No tricks, but lots of treats

This is a great weekend for jazz lovers in Central New Jersey -- lots of venues with great music through the week.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Crooner Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and friends Thursday nights at
Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton, are going strong. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 30
Dick Gratton returns to Chambers Walk Café in Lawrenceville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He’ll be playing original arrangements – it’s sure to be packed so call 609-896-5995 to make your reservations.

Happy hour at Hopewell Valley Vineyards will include the Upper Princeton Swing Collective …

Steve Turre takes his quartet and his trombone to Shanghai Jazz for shows tonight and tomorrow night.

The Meg Hanson Group is at Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio with Jackie Jones will be at Christopher’s, in the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31
Ronnie Burrage (check out his bio) will be at the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St., Trenton, for this week’s Jazz Disciples meeting at 3 p.m.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio moves to Steakhouse 85 on Church Street in Metuchen tonight, playing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1
You can catch Jerry Topinka at the Salt Creek Grille from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Jazz Brunch.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Cecil’s Jazz Club, 364 Valley Road, West Orange, will feature Pam Purvis and Matt Chertkoff at its Jazz Social at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 2
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 3
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Nov. 4
BD Lenz will be at Mediterra in Princeton at 8 p.m. If you like what you hear here, be sure to catch him.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Thursday, Nov. 5
Herb Alpert and singer Lani Hall will perform at 8 p.m. at McCarter Theater, and at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Kean University’s Wilkins Theatre.

Coming up
Laura Hull will be moving into a new post as president of the New Jersey Jazz Society, but first she's got a date at the Herb Eckert Auditorium, 540 Ridge Road, in
Monmouth Junction, for 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 6. Admission is just $5 - call 732-329-4000 to reserve a spot.

Bassist Lisle Atkinson and pianist Richard Wyands will join Steve Rozek (tenor sax), Mike Ipri (drums) and John Henry Goldman (trumpet) for two special shows 6 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Looking Glass Pond Studio, 800 Alexander, Princeton Junction. For a special Conversations in Jazz. For information and reservations, call 609-610-1655, or e-mail johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com.

Hopewell’s Starlight Room added a couple of extra dates for jazz in November, and will feature Stringzville’s mix of jazz standards with a bit of Gypsy Jazz and Bossa Nova, 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Nov. 7.

Jazz for a cause -- or just because

More Jersey jazzbos are back at work this week, with gigs galore to enjoy.
Thursday, Oct. 22
Celebrate big band music – get out to the Temperance House, at 5 S. State St. in Newtown, Pa., and enjoy the 17-piece Jazz Celebration Big Band, playing from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s always a good idea to call ahead for reservations at the Temperance House – 215-860-9975.

If you’ve got an appetite for Latin jazz, catch Karen Rodriguez at the Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village tonight and Saturday night, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Vinnie Rome entertains at Limelight, 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, this weekend, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly.

John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards
Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 23
Brian Pastor takes his big band to Philadelphia’s Devon Theater for a show at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 ...

Catch some funked-up jazz and swing by The Franklin-Alison Jazz Combo at the BT Bistro, 3499 Route 1 S., West Windsor, at 7 p.m., 609-919-9403
Jazz, blue, swing, and funk.

Eric Mintel will be at the Salt Creek Grille in Forrestal Village tonight. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The John Bianculli Trio with Jackie Jones moves to Christopher's in the Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick, for a show at 8:30 p.m.

Jerry Vivino, of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, will be “Walking with the Wazmo” tonight at Shanghai Jazz. Check here for times and seatings.
The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24
Joe Ford is this week’s featured disciple at Trenton’s Jazz Disciples, meeting at 3 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St.

Pam Purvis will participate in a fundraising concert from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Stanley Congregational Church in Chatham’s Cornerstone Café. She’ll be working with organist Pat Bianchi (you could call him an understudy of Joey DeFrancesco) and drummer Noel Sagerman. Proceeds from the $15 tickets will be donated to area charities. The church is at 94 Pairmount Ave.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Saxman Tom Tallitsch returns to Small World Coffee in Princeton at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25
Jerry Topinka headlines today’s Jazz Brunch at the Salt Creek Grille 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pam Purvis has a standing gig at Cecil’s Jazz Party from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Sunday. She’ll be alongside Bob Ackerman and Matt Chertkoff.
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 26
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 27
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to
the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 28
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up
Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Who's setting the mood?

