Jazzfest facts, hot off the press. - New Jersey Jazz Society

JerseyArticlesJazzJazzfest in the Black Box TheatreBy Joe Lang NJJS Music Committee ChairJAZZFESTPREVIEWAmong the many reasons we opted to move to Drew University for the sanofi-aventis Jazzfest2007 was the superior indoor venues available on the Drew campus. Both indoor venueswe’ll be using, the Black Box Rehearsal Theatre and the Concert Hall, are in the Dorothy YoungCenter for the Arts, and are acoustically superior to those we used at our prior location.For this issue plus the next two issues of Jersey Jazz, I’ll present information about the groups that will beplaying at Jazzfest, concentrating on one of the three venues each month. For this month, let’s take a lookat the groups appearing in the Black Box.clockwise from far left:Sarah Partridge,Jay Leonhart Trio,Bob DoroughOn Saturday June 9, this stage will be home tothe NANCY NELSON TRIO and the BOBDOROUGH TRIO. SARAH PARTRIDGE AND HER TRIOalong with the JAY LEONHART TRIO will share theroom on Sunday June 10.■ Vocalist Nancy Nelson is a long-time favoriteof NJJS members, having first appeared at theinitial Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp in 1970when she was still a teenager. Contemporarieswith whom she worked included the Vachébrothers, Warren and Allan, Randy Reinhart andBobby Gordon. Early in her career, Nancy touredwith jazz legends like Bobby Hackett and TeddyWilson. Primarily working in New Jersey, Nancyhas performed in jazz, theater and classicalsettings. She also keeps busy as a piano teacher inBernardsville, where she resides with her husbandand daughter. Accompanying Nancy will bepianist Keith Ingham and bassist Boots Maleson.Keith has a long string of credits as a pianist,musical director and arranger. He is equally adeptas an accompanist and as a wonderfully creativejazz player. Among the vocalists who have enjoyedKeith’s empathetic support, in addition to Nancy,are Maxine Sullivan, Susannah McCorkle andJoyce Breach. He garnered Grammy nominationsfor his recorded work with Maxine Sullivan.Boots Maleson is one of the steadiest, swingingestand most creative bassists on the scene. He’sworked as a member of the Ron Carter Nonet,plays regularly with vocalists Daryl Sherman andRonny Whyte, among others, and has performedin the bands for several Broadway shows. Thisgroup is guaranteed to perform great songs withimmaculate taste, and a consistently freshapproach to their material.■ If one were to define the word hip, a damn finedefinition would be Bob Dorough. Now 83 yearsold, although you would never guess that to behis age upon meeting him, Bob has been a fixtureon the New York City area jazz scene since hearrived here from Arkansas in the late 1940s. Histalents are diverse. He is an excellent bebop-basedjazz pianist, a quirky, but effective vocalist, aterrific songwriter, and a man of great wit andwarmth. Despite his extensive jazz credentials, heis probably best known as the creator of the songsfor “Schoolhouse Rock,” many written with hislong time friend and collaborator Dave Frishberg.Their most famous song not written for the abovetelevision series is the aptly “I’m Hip,” a tongue incheek discourse on the ever too frequent pseudohipsterswho are infamous as hangers-on in jazzcircles. The other members of the Bob DoroughTrio are guitarist Steve Berger and bassist PatO’Leary, both long-standing members of thegroup, and each is a well-respected and busysideman. Any performance by the Bob DoroughTrio is guaranteed to showcase outstandingmusicianship, and a sense of whimsy that is partof the innate nature of these fine performers.■ Vocalist Sarah Partridge is making her secondappearance at Jazzfest. Sarah’s initial spot in thepublic spotlight arose from her appearance as anactress in the film “Risky Business” with TomCruise. Her path took a detour, however, whenshe got up and sang “Summertime” in a Karaokespot in Los Angeles, acting on a dare from herfriends. Her singing wowed a music booker inattendance, and she suddenly found herself takingon singing gigs. Soon the acting took a back seat,and singing became her primary performancevehicle. With the release of her third album, YouAre There: Songs for My Father (see “Other Views,”JJ, February 2007 for review), Sarah is firmlyensconced among the front rank of jazz vocalperformers. With a warm voice, a great feel forrhythm, and a charismatic presence, she wins newfans with each performance. At Jazzfest, Sarah willhave a sensational rhythm section with AllenFarnham on piano, Tim Horner on drums andBill Moring on bass. Allen is a first rate accompanist,having worked with vocalists like Mel Tormé,Mark Murphy and Susannah McCorkle. He is alsoan accomplished jazz pianist, and is married toanother jazz piano star, Tomoko Ohno. Tim andBill are among the busiest rhythm sidemen on theNew York City scene. Both are noted for theirgreat time, and ability to adapt to many jazzstyles. The appearance of Sarah Partridge and HerTrio at Jazzfest is a prelude to their two-weekengagement that starts on June 12 at the OakRoom of the Algonquin Hotel in New York City.■ If I started to list all of the credits of the catswho are the Jay Leonhart Trio, I might fill up halfof this issue of Jersey Jazz. The leader, bassist JayLeonhart, is among the foremost performers onhis instrument in the world of jazz, and hasworked with a diverse roster of jazz stars likeGerry Mulligan, Phil Woods, Houston Person andMel Tormé. He has performed at Jazzfest manytimes in the past as both a leader and as a sideman.His performances with the trio New YorkSwing, where he is paired with pianist John Bunchand guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, are among the mostenthusiastically received sets ever at Jazzfest. Inaddition to his proficiency on the bass, he is awitty and original songwriter who performs hissongs in a singular manner. His one-man show“The Bass Lesson,” incorporates many of his songsinto a humorous and totally engaging performancepiece. For this gig, he will be in the companyof pianist Ted Rosenthal and guitarist JoeCohn. Ted was the winner of the secondThelonious Monk International Piano Competitionin 1988. Since then, he has been in greatdemand, performing with the likes of Art Farmer,Benny Golson, James Moody and Gerry Mulligan,with whom he was the pianist in Mulligan’s lastworking quartet. He has also appeared at prioreditions of Jazzfest, and is a frequent performer atShanghai Jazz in Madison, often as part of a duowith trumpeter Warren Vaché. Joe Cohn, son ofthe legendary tenor saxophonist Al Cohn, isanother familiar face at Jazzfest, having played atmost of the last several editions, often in thecompany of Harry Allen. His duo performancewith fellow guitar master James Chirillo at Jazzfest2005 is still being talked about by those luckyenough to hear their joint artistry. Joe is a regularmember of the Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet.This is a trio of great jazz artists who play with amusical empathy that is exceptional andcontinuously exciting.Next month a rundown on the groupsperforming in the Concert Hall.JJ12 April 2007 JerseyJazz