<strong>New</strong> <strong>Jersey</strong><strong>Jazz</strong><strong>Society</strong>The Mail BagI LIVE IN PARIS AND JERSEYJAZZ SOMETIMES REPRINTS mystuff for Bloomberg <strong>New</strong>s. I’venoticed your new look, and <strong>the</strong>magazine in general looks andreads better than ever. I have longthought that Fradley Garner’s “BigBand in <strong>the</strong> Sky” column is one of<strong>the</strong> most original things in <strong>the</strong>re.If I can be permitted a minorityopinion, however, I get fairlyde<strong>press</strong>ed by reading <strong>the</strong> magazine’scontinuing accent on <strong>the</strong>old. There is so much good musicnow. Have you heard, for just onecurrent example that comes moreor less arbitrarily to mind, DonByron playing <strong>the</strong> music of Jr.Walker? Just what we need in <strong>the</strong>setimes of woe, an update of <strong>the</strong>Motown happy R&B groove.An example of an article youshould do. Barry Harris. Doesn’t<strong>the</strong> pianist-educator live inBaroness Nica de Koenigswarter'sold house on <strong>the</strong> Hudson River? Amaster if <strong>the</strong>re ever was one. Butmaybe he’s too modern. Whichimplies that Bud Powell is also too“modern.” As Gil Evans once saidto me: “Insecurity is <strong>the</strong> fountainof youth.”In any case, best of luck.Mike Zwerinmikezwerin.com[Mike Zwerin, a trombonist andwriter whose jazz column ran fordecades in <strong>the</strong> InternationalHerald Tribune, is now acolumnist for Bloomberg <strong>New</strong>s.Among his books is Swing Under<strong>the</strong> Nazis: <strong>Jazz</strong> as a Metaphor forFreedom. — Editor]THE PEE WEE STOMP LASTSUNDAY was one of <strong>the</strong> best ever.Thanks ever so much for all thattraditional jazz. It was just whatmy ears needed.Gene MilgramMetuchen, NJI WOULD LIKE TO THANK THENJJS again for providing mewith this opportunity to play andmake music with such wonderfulmusicians. I had a great time andfeel truly blessed by your honor.Thank you once again.Mark PryzbyblowskiGreen Brook, NJ[Mark was awarded <strong>the</strong> NJJS2007 Jack Stine Scholarship andperformed with his five fellowscholarship recipients at <strong>the</strong> recentPee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp.— Editor]HERE IS A SUGGESTION in <strong>the</strong>same vein as Frank Mulvaney’s“<strong>Jazz</strong> Goes to School” column.Ano<strong>the</strong>r fine academic location forjazz is <strong>the</strong> Peddie School inHightstown, NJ. Back in 1999,Robert Rund revived <strong>the</strong> school'smoribund program of occasionalconcerts by first class talents. Someartists who have performed atPeddie in <strong>the</strong> last few years are:Joey DeFrancesco, Taylor Eigsti,Russell Malone, John Patitucci,Romero Lubambo, Luciana Souza,Ted Nash, Wycliffe Gordon, HelenSung, Fred Hersch and Kurt Elling.You are more likely, however, tosee soon-to-be major stars ra<strong>the</strong>rthan those with long establishedreputations. Mr. Rund joked tha<strong>the</strong> has to get <strong>the</strong>m while he canstill afford <strong>the</strong>m.The concerts are held in a refurbishedhall that accommodates 525patrons. There is a standard talkwith <strong>the</strong> artist prior to <strong>the</strong> concertand afterwards <strong>the</strong>y almost alwaysdo a meet and greet at a reception.Occasionally, an area restaurantwill use this time to <strong>off</strong>er freesamples from <strong>the</strong>ir menus. So youmay find anything from cheeseand crackers to Thai or Indianappetizers as you chat with <strong>the</strong>musicians.Among those scheduled for nextseason are Hiromi & David“Fa<strong>the</strong>ad” <strong>New</strong>man.More information is atwww.peddie.org/capps.Or just send an email tocapps@peddie.org for a brochure.ALSO, WE JOURNEYED TOSOPAC, <strong>the</strong> South OrangePerforming Arts Center. This newfacility has an intimate 415-seatperformance hall that holds onlysome 