Volume 40 • Issue 2 February 2012 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. Portrait of Pee Wee Russell, Dave Tough, and Max Kaminsky at Eddie Condon's, New York City c. 1946-48. Photo by William Gottlieb. Remembering PeeWee 43rd Annual Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp 2012 Pee Wee Set for March 4 Russell efore there was a New Jersey 1970 on the first anniversary of 43rd edition is set for March 4 Memorial B Jazz Society, there was the Russell’s death. Buoyed by the at The Birchwood Manor in Stomp Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp. enormous success of that event, Whippany, when five bands will SUNDAY, That first Stomp, organized by and a follow-up in 1971, Stine swing out with five hours of hot MARCH 4 Society co-founder Jack Stine, an and group of jazz fans formed jazz — to the delight of dancers Birchwood admirer and friend of the great the New Jersey Jazz Society in and listeners alike. Complete Manor clarinetist, was presented at the 1972. The annual Stomps have details inside. TICKETS ON SALE NOW. Martinsville Inn on February 15, continued ever since and the see ad Story and photos on page 28. page 7 New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY Prez Sez . 2 Bulletin Board . 2 NJJS Calendar . 3 Pee Wee Dance Lessons. 4 Mail Bag. 4 Jazz Trivia . 4 Prez Sez Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info . 6 Crow’s Nest . 50 By Frank Mulvaney President, NJJS New/Renewed Members . 51 Change of Address/Support have come to believe that serious jazz fans as large as serious classical music. The irony of NJJS/Volunteer/JOIN NJJS . 51 I have a gift that enables them to appreciate the situation is that there are more young people STORIES Pee Wee Preview . cover rhythmically and harmonically complex music, studying and playing jazz than ever before in Big Band in the Sky. 8 great musicianship and above all the creativity of our colleges and high schools. Forty years ago Norman Granz Scrapbook . 15 virtuosic improvisation. I call it “the ear.” I also Waxing Discographic . 16 there were only four colleges with jazz studies Talking Jazz: Erica Von Kleist . 20 believe that with the gift comes the obligation to programs and today there are 70 such programs. NJPAC’s John Schreiber . 24 preserve and promote the art form for posterity. It is thus not unreasonable to hope for a real Noteworthy . 26 Al Caiola Jazz Social . 27 That’s what the NJ Jazz Society does and I am resurgence of jazz sometime in the future. The Diane Perry Chocolate Valentine . 27 proud to be a part of the effort. phenomenal success of Esperanza Spalding may Crytzer Jazz/Dance Workshop . 27 Luna Stage: Dizzy . 30 As you may know jazz was America’s popular be a harbinger of great things to come. But be G. Gallante in Toms River . 30 music from the second decade of the 20th assured that the music of Duke Ellington will be Chiasson Salutes Shearing . 30 century through the mid-1950s, growing with heard in the future just as long as we have heard REVIEWS Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. Zoot Fest . 32 the popularity of radio and phonograph records. Other Views . 34 During those 50-odd years, jazz experienced ■ As I write this we are in the process of booking PS Classics Cast Albums . 36 an amazing evolution of the fusion of cultures Geri Allen at Bethany . 37 legendary guitarist Al Caiola for our February 19 College Jazz. 38 and new ideas resulting in greater sophistication Jazz Social (3:00 PM) at Shanghai Jazz in Helen Sung at Dizzy’s . 40 and a profusion of styles or sub-genres from Caught in the Act: Madison. Al has recorded 50 albums and has J. Herman Celebration/J. Graae. 41 traditional or Dixie to swing, bebop, Afro-Cuban, worked with the biggest names in show business Berrie Center: R. Sportiello & Friends. 43 Brazilian and later funk, fusion and modern including Sinatra and Tony Bennett. He’ll have Book: Bunny Berigan . 44 orchestral, exemplified by the wonderful Book: Clark Terry . 46 great stories to tell when he isn’t making music Follies Revival . 49 compositions of Maria Schneider. All the for us. We have some great program ideas for the subgenres co-exist today and each has its own EVENTS remainder of the year, which I’m sure you will ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean . 52 niche. When television came of age and teenagers enjoy. Note that we always have free raffle items Institute of Jazz Studies/ found new affluence, things changed and the Jazz from Archives . 53 at these meetings, sometimes as many as six pairs Somewhere There’s Music . 54 much simpler rock-and-roll musical form of concert tickets to give away. The Name Dropper . 