One of the most salient features of the best music is its ability to stike a mood, to capture a sound that reflects its time. Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" encapsulates the late 1950s cool and sets such a definitive mood, just as John Coltrane's Impulse! releases hit the mark for the 60s. Can you hear George Benson's "Breezin'" without being transported to the late 1970s?
While there's a lot of terrific music recorded today, one has to wonder if anyone is really, really nailing the sounds that will become associated with this decade in such a way.
That's the first step towards becoming a classic ...
While I don't know if they've hit the right mood yet, several new releases have powerful moods that strike me as being potential classics -- though only time will tell.
Stefon Harris and Blackout's outstanding "Urbanus" has such an amazing range of sounds that I think it may be among the most memorable for a long time. Blackout's phenomenal rhythm section -- Ben Williams and Terreon Gully -- keep a groove going that is subtle but brilliant. If you can get your ears off the melodies and solos, you'll find a rich tapestry in the background.
But that's a big "if" -- Harris has combined and balanced a potent mix of the familiar and not-familiar. Several tracks lay a Vocoder-synthesized melody over the rhythm section, with Harris and others soloing, an effect that was entrancing. Sounding at once unhuman yet warm, it's a delicious treat -- especially on Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go."
Madeleine Peyreaux's new "Bare Bones" captures a unique mood. It's a mystical brew made with blues-based stock, with all sorts of funky flavors added. The opening track -- "Instead" -- opens with a spot-on imitation of George Harrison's slinky guitar playing (that is, the sounds he favored later, not while with the Beatles). then adds Peyreaux's melancholy and smoky voice.
It's a powerful dose which may not suit everyone, but much of it was entrancing.
Check them out and let me know what you think -- what captures your ears, or sets a mood for you?

Cold winds and hot trumpeters blowing

What's October without a change of seasons? Central Jersey always has lots of hot jazz, thanks to our local musicians and venues.

Friday, Oct. 16
Jim Popik brings his Black Diamond Jazz group to the Looking Glass Pond Studio on Alexander Road in Princeton, tonight at 8 p.m.

The Eric Mintel Jazz Quartet will entertain the Arts Council of Princeton at the Robeson Center, 102 Witherspoon St., at 8 p.m. Oct. 16. Mintel promises to feature Dave Brubeck’s music. Tickets are $15 – go to www.artscouncilofprinceotn.org or call 609-924-8777.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 17
Darla Rich and her Quintet return to the Hopewell Inn for shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 17.

Laura Hull will be at Ponte Vecchio at Murray Hill Inn, New Providence, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17. She joins Rio Clemente at the Mahwah Library, 100 Ridge Road, at 2 p.m. Sunday. Call 201-529-2183 for information, or check the Web site http://mahwah.bccis.org

NYC-based guitarist Sten Hostfalt will be at Garwood's Crossroads, 78 North Ave., tonight at 10 p.m. Don't know him? Read his bio here

Trumpeter Jean Caze will brave our cold weekend to join Trenton's Jazz Disciples 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St.

The Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble will present "The Voice of the Jazz Composer: The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn" at 8 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall on campus. Admission is $15 general public, $5 students. Call 609-258-9220 or order online at www.princeton.edu/utickets

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Oct. 18
The Princeton University Jazz Vespers Ensemble will perform in University Chapel at 11 a.m Oct. 18. Free admission.

Laura Hull and Rio Clemente will warm the rooms at the Mahwah Library, 100 Ridge Road, at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Jerry Rife and the Rhythm Kings will perform at Princeton’s Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road, at 3 p.m. Oct. 18. Tickets are $15 at the door.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 19
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 20
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 21
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Thursday, Oct. 22
John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at Looking Glass Studio, 800 Alexander Road in Princeton. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Morristown’s Hibiscus tomorrow night.



¶

So much jazz, so little time

We are blessed in this area with abundant opportunities to hear fine music -- including lots of terrific local jazz musicians.

Thursday, Oct. 8
John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at 800 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9
The JP3 -- Hopewell resident Jim Popik (guitar), Mark Amentt on bass, and Andy Janowiak on drums – will play swing, bebop, blues and modern jazz at the Trenton Marriott 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Laura Hull wrote to say she'll be joined by Eddie Monteiro and guitarist Lenny Argese at this week's Jazz Nights at the Hibiscus 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 9 -- thanks, Laura! The Hibiscus is in the Best Western Morristown Inn, 270 South St., Morristown.

