Page 18 Thursday, July 11, 2002 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION WWestfieldestfield Native’sNative’s BookBook ConnectsConnects ArtsArts && EntertainmentEntertainment ReaderReader WWitithh LifeLife ofof MusicMusic LegendLegend By MARYLOU MORANO pages we get to glimpse an intriguing Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times man with a fascinating life. We become OneOne PatPathh LeadsLeads OutOut ofof WWestfield,estfield, WESTFIELD — Westfield native acquainted with Robinson from before Florence Wetzel has co-authored “Perry his birth to his present life in Jersey Robinson: The Traveler,” the autobiog- City. raphy of internationally acclaimed jazz The timeline of Robinson’s life — ButBut AllAll RoadsRoads PointPoint to Coventry clarinetist, Perry Robinson. from the 60s free jazz movement to the Wetzel grew up in Westfield and 70s loft scene to the present where, at By IAN FEDERGREEN graduated Westfield High School in age 63 he is still a vital part of the jazz Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times 1980. Currently living in Hoboken, she world — is interestingly presented. WESTFIELD — When he com- is the author of various works of fic- By the end of the book, the reader posed the stirring anthem, “The Goat tion, non-fiction and poetry. has come to a satisfying understanding Dance,” as part of a lesson in harmonic Not only for music lovers or jazz of why Robinson is considered by many minor scales for Raymond Wojcik’s fans, “Perry Robinson: The Traveler” to be the greatest living jazz clarinetist. Westfield High School (WHS) music is the story of the jazz legend’s journey In an interesting twist to the genre of theory class, few knew where this tal- into the worlds of music, mysticism autobiography, the book is liberally ent would lead. and magic. sprinkled with vignettes by and about Now, in a town that has produced its The son of Earl Robinson, a black- Dave Brubeck, Woody Guthrie, Perry’s fair share of cartoonists and Broadway listed composer known for his labor father, Earl, Bob Dylan and Muhammad performers, 23-year-old Len Fliegel song “Joe Hill” sung by Joan Baez at Ali. may be poised to provide our most Woodstock and the Frank Sinatra fa- The reader gets the chance to see elusive credit yet — music superstar. vorite “The House I Live In,” Perry Robinson in “freeze frame” format “It’s a constant reward, playing shows spent part of his childhood in Holly- — at a memorial gig with Pete Seeger and having people appreciate what we wood, moving easily in a world of “Perry Robinson: The Traveler is an in the mid-1990s, at the Freiburg love to do,” Fliegel said of his band, movies and actors. Alan Arkin, the easy read with free-flowing chapters Music Festival in Germany in 2001, Coventry Road. The group, whose style Oscar nominated actor is Robinson’s that alternate Robinson’s narration with on tour in 1984 with Ginger Baker, has been compared to The Dave cousin. the stories of others. In the book’s Continued on Page 17 Matthew’s Band and The Counting Photo Courtesy of Ab Sessay GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD... “Coventry Road” includes, left to right, Ed Kamenitzer, Mike Possumato, Len Fliegel, Virginia Kamenitzer and Oliver KKeepingeeping UpUp tthehe PacePace inin ScotchScotch PlainsPlains WhileWhile Baptiste. Crows, will play Down Time in New Having selected the guitar as “the instru- York at 251 West 30th Street, between ment of choice for rock n’ roll,” Fliegel soon Seventh and Eighth Avenue, tomorrow joined up with drummer Mike Possumato at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10. They’ve also to form the heavy metal band, Decoy in the MusicMusic IsIs PrPresentedesented AlAl FrFrescoesco onon ParkPark AAve.ve. played clubs throughout New York and summer before entering his sophomore New Jersey including The Junkyard in year at WHS. By JOSH HAMERMAN and North Plainfield resident John Although they are comfortable in guitar when not playing with Front Rochelle Park and The Vagot Inn in Though Mike said the band was Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times LaGreca. Front Porch Swing was sup- many genres, the performers’ major Porch Swing. New York City. “pretty much loud,” as opposed to SCOTCH PLAINS — If you ask posed to open the series on May 18, but concern is bringing joy to its audi- “I’ve always loved playing music As the band’s popularity slowly in- musical, it lasted about two years. Greg Natic, who owns the Scotch Plains Mother Nature forced the concert’s can- ences. since I was a little kid, whether I was creases, they’re set to record their first Ten months ago, Possumato set up a Music Center, local residents are in for cellation. “I love to see people