He's Back! - New Jersey Jazz Society

Al Kuehn
The first set closed with all
cooks in the kitchen for an
elegantly raucous “That’s A-
Plenty.”
During the break, audience
member Bob Porter of
WBGO was acknowledged by
organizer Al Kuehn. And NJJS
founder Jack Stine, presiding
over the back of the room,
was applauded for “the
wonderful work” he has done for the music.
Violin wunderkind 13-year-old Jonathan
Russell guested during the second set.
(Peplowski “explained” that “Jonathan’s limo
just happened to break down out front so he
decided to come in and play a few tunes.”)
Last time we saw Jonathan was in Princeton
when he couldn’t play JazzFeast on account
of a broken wrist. He seems to have recovered
fully, and how he’s grown and
flourished musically and personally since
we first saw him as an 11-year-old at our
February 2009
John Allred
Left to right:
Harry Allen,
Nicki Parrott,
Ken Peplowski,
Jonathan Russell
JerseyReviewsJazz
Frank Vignola, Harry Allen,
Ken Peplowski, Nicki Parrott
summer Jazzfest! He’s a
seasoned pro, observing every
detail of his bandmates’ body
language and musical forays.
Jonathan was featured on
“Lady Be Good.” Nicki caught
Jonathan’s eye during someone’s
solo and signaled that he
and she should trade some
fours, which they did. Harry
Allen’s sax was highlighted
next in a gorgeous slow
ballad, “My Romance.”
Peplowski launched into an
introduction of Sportiello —
calling him “The Sultan of the
Steinway, Iconoclast of the
Ivories…” and at least six
other monikers before his
feature along with just bass
and drums on “Just One of
Those Things,” which began
langorously, accelerated, and
slowed again to a relaxed
swing tempo.
Randy Reinhart and John Allred both plied
trombones on “Just You, Just Me,” and all
hands were again on deck for “The King” —
which escalated into rowdy good fun.
Peplowski and Allen shared sax duties for
the opener of the final set, “Blues Up and
Down.” Reinhart and Allred performed a
medley from Wagner’s Ring Cycle —uh, no.
(Thanks, Ken.) What it really was was
“What’s New?” Then Parrott in her little
black dress played helpless while Sportiello
adjusted her mic. She womanned the bass,
and sang while he played, with Vignola and
Allred, “Our Love is Here to Stay.” Off-stage,
Harry Allen couldn’t contain himself; his sax
strains could be heard though he could not
be seen.
Through it all, Joe Ascione’s infectious smile
and tasty drumming kept the burners going
full-blast.
Emcee Ken Peplowski closed with a wish
that we all have a happy and prosperous
New Year, saying — “It can only get better,
right?” With a little Chicken Fat in every
pot, we’d say things are looking up. JJ
Nicki Parrott,
Joe Ascione
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