Journal of the New Jersey Jazz Society Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of jazz.

Volume 40 • Issue 7

July/August 2012

Jersey Jazzcoveragebegins onpage 30.

Jazzfest 2012 Brings it AllTogether

Eddie Monteiro shared hismusical universe, playingand singing at New JerseyJazz Society’s 2012 Jazzfest at the College ofSt. Elizabeth in Morristown.Photo by Lynn Redmile.

Jazzfest 2012 at St. Elizabeth in Morristown on June 16 wasthe prime place and the perfect moment to experience

unwaveringly top-drawer music, enough to fill a whole day ofsummer ease. Nature supplied a flawlessly sunny and breezy dayto enjoy a comfortable, casual day with food, drink and friends.Extra shopping ops added even more leisurely good fun. Wecouldn’t have asked for a bettercombination of elements.

The powerfully elegant HarlemRenaissance Orchestra came outswinging in Dolan Hall, addressingour big band cravings right at thestart. A lushly layered “Take the ATrain” energetically made its wayuptown. Plaintive muted trumpetsintroduced Ellington’s “What Am IHere For,” soon overtaken bygrowling bass and sax notes. Guestvocalist Donna Cumberbatch was a wonderful discovery. Her milkyvoice, mellow and smooth, gentlyprotested “Don’t Blame Me” andunhurriedly shaped the lyrics on“Speak Low” ina cha charhythm.A powerhouseboogie woogieimpressed as a big man witha small sax setup a grooveand thetrumpetspulled thewhole arrange-ment higherinto thestratosphere.

Wanderingoutdoorsduringgenerous half-hour breaksbetween sets,we foundEmily Asher’sGarden Party,in an all-new,and equallypopularconfiguration,

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Jazzfest 2012

Violinist Jonathan Russell sits in with Emily Asher’s Garden Party: Mike Davis,trumpet; Jared Engel, banjo; Rob Adkins, bass; Emily Asher, trombone.Photo by Lynn Redmile.

Paul Meyers, guitar; Vanderlei Pereira, drums; Holli Ross, vocalist;and Eddie Monteiro swayed with a Brazilian beat. Photo by Tony Mottola.

Neal Pawley, trombone and Paul Carlon, tenor sax, from Swingadelic.Photo by Tony Mottola.

top: John Bauers is the main voice of Swingadelic.Photo by Lynn Redmile. above: Swingadelic’s Carlos Francis channels Armstrong. Photo by Tony Mottola.

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a welcome way to meet the new young jazzplayers emerging on the scene. Emily sang“Sugar,” dedicated to the dessert table andher dentist. Trumpeter Mike Davis sang on“Darktown Strutters Ball,” and violinistJonathan Russell sat in on some numbersbefore and after his sets with the Jon BurrTrio. We enjoyed plump frankfurters andchips under the shade of a tent.

In the Octagon Theatre, we travelled toexotic Brazil with accordionist Eddie

Monteiro, guitarist Paul Meyers anddrummer Vanderlei Pereira. Eddie makesthe most of his vocals and his keys withgreat skill and feeling, pulling out anastonishing range of sounds and effects.“Triste,” sung in Portuguese, had asweeping, rocking rhythm and an organ-like quality. Paul Meyers’s guitar work isclean and fully expressed; every note ringslike a bell. Vocalist Holli Ross guested inthis set, and had wonderful exchanges withEddie’s high notes on Jobim’s “Agua deBeber.” Monteiro states,“I’ve always said I don’t like playing alone. This is likeplaying in a sandbox…I never know what will happen!”

Swingadelic, back in the big Dolanauditorium, set up a rollicking groove withJohn Bauers playing the piano and singinghis heart out on Louis Jordan’s “Let theGood Times Roll” — just the start of theirtribute to the “Three Louies,” Jordan,Prima and Armstrong. Trumpeter CarlosFrancis provided a sparkling solo on “DoYou Know What It Means to Miss NewOrleans.” Young vocalist Vanessa Pereawent over big, duetting with Bauers on the

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The sax section of the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra. Photo by Tony Mottola. Donna Cumberbatch swung mightily with the HRO. Photo by Tony Mottola.

Lynn Stein and Howard Alden performed with Jon Burr and Jonathan Russell.Photo by Tony Mottola.

