Photo by T om Ineck DelRay Ballroom could Richard Sullivan in DelRay be Lincoln music stop ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ By Tom Ineck ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Fall 2003 In Lincoln’s venue-starved en- sound engineer, deejay and resident Vol. 8, Number 3 vironment, it is especially exciting music expert. to witness the emergence of the In a recent interview, Sullivan classy DelRay Ballroom as a pos- and Galloway spoke enthusiastically sible site for local, regional and even about the DelRay’s potential as a national music acts. live music venue. In this issue of Jazz.... Located at 817 R St. in the his- Best known to Lincolnites as a Prez Sez.......................................2 toric Haymarket District of down- longtime musician and songwriter, town Lincoln, the DelRay has of- Sullivan speaks with authority and Chicago Trip................................7 fered occasional live music for more personal knowledge of the business Kansas City Trip.........................10 than two years, but only recently of making (and selling) music to the Marillac Jazz Benefit...............12 was the former storefront coffee public. From the mid-1970s to the Latin Dance Review......................15 house transformed into a swank jazz mid-‘90s, he was active in local Liz Jeans & Rite of Danse.........16 bands that included the South Street lounge with full bar service and ap- Interstring Review......................17 propriately hip décor, including ab- Shakers, Pinky Black and the stract paintings by Lincoln artist Excessives, The Gears and Blonde Lincoln Center Orchestra Review...18 Bob Hall. Waltz. Kevin Mahogany/NJO Review...19 The dreams and aspirations of Raised on Elvis, Little Richard, Valerie Capers Review..............20 the DelRay owners and managers go Chuck Berry, The Beatles and The Tropique Review.....................22 well beyond even these improve- Rolling Stones, he describes himself Greg Abate Quartet Review.....23 ments. as “an old rock ‘n’ roller,” but he’s Further back in the huge former also dabbled in the blues and coun- Darryl White Sextet Review.....24 warehouse are a dance studio and a try music. Don Stiernberg Quartet Review.....25 full-sized ballroom. A pastry and Sullivan’s still writing songs Jazz on Disc.............................26 catering service add to the eclectic for some future recording, but lately Discorama...........................28 mix. The team of business associ- he spends much of his time and en- Jimmy Knepper Memorial.........30 ergy at the DelRay Ballroom and ates includes Shelley Brackhan, Don Lanphere Memorial........31 owner and instructor of the Dance dance studio, where he is sound en- Directive studio; Michael Galloway, gineer, deejay and music archivist Letters to the Editor..............31 the operator and manager of the front area; and Richard Sullivan, DelRay continued on page 6 Page 2 Berman Music Foundation Jazz ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Prez Sez Happy man celebrates marriage, gains family ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ By Butch Berman ○○○○ My dear readers, Photo by Rich Hoover Of all the “Prez Sez” letters I’ve written to you within the last eight-plus years, this is the first comin’ at ya from a truly happy man. As stated in our last publication, yes, I did get married on May 30 to the most beautiful, wonder- ful woman I’ve ever known. I’m speak- ing, of course, of my lovely, newly wed bride, Grace Gandu. After being single for more than 20 years, we tied the knot at Grace’s house with as many of our loved ones, family and friends as we could muster on that hot, blustery afternoon. Besides Butch Berman and Grace Sankey Berman the abundance of love between us, the real main event of the whole affair was My dear friend and head legal con- time best pal Wade Wright did himself reuniting Grace many members of her sultant from the Cline Williams law proud as my best man. family from Nigeria. Considering the firm, Dan Stogsdill (a lay minister to Lincoln’s finest jazz duo, John difficulty of such a task (we’re talkin’ boot) married us in a very jazzy cer- Carlini on piano and saxophonist Bill eight brothers and sisters, assorted emony, with even a jazzier reception to Wimmer provided the non-recorded nieces, nephews and cousins) with the follow. Jimmy Akpan, who introduced music, and a beautiful recorded piece world in such a mess these troubled me to Grace, and my legal right-hand sung by Grace’s youngest sister, times, we had our doubts. Still, her sis- man and great confidant Tony Rager Kaniyang, was brought from Africa. ters Ruth and Lois, Lois’ young son, (also from Cline Williams) were After the ceremony, everyone attending Shayet, and brother, Simon, got visas groomsmen, and two BMF consultants munched hungrily at the great spread to make their long journey to the