harry Bird with Strings . 33 Allen, Winard Harper Sextet featuring Philip Portland Jazz Festival . 34 Mercer — The Dream’s on Me,” a documentary Dave Frank with Dick Hyman . 36 that traces the life of the great lyricist through Harper: A Harper Brothers Reunion, and more to Other Views . 37 commentary, film footage and interviews. The be confirmed. In the evening hours, we will Caught in the Act: date is May 18, the third Wednesday of the present rising star vocalist-guitarist Allan Harris J. Sheehan/J.Molaskey/D.Frishberg. 40 month, and not the usual fourth Wednesday. Joe and his group, and closing out the event is the Akiyoshi at Carnegie Hall . 42 outstanding Ellington Legacy Band led by Antoinette Montague . 43 Lang hosts and leads a discussion immediately Book: Brian Torff autobiography . 44 following the film. The film series takes place at saxophonist-composer-arranger Virginia March Jazz Social: Solomon Hicks . 46 Library of the Chathams in Chatham beginning Mayhew with master pianist-arranger Norman PM EVENTS at 7 . Simmons and featuring Edward Kennedy ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean . 48 ■ The next Jazz Social is scheduled for May 22 Ellington II, guitarist and grandson of the late Institute of Jazz Studies/ and will feature New Jersey jazz vocalist Sue Giles great Duke. What a fest this is going to be! Jazz from Archives . 49 Somewhere There’s Music . 50 presenting her tribute to the music of Ella Tickets are available at www.njjs.org and pricing is The Name Dropper . 51 Fitzgerald with discussion of a musical she is as follows: Tickets are $45.00/$55.00 in advance writing that is currently in the works. Sue hails ADVERTISERS and $60.00/$70.00 at the gate for members and Marlene VerPlanck . 4 from the Princeton area and we’re excited to have non-members respectively; students are $10.00 NJJS Jazzfest June 11 . 5 her join us at the Social. with ID. The College of Saint Elizabeth is located WBGO . 7 ■ At long last…Jazzfest! I am thrilled to at 2 Convent Road (on Route 124/Madison Shanghai Jazz . 9 Jazzdagen . 11 announce that the 36th annual Jazzfest will take Avenue) just a couple of miles east of Route 287 M.Taylor/T.Doyle/J.Topinka @ Chico’s. 13 place on Saturday, June 11 from 12:00 – 9:00 PM in Morristown, New Jersey. Great Connecticut Trad Jazz Fest . 14 Jazzfest at Sea . 15 Hibiscus. 17 Arbors Records . 19 Stay tuned to www.njjs.org Spirit Cruises. 21 Shelly Productions . 24 NJJS Bulletin Board for updates and details. Hot Steamed Jazz Festival . 24 Riverboat Swing . 30 Member Discount Claim your member privilege! Get discounted admission to CTS Images . 30 NJJS Jazzfest June 11. See ad page 5; see detailed preview page 1 and pages 26–28. Jim Eigo Jazz Promo . 36 LauRio Jazz . 38 Hibiscus Dining Discount Hibiscus offers NJJS members a discount of 10% off their check. John Nobile SummerSwing Orchestra . 39 See their ad page 17. Jane Stuart . 41 FREE Film Series…Some Wednesday nights at 7 PM at Library of the Chathams. Lisa Hearns . 42 See calendar next page for details. Best of all? Free, free, free…invite your friends. Skipper’s . 44 WBGO PhotoBlog . 45 FREE Jazz Socials…Join us for music and mingling. Free for members, $10 for non-members (applicable Princeton Record Exchange . 52 to membership) with just a $10 venue minimum. Watch calendar page 3 in coming issues for upcoming dates and details. Beyond the schmooze, there are some serious musical prizes raffled off at our socials!! 