Like John Coltrane, James L. Dean got some of his first experience

JerseyArticlesJazzThe party took place at Nola Studios, trumpeter-bandmanager Jami Dauber havingdone the planning and overseen the catering,which was superb. Studio owner JimZack was his usual benign presence, and theguests, including bassist Bob Cranshaw andhis charming wife; my longtime friend,singer Janet Lawson; author-discographerJames Doran; ex-DIVA Nicky Parrott, thefine bassist and vocalist, and her sister, still-DIVA baritone saxist Lisa (two gifts fromDown Under), and the birthday boy’s sister,a vivacious lady whose story I hope to get(and then share) in the near future, all had agrand time. The birthday cake, fromGreenberg’s, was delicious, as befittedStanley’s sweet tooth.The following day’s birthday bash was aneven more private affair, and I will confinemyself to reporting that it was swell. (Yes,swell—a descriptive worth reviving.) It ishard to believe that my dear friend, theauthor and critic Gary Giddins, rounded 60on March 21. We first met when I was editingDown Beat and Gary, fresh out of college,sent in a writing sample so good that Iinstantly grabbed him as a regular contributor.And the rest, as they say, is history.One tends to forget that one’s friends growolder, too, but Gary has never lost hisyouthful passion for the music, and hisother great love, filmmaking. The partycast was stellar, and the birthday cake, Imust confess, even tastier than Stanley’s.What a birthday week. Many happyreturns to all!JJDan Morgenstern, a columnist for Jersey Jazz, isdirector of the Institute of Jazz Studies at RutgersUniversity, Newark, and author of Jazz People(Pantheon Books).Hall of FameAward Presentedto Annie RossBy Frank NisselSecretary, American Jazz Hall of FameAnnie Ross, the fabulous survivor of thefamed Lambert, Hendricks and Rossvocal trio, was inducted into the AmericanJazz Hall of Fame this year by almostunanimous vote of the 11 electors.The singer still appears regularly every Tuesdaynight at The Metropolitan Room, a cozylittle nightclub in Manhattan where she isaccompanied by an all-star quartet of WarrenVaché, cornet, Tardo Hammer, piano, NealMiner, bass and Tony Jefferson, drums.And so, on Tuesday March 18, NJJSPresident Andrea Tyson and I paid asurprise visit on Annie there to present herthe well-deserved trophy in front of a fullhouse of eager and admiring guests, somewho came from as far away as Sweden toattend this performance without evenknowing about the special occasion.Annie’s charming singing was introducedby double talking 92-year-old comedianProfessor Irvin Corey who frequently doesan opening act for her. She sang a halfdozen well-known standards by JohnnyMercer, Harold Arlen and other classictunesmiths, sometimes prompted bymusical director Tardo. All were performedflawlessly in her inimitable lucid vibratostyle and resulted in long applause by theappreciative audience.Annie Ross is all smiles as Frank Nissel presents her award.The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22ndStreet, 212-206-0440) is an intimate streetlevel cabaret which features a great variety ofsingers every night of the week. While theydo not serve meals, I can highly recommendArezzo, a nearby excellent Italian restaurantat 46 West 22nd Street (212-206-0555)for dinner before the show.JJEstablished in 1983, the AmericanJazz Hall of Fame is a joint ventureof The Rutgers Institute of JazzStudies and the New Jersey JazzSociety. Eleven electors, comprisedof representatives from bothorganizations as well as the jazzpress, annually elect new living anddeceased members. There are nowmore than 250 honorees.May 2008___________________________________ 31