Volume 37 • Issue 8 September 2009 Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz. At Home with the Field trip to Queens Armstrongs with jazz station WBGO Saturday 9 AM meeting time Adid not deter jazz lovers who met in front of jazz radio station WBGO’s Newark studios on July 25, to board a chartered bus bound for the Queens, NY home of Louis and Lucille Armstrong. WBGO staffers Gary Walker, Dorthaan Kirk, David Rosenak, Bill O’Donnell, and Grey Johnson, many familiar voices, welcomed a large group of Jersey listeners who instantly felt like friends. Walker quizzed us to see how many had ever before visited the house, now a museum and archive of Armstrong’s legacy. Seems as though we’d all been waiting for someone to take us by the hand. Making a stop in Manhattan to pick up more WBGO members, the bus filled to capacity. This was the first such trip sponsored by the station; it sold out quickly, and will likely be repeated to accommodate many who had to be turned away. Louis Armstrong with wife Lucille in the den of their Queens home, date and photographer unknown. Photo courtesy Also on board was Armstrong of Louis Armstrong House and Museum. Below: the front door at 34-56 107th Street, Queens, NY. Photo by Tony Mottola. House Museum Director Michael Cogswell, who used our travel time middle class lifestyle in Queens, to impart lots of good information. with a house and a backyard, even a pool. Once through the Queens Midtown Tunnel, we were soon traveling Louis Armstrong met his fourth along Northern Boulevard in wife, Lucille, in 1938 while Queens. I’d already known that this performing at the Cotton Club, borough is the most ethnically where she was a dancer. Lucille’s diverse place in the nation; news to family wasn’t happy with the me is that it’s been home to more romance; he was still married to his jazz musicians than anyplace on third wife when they met. But in earth: naming the Adderleys, Jimmy 1942 Louis obtained a divorce, and Heath (still living there), Count he and Lucille married at the home Basie — Cogswell explained it was of Velma Middleton, Louis’s band possible for a musician to have a singer. By Linda Lobdell Co-Editor Jersey Jazz continued on page 30 New JerseyJazzSociety in this issue: John Pizzarelli Jr. performs at Birdland. June 30, 2009. NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETY Photo by Mitchell Seidel. Pres Sez/Bulletin Board . 2 NJJS Calendar . 3 The Mail Bag . 5 Jazz Trivia . 5 Editor’s Pick/Deadlines/NJJS Info. 6 Music Committee . 8 Prez Sez Contest Winners . 52 Board Nominations . 52 By Andrea Tyson President, NJJS Crow’s Nest . 53 New Members . 54 he New Jersey Jazz Society uses the summer to highlight for me. They closed with “At The Jazz Band Change of Address/Support NJJS/ Volunteer/JOIN NJJS. 55 plan for our next year. We have been hard at work Ball” and “Moon River” and we all went home tingling to organize our committees to bring you a fine with the memories! ARTICLES T Classic Stine . 9 2009–2010 season of events, as I am sure you will read ■ We were also thrilled to be at the PIZZArelli Party at Big Band in the Sky . 10 in this issue. Please join us at the many events that are Birdland. Mat and Rachel Domber from Arbors Dan’s Den: JJA/ASCAP Awards . 12 scheduled. But, during all the work, I managed to have Records were gracious hosts — we thank them for their Frank Vignola Trio. 15 some fun, too. We all need balance in our lives, right? Noteworthy . 16 hospitality. Mitchell Seidel captured photos. For this Talking Jazz: Arturo O’Farrill. 18 So here is a sampling of where I’ve been hanging out. event, John Pizzarelli assembled his band mates to play Student of Distinction: ■ some tasty treats from their new Arbors CD PIZZArelli Jessie Smith Edwards. 28 We ventured into Manhattan several times over the summer. One tasty treat was a trip to the Algonquin’s Party with the Arbors All Stars (Arbors 19391): his dad REVIEWS Bucky, his brother Martin on bass, his wife Jessica Local Scene: B.Pizzarelli/E. Laub/ Oak Room for a superb concert by Daryl Sherman. The B. Himmelberger/R. Crane/ physical configuration of the cozy, rectangular room Molaskey on vocals, and some non-family members: R. Malone . 34 lends itself to an intimate relationship between the the super talented Harry Allen on tenor sax, Aaron Compact Views . 36 performers and audience. Daryl shared the attention Weinstein on violin, Larry Fuller on piano, and Tony Other Views. 36 with James Chirillo on guitar and Boots Maleson on Tedesco on piano. Becky Kilgore joined Jessica and Book: Dizzy Gillespie . 