Matt Richards, Bill Zola and Adrian Valosin are booked for the Taste of Woodbridge event at 6 p.m. today in the Woodbridge Community Center, before heading to the Witherspoon Grill in Princeton on Sunday.

The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 10
Guitarist Dick Gratton will be busy this weekend at the Allentown, N.J., Fall Harvest festival. He’s on stage at 3:30 p.m. both days, Saturday at the Methodist Church on Church Street; Sunday on Main Street.

Fingerstyle wiz Tim Thompson is this week’s Jazz Disciple featured at 2 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton.

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Oct. 11
Pam Purvis sings at Langosta, 1000 Ocean Ave. Asbury Park, on Oct. 11.

Guitarist Matt Richards will be at the Witherspoon Grill at 2:30 Sunday for a fundraising event.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 12
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 13
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 14
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.
Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

October is for cool jazzy nights

Thursday, Oct. 1Make your way to the Glen Rock Inn, 222 Rock Road, Glen Rock, by 7 p.m. tonight to catch Jack Wilkens and Howard Alden. They’re always a great duo.

John Henry Goldman and his friends have a standing Thursday night at 800 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. Come and listen at 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. The suggested donation of $5 helps defray some of the expenses at the studio. Send John a note if you need more info: johnhenrygoldman@straightjazz.com, or call 609-610-1655. If Thursday nights aren’t good for you, check out his Saturday night gig.

Princeton University’s University Jazz Program Small Group, Anthony D.J. Branker, director will perform at 11:30 p.m. in Café Vivian in the Frist Campus Center. It’s free ...if you're still up.

Rio Clemente is at the Bernards Inn tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Morristown’s Hibiscus tomorrow night.

Friday, Oct. 2
The Marriott in Trenton, 1 West Lafayette, will have live jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3
Randy Sutin meets the Jazz Disciples at 2 p.m. in the Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic St. in Trenton.

The StraightJazz Quintet -- Steve Rozek on tenor sax, Mike Ipri on drums, Doug Miller on piano, Tom McMillan on bass and John Henry Goldman on trumpet – will be at 800 Alexander Road, Princeton. Two shows – 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – will feature jazz standards, such as “Willow Weep for Me,” “My Favorite Things,” “Lullaby Of Birdland,” and music by great 20th century composers Oscar Hammerstein II, George Shearing, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, Bird and Monk.

The Robert Ross Band will headline a special show at 7:30 p.m. at the Somerset County Vocational and Technical School Performing Arts Theatre, 14 Vogt Dr. in Bridgewater. Call 908-237-1238 to reserve tickets ($15-$20 in advance; more at the door).

The John Bianculli Jazz Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays nights at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant, 338 George St., New Brunswick.

Sunday, Oct. 4
Ever wanted to hear how musicians like Mulgrew Miller and Gary Bartz approach a standard? Here’s a chance: they’ll be at William Paterson University, ready to talk at 3 p.m. They’ll play at 4 p.m. Talk is cheap – free, actually, but the performance comes at a price ($15; $12 for seniors and $8 for students). The gig is part of the New Jersey Jazz Society’s College Jazz Performance Series.

The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session at PJ's Coffee on Raritan Avenue in Highland Park is a great place to meet musicians – or join the band. They play from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Monday, Oct. 5
Jim Jasion and His Jazz (the Somerset Jazz Consortium Horn Squad) will be at Home Town Buffet, 561 US Highway 1, Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6
The Somerset Jazz Consortium jam session lead by Jim Jasion has moved to the Subterranean Recording Studios in Edison. Call Jim if you’re interested in joining -- 732-325-7464.

Wednesday, Oct. 7
The Somerset Jazz Consortium Second Generation Band will be at Home Town Buffet on Route 1 in Edison, beginning at 6 p.m.
Vocalist Margie Notte lights up Libretti’s Restaurant, 554 Orange St. in Orange, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Coming up:
The JP3 -- Hopewell resident Jim Popik (guitar), Mark Amentt on bass, and Andy Janowiak on drums – will play swing, bebop, blues and modern jazz at the Trenton Marriott 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Laura Hull will be the featured guest for Jazz Nights at the Hibiscus 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 9. The Hibiscus is in the Best Western Morristown Inn, 270 South St., Morristown.

Pam Purvis sings at Langosta, 1000 Ocean Ave. Asbury Park, on Oct. 11.