United were on hand—New York City Latin laid out at Grace’s by our dear mutual States. Happy happy joy joy big time, percussionist Norman Hedman stood up friend, Monica Schwarz. Now onward and HEY…I gained an incredible fam- for me, and San Francisco record store to the beautiful Hazel Abel Park, where ily, too. maven (Jack’s Record Cellar) and old our wedding fotogs Roger and Nikki Photo by Rich Hoover Photo Bauman snapped away, creating a mag- nificent collage of photos, ranging from the bride and groom getting ready to the ceremony itself and the reception. Nikki did a grand job all day just helping to direct traffic. The reception itself was a work of art, a totally jazzy affair at the lovely Fireman’s Hall with a handpicked band of dear friends, all from KC except Norman Hedman. Dig this…Ahmad Alaadeen, Gerald Spaits, Russ Long, Stan Kessler, Joe Cartwright, Ray Simon Sankey and Butch Berman DeMarchi and Norman. Swinging, Fall 2003 Page 3 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Photo by Rich Hoover out Nebraska’s former First Lady and current scribe Ruth Thone’s heart- rending story on us in the Neighbor- hood Extra section of the Lincoln Journal Star dated Aug. 24. Truly poignant. We got married on a Friday, and we started up with this year’s Jazz in Jazz is published online at: www.bermanmusicfoundation.org June series the following Tuesday. No The office of The Berman Mu- rest for the wicked, but remember jazz sic Foundation is at 719 P St., will always follow love. Even though Studio G, Lincoln, NE 68508. Tom Ineck has covered the whole fes- tival in this edition of Jazz, please let Editor and Designer: Tom Ineck me ruminate on the proceedings for awhile. Contributing writerswriters: Butch The BMF has been getting more Berman, Tom Ineck and Bill involved with Jazz in June since we Wimmer Ruth and Lois Sankey showcased the wunderkind Russian with Grace and Shayet Photographers: Butch piano marvel Eldar Djangirov and his Berman, Grace Sankey man, swinging! My good buddy, and trio (bassist Gerald Spaits and drum- Berman, Cory Biggerstaff, numero uno wine guy, Kevin Meier, mer Todd Strait) three summers ago. Gayle Ebel, Rich Hoover and turned us on to the best caterer we’ve We’ve been involved with the present- Tom Ineck ever experienced. Many thanks to Kim ing and booking of the various jazz Morock and her husband, whose busi- For inclusion of any jazz or acts and other musical matters ever blues related events, letters to ness Tastefully Yours simply rocked. since. the editor or suggested Everyone’s girl Friday, Kay Davis This year my longtime friend and articles, either mail them to from Cline Williams coordinated it all, groomsman Norman Hedman brought the office, phone (402) 476- making our wedding a splendid, heart- his fabulous Latin group Tropique to 3112, fax (402) 475-3136 or e- warming experience for Grace and me, mail Lincoln to kick off the season. Norman [email protected]. her family and the 350 guests who gave the throng of jazz fanatics a pre- showed up from all over the world and view of his upcoming CD “Because I Our website address is: coast to coast. Can” that the BMF is helping to pro- www.bermanmusicfoundation.org We feel very fortunate to have duce. One of the Hedman tunes, “An- such great friends. Help us relive some If you want to be added to gel of the Night,” was inspired by the our mailing list, call (402) 476- of these memories with our photo gal- romance that Grace and I ignited 3112, fax (402) 475-3136, or lery included in this issue. Also check e-mail Continued on page 4 [email protected]. Photo by Rich Hoover The Butch Berman Charitable Music Founda- tion is a non-profit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) private foundation recognized by the Internal Rev- enue Service and the Nebraska Department of Revenue. It was established in the spring of 1995 to protect and promote unique forms of jazz music. Trustee: Butch Berman Consultants: Dan Demuth, Norman Hedman, Steve Irwin, Gerald Spaits and Wade Emissary for Ephraim Sambo family of Nigeria, Wade Wright, Butch Berman, Wright Dan Demuth, Tony Rager, Patti Demuth, Norman Hedman and Jimmy Akpan. Page 4 Berman Music Foundation Jazz ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Continued from page 3 Photo by Gayle Ebel nearly two years ago while Norman was in town. Sung on the CD by James “D-Train” Williams, who was unable to appear, Sting’s backup vocalist Ada Dyer tore the place up with her rendi- tion. Grace’s sister Ruth Sankey, who operates an African dance studio for children called Space 2000 in Nige- ria, performed a traditional native dance behind Tropique’s infectious rhythms. In all, it was a grand night to behold. The second week’s performance was the return of saxophone wizard Greg Abate and his multi-talented Grace and Butch with Jim Russell of Holdrege, Grace’s surragate father quartet.