55 became dominant. Also the visual aspect of ADVERTISERS musical entertainment gradually became almost ■ The Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp WBGO . 5 Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp . 7 as important as the audio nature. Thus, after two March 4 is going to be one of the best ever with Shanghai Jazz . 9 full rock-and-roll generations, interest in jazz has four exciting traditional jazz bands of top William Paterson University . 11 Berrie Center/Ramapo College. 13 greatly diminished and the market today is about professional musicians. We have not increased Arbors Records . 17 Hibiscus. 21 Full Count Big Band . 23 Jazzfest at Sea . 31 Stay tuned to www.njjs.org Riverboat Swing . 34 LauRio Jazz . 34 PA Jazz Society . 35 NJJS Bulletin Board John Nobile SummerSwing Orchestra . 36 WBGO PhotoBlog . 38 Diane Perry . 39 Member Discount Claim your member privilege! Get free admission Swingadelic. 40 to NJJS socials, discounts to music events, discounts from partners! Sandy Sasso . 41 Jim Eigo Jazz Promo . 43 NJJS Members Discounts Hibiscus offers NJJS members a discount of 10% off their check. Marlene VerPlanck . 43 See ad page 21 The Berrie Center at Ramapo College offers NJJS members 5% off event tickets. See ad page 13. Shelly Productions . 43 SOPAC . 45 FREE Film Series…Resumes this month. Some Wednesday nights at 7 PM at Library of the Chathams. The Theatre at RVCC. 47 See calendar page 3 for details. Best of all? Free, free, free…invite your friends. Arbors Harry Allen Monday Nights . 48 CTS Images . 50 FREE Jazz Socials…ongoing. Join us for music and mingling. Free for members, $10 non-members Princeton Record Exchange . 56 (applicable to membership) with just a $10 venue minimum. Watch calendar page 3 for upcoming dates and details. Beyond the schmooze, there are some serious musical prizes raffled off at our socials!! 2 _________________________________ February 2012 New JerseyJazzSociety Tell them you saw it in Jersey Jazz! advance sale ticket prices, which are $25 for would like to be more involved in helping includes multi Grammy-nominated and members and $30 for non-members. Tickets the Jazz Society carry out its mission as a three-times DownBeat #1 Jazz Trombonist purchased at the door still cost $10 more. board member, please let me or one of our Conrad Herwig and tenor sax monster (See our ad on page 7 for complete details). officers know. Every organization, in order Ralph Bowen. Tickets are only $10 and Seating is at banquet tables in the huge to remain vigorous, requires a steady there is plenty of convenient free parking. Grand Ballroom of the Whippany infusion of new blood. I was new blood five Birchwood Manor. Bring a bunch of friends years ago and now maybe it’s your turn. ■ There seem to be a number of new jazz venues around the Garden State. Current and reserve a table for 10–14. Food and ■ On February 28, The Rutgers University beverages are available at reasonable prices. Jazz Ensemble will present a musical tribute offerings are listed in The Star-Ledger Ticket I have never heard of a comparable jazz to Jazz Hall of Famer Charles Mingus. At on Fridays, and NJJazzlist.com has an event at that ticket price and can’t imagine this event, which will take place in the internet online listing of events for the a better way of spending a late winter beautiful Nicholas Music Center on the coming month or so — not to mention our Sunday afternoon. Douglass Campus of Rutgers in New own Somewhere There’s Music listings at ■ I am so pleased that an individual of the Brunswick, the Jazz Society will honor Sue the back of this magazine. Why not take a caliber of Frank Sole has joined the Jazz Mingus with a Lifetime Achievement Award chance and check out a place near you. Society Board of Directors. But because for her tireless work in keeping her departed Or you might just get in the car and drive three directors have stepped down from the husband’s legacy alive. Rutgers has, without 30 or 40 minutes to see someone you know board, we are down two in number. We doubt, one of the finest college jazz or have heard about. could add as many as eight more without ensembles in the country and the program exceeding the limit in our bylaws. If you will also feature the RU jazz faculty, which See you at The Stomp. JJ WELCOME RECENT/NEW ADVERTISERS! Jersey Jazz magazine seeks your help to cover jazz in Jersey NJJS is proud to welcome Diane Perry, Sandy Sasso, PA Jazz Society, as comprehensively as possible. Please help us expand our reach Raritan Valley Community College, Berrie Center, Jane Stuart, Holli to all corners of the musical Garden State.