have fun and alone or with other people,” LaGreca CD on July 15. jam session with fellow William some top-notch mini-concerts this sum- However, when another local group, smile while listening to music,” Pace said. “There was never a defining mo- Fliegel, on electric guitar, discov- Patterson College graduates Virginia mer during the fourth annual Music on Xavier, had to cancel its June 29 per- said. ment when I decided that this was what ered his passion for music at 17. Kamenitzer (vocals) and her brother Park Avenue Series. formance, Pace and LaGreca eagerly Music has been a part of Pace and I wanted to do. I always knew I was “All of a sudden it really struck me Ed (acoustic guitar). He invited Fliegel “All of the groups that play here are stepped in as a replacement. LaGreca’s lives for as long as they can going to be a musician.” powerfully, and I thought, ‘I’ve gotta to join them, citing Len’s talent and remember. LaGreca has played many Pace, who graduated from Union play some type of instrument,’” he ability to improvise musically. (He styles of guitar for a variety of bands, Catholic High School in Scotch Plains said. He compares music to art, in that can stretch a 30 second solo into five and has nearly 30 years of professional in 1989, taught himself to play the a piece “can sometimes just catch you minutes if the crowd is into it, Mike experience to his name. He performed guitar and put together his first band as and you can connect with it in a way says). He also invited former bandmate with his first band at age 14, and teaches a teenager. After college, he spent sev- Continued on Page 17 you can’t explain.” Oliver Baptiste (bass), and thus Cov- entry Road (named for the street where the Kamenitzers grew up) was born. The brother-sister duo wrote many of the songs the band plays now at a NeNeww YYorkork CityCity WWelcomeselcomes GoldenGolden young age. “I got a guitar for my 12th birthday, and three hours after that I never got to play with it again because Eddie took ReturnReturn ofof AActrctressess RueRue McClanahanMcClanahan it,” Virginia laughed. “I had all this poetry lying around the house, and he By JOSH HAMERMAN Later this year, McClanahan can be finally learned how to play more than Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times seen as Queen Carlotta in the ABC one chord.” NEW YORK — Ever since Rue Christmas movie Mr. St. Nick. And so he began setting her poetry to McClanahan was in kindergarten, she She took time out from her schedule music. knew she wanted to be an actress. After to speak with The Westfield Leader and Continued on Page 17 graduating from the University of Tulsa, The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood the Oklahoma native and former dancer about, among other things, her upcom- Photo Courtesy of John DiPace from www.frontporchswing.com relocated to New York City to pursue ing projects, her personal causes, and TAKE THE CITY BY STORM...John LaGreca, left, and Michael Pace have why she loves New York City. performed at Kenny’s Castaway’s in New York City. The duo played at the her dream. Scotch Plains Music Center on Park Avenue in Scotch Plains on June 29. Pace Since then, McClanahan has * * * * * resides in Scotch Plains, while LaGreca calls Plainfield home. achieved tremendous success in the Q: Tell us about Mr. St. Nick. entertainment industry. A: It’s a movie that is being pro- very professional, and they all gener- The duo met by chance in 1994 when In 1972, after appearing in many duced by ABC in conjunction with ously volunteer their time for the town,” they were both exercising at the YMCA. plays, as well as several independent Hallmark Entertainment. It’s being Get Outta he said. films and soap operas, veteran TV pro- filmed in Vancouver, and it also stars “I was putting together a band and I Rue McClanahan chats with Josh Organized by the Scotch Plains needed someone who could play the ducer Norman Lear cast McClanahan Charles Durning and Kelsey Grammer. as Vivian Harmon, Bea Arthur’s eccen- Hamerman of The Westfield Leader/ I play Mrs. Santa Claus. Her name is Music Center and the Scotch Plains guitar really well,” Pace recalled. “I The Times. The House Business & Professional Association, told someone I was working out with tric neighbor, in the popular CBS sitcom Queen Carlotta, and she lives in a pal- “Maude.” ace at the North Pole. I hope I get to By CAROL F. DAVIS the series consists of free two-hour that I was looking for a guitar player, Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times In 1985, McClanahan achieved her where she resides with her husband, wear beautiful robes and gowns be- concerts on Saturdays in front of the and he took me over to where John was Morrow Wilson.