200 people downstairs with abalcony completing <strong>the</strong> seating.Benny Green (piano) and RussellMalone (guitar) performed withno rhythm section, inventing as<strong>the</strong>y went, supporting andchallenging each o<strong>the</strong>r. It waswonderful. We listened andwatched a musical conversationheld for our benefit.The selections in <strong>the</strong> first setvaried but were mostly familiarnumbers. The second set hadfewer standards, but was just ascompelling. The evening ran past<strong>the</strong> promised limit, but <strong>the</strong>yevidently saw no reason to stopenjoying <strong>the</strong>mselves. When <strong>the</strong>yfinished <strong>the</strong> crowed quickly gave awell-deserved standing ovation.For <strong>the</strong> entire program, BennyGreen had done <strong>the</strong> talking.Russell Malone was content tocommunicate through his guitar. Itwas only at <strong>the</strong> very end that hetook <strong>the</strong> mic to ex<strong>press</strong> hisadmiration for his friend’s artistryand exclaim: “What a goodsounding room.”We exited into a night that did notseem as cold as it had been a fewhours earlier.Schaen FoxLawrencevilleAFTER FIVE MONTHS OF MALE-DOMINATED COVERS, it was arelief to see that <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Jazz</strong> wasnot discriminating against <strong>the</strong>fairer sex, including “chick singers”or even mature French femalesingers like Anne Ducros (March2007). Your coverage of <strong>the</strong> 34thAnnual International Associationof <strong>Jazz</strong> Educators conference wastruly engaging, with <strong>the</strong> addedinsights of those first-handdiaries by Don J. Smith andBob Ackerman.No <strong>Jersey</strong> jazz writer tops JackStine — long may he keep <strong>the</strong>yarn mill churning. But <strong>the</strong> mostwonderful piece in March, to <strong>the</strong>seeyes, was “Remembering Tony” by<strong>the</strong> great guitarist Tony Mottola’sgranddaughter, Maria Capello.Any reader who missed this heartwarmingpiece should get out <strong>the</strong>journal and turn to page 10 —<strong>the</strong>n try to put it down beforefinishing page 12. This is <strong>the</strong> kindof approach and reportage (goodp<strong>hot</strong>os, too) you won’t see inDown Beat, <strong>Jazz</strong>iz, or any o<strong>the</strong>rfat, glossy, national trade magazine.The joy of those great players— especially Bucky’s and Gene’s —shines right through. What anevening that must have been.Was it recorded? More pieces likethat, please!Edith Van BergenGreenwood, NJI READ IN THE JIM CULLEN ONFEBRUARY 3 NEWSLETTER,March 1, about pianist DickHyman reaching 80 years old. Iwas interested in reading aboutHyman’s appearance in Hot Housein 1952, with Charlie Parker andDizzy Gillespie, having beensomewhat acquainted with <strong>the</strong>setwo jazz legends. Iheard Parker whenhe played withcontinued on page 44Don JohnsonComments?<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Jazz</strong> welcomes your comments on any article or editorial. Send e-mail to tmottola@aol.comor mail to The Editor (see page 6 for address). Include your name and geographical location.4 April 2007 <strong>Jersey</strong><strong>Jazz</strong>
TheCORNERSTONECafé and Bistro25 <strong>New</strong> Street, Metuchen, NJThe best in live jazz in Central <strong>New</strong> <strong>Jersey</strong>.<strong>Jazz</strong> Schedule for April 2007WEDNESDAYS7:30 – 11:30 PM4/4: VIRGINIA MAYHEW TRIOW/NORMAN SIMMONSFRIDAYS7:30 – 11:30 PM4/11: SARAH JANE CION TRIOW/GERRY NIEWOOD4/18: SARAH PARTRIDGE TRIO4/25: MISHA PIATIGORSKYTRIO4/13: TOMOKO OHNO QUARTETW/BILL CROW4/20: HENDRIK MEURKENSQUARTET4/27: DAVID SCHNITTERQUARTET• No cover • No minimum • <strong>Jazz</strong> Performances 7:30 – 11:30pmFor last minute changes, please visit our Web site: www.cornerstonecafenj.com(732) 549-5306April 2007 <strong>Jersey</strong><strong>Jazz</strong> 5
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