42 John on stage for several vocals. What an assemblage! Newark Museum Jazz in the Garden . 44 bass. Guesting with them was the very talented Wycliffe Freihofer’s/Rochester Festivals . 48 Gordon and his trombone. Wycliffe recently received as Tedesco was blazin’ on “Lady Be Good.” I very much Caught in the Act: a birthday gift the trombone hat mute of trombonist/ enjoyed John’s form of scat vocals when he accom- S.Saloff/L.York/Tormé Tribute. 50 bandleader Sammy Sherman — Daryl’s dad. I panied his own guitar playing. I also loved his on-stage EVENTS thoroughly enjoyed the evening and thank Daryl for kidding with his family…introducing Jessica to his ’Round Jersey: Morris, Ocean . 56 her graciousness. Her rendering of standards is unique father saying “You remember her, Dad, you met her at Institute of Jazz Studies/ the reception!” John also swirled to hide his guitar Jazz from Archives . 57 and pleasurable…always engaging the audience with Somewhere There’s Music . 58 the lyrics. She tipped her hat, of course, to one of her fingering from his father as if his father was cheating off The Name Dropper . 59 favorites, Johnny Mercer, with “Day In, Day Out” and him while taking a test in school. He had the audience laughing many times. After all, it was a party. What joy ADVERTISERS continuing with “Tangerine,”“P.S. I Love You,”“Jeepers State Theatre . 4 Creepers.”When all players were not engaged, there it must give Bucky to be on stage with his sons and Shanghai Jazz . 7 were duets, and fine instrumentals, and all made up a Jessica. Bucky is good-natured about all the ribbing Judith Kramer . 9 terrific show. Daryl didn’t sit and play piano; she got up from his son, maybe because he’s so talented himself WBGO . 11 and walked around and sang directly to some birthday he’s not at all threatened by this! But the love and Rio Clemente DSRTF Benefit . 13 celebrants the evening we were there. Her duet with respect comes through it all. John had a request for Terry A Big Band Sound . 15 Wycliffe on trombone and vocals on “The Bathtub Ran Mercer’s “Jamboree Jones” which he sang and played Jim Fryer & The Unusual Suspects . 15 Jazzdagen. 17 Over Again” gave insight into the reason she invited beautifully. We sat at the bar and the way the room is Newark Jazz Elders . 21 him to join her usual trio: he is terrific! And plays the set up, patrons can see and hear from all sections of the Hibiscus . 23 sweetest trombone. His solo on “Dream” was the room. So, even though we were on the side of the Arbors Records . 25 Skipper’s. 26 Axelrod PAC . 29 Billy VerPlanck Memorial Show . 33 NJJS Bulletin Board Arbors Records Party. 35 The Art Shop – Jazz on Vinyl . 36 BE A STAR for NJJS! We always need help with our efforts. Volunteering is fun and has its perks. See page 55. James P. Johnson Benefit. 37 Cape May Jazz Festival November . 38 FREE Jazz Socials Our season of Jazz Socials (formerly called Member Meetings) launches again September 13, Pio Costa/Circa 27 . 39 this time around at Shanghai Jazz. Ed Polcer brings an exciting slate of young, cutting-edge jazz musicians. These Socials Margie Notte at Libretti’s. 40 offer a great opportunity to meet other jazz lovers, while being entertained and informed. Free for members, but open to Robt. Ross Band Bridgewater . 41 the public, so invite somebody! We often have great items to raffle at these meetings — tickets to shows, concerts from Shelly Productions . 43 our partner organizations. Watch for details at www.njjs.org or via E-mail. Jazzfest at Sea . 47 CTS Images. 51 FREE Film Series Next Film: Wednesday September 23 in Chatham. Details on page 8 and watch for E-blasts. 7th Wave Recording. 52 PA Jazz Society. 53 Got E-mail? Friends got E-mail? Get on board for raffles, freebies, discounts! Jim Eigo Jazz Promo. 53 Some special offers for NJJS members are late-breaking — so please send your E-mail address to [email protected]. WBGO PhotoBlog . 60 For example, some of our partners have recently made discounts and free tickets available to us. We are only able to pass Weichert Realtors. 60 those deals on via our E-mail list. 2 _________________________________ September 2009 New JerseyJazzSociety NJJS Record Bin Tell them you saw Featured $10 titles: Bob Barnard/John Sheridan — Thanks A Million (Sackville/SKCD2-3067) it in Jersey Jazz! Ted Shafer-Jelly Roll J.B. — Toe Tapping Dixieland Jazz (Merry Makers/MMRC-CD-14) Complete list at www.njjs.org, or write J. Sinkway, 43 Windham Place, Glen Rock, NJ 07452.