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

New JerseyJazzSociety■ Once again the Cornerstone in Metuchen provided astellar evening featuring Hendrik Meurkens in a quartet(check Cornerstone’s ad on page 5). Hendrik is scheduledto play at our Jazzfest this year. You can check out the fulllineup and other details for the event in the Jazzfest ad onpage 43 and elsewhere in this issue. Drew University —here we come!■ As a special note — I want to thank Rio Clemente forhis many years of dedication to our Generations of Jazzeducational outreach program. Rio has resigned from hisposition as Musical Director and has moved on to otherendeavors. We wish him well.■ For those who attended the Big Band panel at the NJJSMember Meeting in September where big band musiciansreminisced about days gone by, and for all of our readers,I am sad to note that Buddy Schutz passed away inFebruary. Jazz has lost another friend.■ Volunteers: HELP! — Like Uncle Sam, we’re alwayslooking for a few good people. We rely on an incredibleamount of volunteer effort to accomplish all that weundertake. New member Steve Albin has just signed on tospruce up our website. Thanks, Steve! Other needs havecome into focus:• The Membership Committee seeks someone to managethe membership database.• NJJS seeks a person with insurance expertise to help usassess our coverages.• Education Committee seeks help creating/editing a videoof a performance.If you’re interested in hearing more about any of these,let’s talk. Contact NJJS President Andrea Tyson at732-356-3626 or pres@njjs.org. JJMeet the NJJS BoardFrank MulvaneyBorn and raised in Jersey City, FrankMulvaney earned a BA degree from SetonHall University and an MBA from NYU. Heworked at AXA Financial New York City for36 years before retiring as Vice President, SalesForce Information Resources.Frank keeps busy with many community activities, includingserving as VP and Director, Westfield Jaycees; Chairman andDirector, Westfield Municipal Alliance (a substance abuseprevention educational program); Chairman of the WestfieldBicentennial Celebration; and he is a founding VP and Directorof the Westfield Optimists Club.He’s also an avid tennis player, cyclist, gardener, handyman, readerand beachcomber.“I was interested in big band jazz and Sinatra from high school,especially Basie and Ellington,” Frank says. “In college I became abig fan of Dave Brubeck, Herbie Mann and Ella Fitzgerald. Lateron I got into the Manhattan Transfer. When my wife and I becameempty nesters we got out a lot more and then discovered the collegejazz scene in New Jersey. My love of big band sound is somethingof an addiction that I have to keep in check.“Through my son Frank, we discovered the Tuesday night jam atCrossroads in Garwood.“That’s when my interest really took off as I discovered so many finelocal musicians and began to attend their gigs in the various venuesaround North Jersey,” he says. “After I attended my second Jazzfesttwo years ago I decided to become a member of the Jazz Societybecause I believe in the goals and objectives of the organization,never thinking that I would become particularly active.”An e-mail correspondence Frank initiated with NJJS PresidentAndrea Tyson led to an invitation to join the society’s boardand become the college jazz scene correspondent for Jersey Jazz.His column, Jazz U, began appearing in February.JJNJJS Co-SponsorsApril 10 and April 15ConcertsFrank Sinatra, Jr. comes to theNicholas Music Center, 85 GeorgeStreet (at Route 18), on the DouglassCollege campus of Rutgers Universityin New Brunswick at 8:00 PM onTuesday, April 10. Mr. Sinatra willconduct and sing with both theRutgers Jazz Ensemble and theRutgers Symphony Orchestra. Ticketsare $40, $25 and $15. To purchasetickets, call 732-932-7511.Long-time friend of NJJS WarrenVaché brings his Quintet toMorristown for a 3 PM concert thatincludes an all-star lineup. TheCommunity Theatre is located at100 South Street. Tickets are $15 andare available from the CommunityTheatre box office at 973-539-8008 orcommunitytheatrenj.org. Come outfor both of these events and tell themyou saw it in Jersey Jazz.JazzDanceTo stay in touch about dances anddance lesson opportunities gearedtoward NJJS members and friends,contact Linda at 201-306-2769 orLLobdeLL@optonline.net. Learn swing,lindy, foxtrot, peabody, more.April 2007 JerseyJazz 4