2 ___________________________________ May 2011 New JerseyJazzSociety Ms. Antoinette Montague literally wowed the crowd at the Community Theatre March 27. The concert was co-produced by NJJS. For the story and more photos see page 43. Photo by Tony Graves. WWW.NJJS.ORG: Learn more about all NJJS events at the NJJS Website. And please be Jazz Trivia By O. Howie Ponder II sure we have your E-mail address. Maybe you’ve just added E-mail, or changed your SONG address recently. Whatever the case, drop us a line to be sure we have yours. You’ll want to NICKNAMES stay tuned to our monthly eBlasts for more Most traditional jazz tunes have information about NJJS events, and other jazz venues, raffle opportunities, and more. Send it been around so long and played so often that some musicians to me — [email protected] — and I’ll make Nicknames sure it gets into our database. have given them nicknames, A. “George O’Brien” based on either corrupting the I look forward to seeing you soon. B. “Oh, Mahoney” title, lyrics or onomatopoeia; the And, whenever you go to hear music C. “Mousetrap Strangle” sound they make. The late Pee tell them you saw D. “Savory Blues” it in Jersey Jazz! Wee Erwin was fond of giving E. “Rum Dum" songs nicknames and the F. “Mahoney’s Eleven Arms” WELCOME RECENT/NEW ADVERTISERS! following might represent a set, G. “Soused Rumpot St.” NJJS is proud to welcome Jane Stuart, or two, in his band. H. “Royal Garbage” Spirit Cruises, Great Connecticut Traditional I. “Riverboat Scuffle” Jazz Festival, Hot Steamed Jazz Festival, See if you can guess J. “The Bear Missed the Train” Jerry Topinka, John Nobile Summerswing the real song titles. Orchestra and Lisa Hearns as recent/new K. “Jasmine Blues” advertisers. Please see their ads in this and (answers on page 45) L. “Hand-hand, Foot-foot.” other issues. Advertisers help to support our work and mission while keeping their names in the minds of our readers. Howie also welcomes suggestions for future questions — Please support them as well! JJ or comments from readers. Contact him at [email protected]. Wednesday April 27 Wednesday Saturday Wednesday Sept 21 FREE FILM May 18 June 11 FREE FILM Stan Kenton: FREE FILM JAZZFEST TBA Artistry in Rhythm Johnny Mercer: 12 – 9 pm Library of the Chathams Library of the Chathams The Dream’s On Me College of St. Elizabeth 214 Main Street 214 Main Street Library of the Chathams 2 Convent Road Chatham 7 PM Chatham 7 PM 214 Main Street Morristown Wednesday Oct 26 Chatham 7 PM see ad page 5 story begins page 1 and FREE FILM continues on 26–28 TBA Library of the Chathams 214 Main Street NJJS Calendar Chatham 7 PM May 2011 ___________________________________ 3 New JerseyJazzSociety The Mail Bag AS A LONGTIME FRIEND OF On his second tour, Larry opened best track he ever cut was The recordings are real gems. THE LATE LARRY WEISS, I was the Birmingham International jazz “Carolina In The Morning” Just great stuff for the Jazz fan delighted to see such glowing Festival, playing the opening with Chuck Slate’s Band on the and the Jazz drummer (as am I). tributes to him in the last edition Breakfast Dance, sessions during Dee Bess label. Eric Kahler of Jersey Jazz, and from such the Festival and the closing set on Having just played this over, Blairstown, NJ highly-respected names. the final evening. He also appeared I would say that Larry was I would like to mention a few at The Canteen in London, playing also a pretty good judge! THE JERSEY JAZZ MAGAZINE things that have been overlooked with Digby Fairweather’s group. KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND Clarrie Henley BETTER. Each editor has improved and, indeed, may not be well Larry was one of the lesser-known Carnforth, England known in the States. American names to visit the U.K. it over the years and with Tony (There is a video on YouTube of but his reputation soon spread and Mottola and Linda Lobdell it has Besides appearing at the Manassas Larry Weiss and Vic Dickenson he was greatly appreciated developed by leaps and bounds.