Jon Burr. Photo by Lynn Redmile.

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Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong classic “A Fine Romance.”

Bauers recounted a tale: His dad had metArmstrong once at a party in Kansas City.A few years later he went to the Copacabanain NY to hear him play. After a few toomany drinks, he started to believe he had aclose personal relationship with Armstrong,and started hollering for him to play “La VieEn Rose.” Armstrong ignored him. Bauers’sdad kept hollering. The maitre d’ tried tointervene but the hollering continued:“PLAY La Vie En Rose!” Finally a couple ofbouncers surrounded him to escort himout. As they moved him toward the door,Armstrong began playing “La Vie En Rose.”Vanessa sang this one in beautiful French.Neal Pawley grabbed the spotlight with araucous trombone solo and bad-boy vocalson Louis Prima’s “Five Months, Two Weeks,

Two Days.” And the big finale was a hootwith all horns stepping out for a high octanejam on “When The Saints Go Marching In.”

We caught the second set of Jon Burr’s Trioin the Octagon Theatre. “Minor Swing” setthe mood for this tribute to jazz violin greatStephane Grappelli. Bassist Burr was amember of Grappelli’s band, and he’s worna flowered shirt that he used to wear in thatgroup — Grappelli preferred florals. “I LoveParis” was a peppy romp; the unhurriedenergy of Jonathan Russell on violin andHoward Alden on guitar delighted, as didtheir well-placed solo excursions. SingerLynn Stein joined the trio for some Cole Porter standards. She has beencollaborating with Jon Burr for the lastcouple of years; they have a CD in theworks. Their original tune “Gone in the Wayof a Dream” was a winner. And throughout,

Burr’s tasty playing, musicality and humorunderpinned all.

We took time out between every set toperuse the outdoor vendors. There weremany more this year, and more time to tryon, inquire, double back for another lookand a quick purchase. CDs were also goinglike hotcakes — the perfect way to bring theday home for lasting enjoyment.

Before the evening program commenced inDolan Hall, Hotel executive Bill Boyle washonored for his commitment to jazz. He’spartnered with the New Jersey Jazz Societyand with Hibiscus Restaurant, housed in theBest Western Morristown Inn operated byhis management firm. Hibiscus presents livejazz four times per week and is the homebase for the NJJS baby grand piano.

NJJS President Frank Mulvaney presented an awardof appreciation to Bill Boyle, President of BoyleHotels. Photo by Tony Mottola.

Tony DeSare, right, supported by Steve Doyle, bass and Ed Decker, guitar. Photo by Lynn Redmile.

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A lucky 50/50 winner went home with some extra cash, too.

And then the very polished and wryly witty saxman AndyFarber brought his 7-piece band, the Swing Mavens, to thestage. They specialize in tunes like those of Ellington andBasie, and lots of original material in that vein. The veryaccomplished young pianist/vocalist Champian Fultonjoined them this evening. She’s been a favorite of ours sinceshe appeared at one of our Jazz Socials at Shanghai Jazz.She’s also frequently seen on the NYC swing dance circuit.“Primrose Path” was a lively original swing number basedon “King Porter Stomp.” “It Seems I’ve Heard That SongBefore” was originally arranged for a huge orchestra andFarber “boiled it down to a jazz demi glace.” It featured thetrumpet work of Brian Cresci.

For the final act, Tony DeSare appeared as a trio with Steve Doyle onbass and Ed Decker on guitar. Tony himself moved easily betweensinging and creating beautiful things at the piano. “Just One of ThoseThings” demonstrated his easy delivery. The set exhibited the genre-flexibility of the group, ranging from a slow take on a Prince tune,“You Don’t Have to Be Rich” to insanely hot guitar licks on a jumpin’tune. On the way, “New Orleans Tango” — Tony says tango is the sexiestdance, “other than the Macarena, of course!” And “Just in Time” flew by with a speedy chug chug and a fantastic bowed bass solo.

Indeed the whole day flew in a languorously summery, jazzy way! JJ

Champian Fulton complemented Andy Farber’s Swing Mavens.Photo by Mitchell Seidel.

Andy Farber rises for a solo. Photo by Tony Mottola.

Youthful jazz aficionados. Photo by Lynn Redmile.

A carefree scene outdoors at Jazzfest 2012. Photo by Lynn Redmile.