 |
 |
Wednesday,
January 25, 2006
written by: Bernadette Matthews |
| |
|
| |
|
The Friends of Cape May Jazz celebrate The 25th Cape May Jazz Festival presented by Bank of America kicking off Friday April 21st honoring Little Jimmy Scott - one of the most underestimated jazz artist of the 21st century. After an early departure from the music scene, he officially revived his performing career in 1990 and has since recorded 20 albums, completed several international tours and been nominated for a Grammy award.
Scott performed to a sell out crowd at the Cape May Jazz Festival November 2003 and November 2004. At his last appearance, the line-up of fans extended far beyond the portals of Congress Hall. Artistic Director, Carol Stone states “Little Jimmy Scott has a tremendous following at the Cape May Jazz Festival(s). He possesses the most ravishing, penetrating and powerful vocal instrument in American music.” The late Billy Holiday once named only Scott when a reporter asked who you listen to.
Billy Paul, a favorite of Jimmy Scott will cook along with his quartet as he turns his voice into an instrument and literally becomes a part of the band. Billy, a soulful and emotional standard bearer, performs his interpretation of each and every song. Billy will honor Little Jimmy Scott by performing for him in Convention Hall on Saturday night.
All the way from South Africa, Hugh Masekela and his eight piece band will bring his unique blend of jazz, pop and world music to Cape May and will appear Saturday night at the state-of-the-art Theatre at Lower Regional High School. A fine jazz trumpeter, an imaginative composer, Hugh Masekela has never hesitated to diversify his creative activities with elements of American pop and African rhythms.
Performing at the Grand Hotel Ballroom will be Mike Stern, three-time Grammy nominee and one of the premiere guitarists of his generation. Eric Lewis Quintet, with his distinguished quintet, a favorite with jazz musicians, audiences and celebrates alike and who masters classic jazz, blues, bop on the piano, will appear on Saturday night at the Grand Ballroom.
At the Café Promenade at the Montreal Inn Friday night, Sherry Wilson Butler will perform a special tribute to Nina Simone. Butler will sing selective Nina Simone favorites in recognition of the world-renowned persona.
At Carney’s Main Room on Friday night, Willie Martinez and La Familia Sextet will bring their New York style Latin jazz to the 25th Cape May Jazz Festival with Willie Martinez on drums and vocals. While at Carney’s Other Room, highly versatile guitarist and gifted bandleader Greg Skaff along with his organ trio will play scorching blues to fluid ballads to legendary bebop.
Saturday night, Ellas y Amigos will impress audiences with its funky Caribbean, Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian and ‘Timba’ sound. Recent performances in Philadelphia include the World Café, Kimmel Center, the Mellon Jazz Festival/Philadelphia, the Mainline Jazz Festival, the Philadelphia Museum of Art as well as the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Wilmington, DE.
Two jazz vocalists will appear at Aleathea’s at the Inn of Cape May Friday. Friday night, Ms. Carmen Lundy, named one of the world’s greatest jazz vocalist by Blue and Soul Magazine while Saturday night, Nancy Kelly will appear with a refined stage presence, style, grace and the ability to capture the emotions of the audience. “Nancy is in a league of her own”, says Carol Stone. “The lady was born to sing and she means business”.
Continuing the tribute to Little Jimmy Scott, Bro. Joe Baione and his quintet will thrill the audience on Saturday night at the Boiler Room in Congress Hall. Bro. Joe is an enthusiastic vibist who plays with the energy of Elvin Jones, John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner. Saturday night, Point Blank, a smooth jazz band will awe the crowd.
Complimentary guitar, voice, horn and improvisation workshops for children and adults are offered Saturday morning. In the afternoon, Aleathea’s Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May will pulsate to the Latin beat of Edgardo Cintron Latin Band featuring Winston Byrd on trumpet along with Cintron on timbales. The CD signing party and wine tasting sponsored by Barefoot Wines will be held from 5-6 p.m. in the Boiler Room.
Rounding out this fabulous lineup Saturday evening will be the remarkable and creative jazz guitarist Tony do Rosario performing at the Café Promenade at the Montreal Inn. Sharon Clarke will captivate the audience at Carney’s Other Room expressing her talent as a jazz singer. A Cape May Jazz favorite Big James Montgomery and the Chicago Playboys will bring their Chicago style blues to Cabanas Friday night while Steve Guyger one of the finest blues harmonica players and singers will perform Saturday night.
With a total of 24 events over the weekend, the festival will welcome many familiar and exciting new performers at the Saturday and Sunday jams. Performing at Aleathea’s Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May on Sunday will be a Gospel and Blues Brunch featuring jazz and blues singer Denise King with famed Cuban pianist, Elio Villafranca on piano.
The Cape May Jazz Festival is a growing part of the artistic and cultural scene in this beautiful resort town within driving distance of the major metropolitan areas of New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
Complimentary shuttle buses run on a continuous loop to allow festival-goers to move among the Cape May beachfront sites that are venues for the festival.
Cape May Jazz Festival is presented by Bank of America and sponsored by the Friends of Cape May Jazz, Inc, Barefoot Wines, Cape May Gazette, Cape May Star and Wave, Delaware River and Bay Authority, Jazz Times, Verizon, WRTI 90.1 Temple Public Radio, WBGO Jazz 88, WTTH The Touch 93.1 and Yamaha. Cape May Jazz Festival receives generous support from The New Jersey Council of the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
|
|
|
|
