JazzCorner.com Celebrates OSPAC Jazz Festival, Sept. 12-13

JazzCorner.com's Great Summer Festival Celebration with the OSPAC Jazz Festival!

OSPAC 7th Annual Jazz Festival
2 days of great jazz! Bring a sweater and a lawn chair!

The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center (OSPAC) announces that the Seventh Annual Jazz Festival will be held on September 12 and 13 at the spectacular OSPAC Amphitheater at Crystal Lake, 4 Boland Drive, West Orange. This event is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Children are free. Admission is taken at the entrance.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center will present an entire weekend of world-class jazz entertainment emceed by WBGO’s Gary Walker, in an open-air setting, complete with international food vendors, artisans and crafts, health spa center, and entertainment and activities for children. This weekend will also include “Paint the Music” led by Nitza Horner, teaching artist and freelance educator affiliated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where patrons will paint what they hear.

"The OSPAC Jazz Festival has grown in seven years to be the most talked about jazz event in the area," said internationally renowned jazz singer and OSPAC’s Executive Director, Kate Baker. "This year's event will be more spectacular than ever. Our lineup of artists is an international mix of quintessential jazz stylists and modern and cultural jazz interpreters."

"What makes this venue special is not only the beautiful surroundings where you can stroll around the lake, but the superb sound that you can hear from every location," says guitarist Vic Juris.

The schedule includes on Saturday:

12:30 pm - Enrico Granafei
Harmonica virtuoso, classical guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, composer Enrico Granafei has a long history of musical experience which encompasses both Classical Music and Jazz. He has recorded with Eddie Gomez, Eliot Zigmund. Marc Johnson, Adam Nussbaum, Ted Curson, Nnena Freelon (Concord records) and many others. Enrico's latest accomplishment is his work on Hands-Free-Chromatic Harmonica. The revolutionary instrument invented by Vern Smith allows him to play Chromatic Harmonica and Guitar at the same time, something that nobody has ever done before in Jazz. Close your eyes and you will hear two or three musicians but in fact it's only one! Enrico is one of the most respected players of the Chromatic Harmonica in the world today and continues to cultivate an audience for the instrument through his international performances.

1:00 pm - Pam Purvis and the Bob Ackerman Quartet
Pam’s most recent recording ‘I Had A Ball’ is being around the country and is receiving some great reviews. She is being called a jazz siren, who draws listeners into each song with a deep sultry tone. And Grady Tate describes her voice as ‘like a fine glass of wine on a moonlit night.’ She is currently the Musical Director of the New Jersey Jazz Society’s youth out-reach program called Generations of Jazz. She has toured the U.S., Europe and Mexico and can be found performing all around New Jersey. Pam hails from Louisiana and Texas. She began singing jazz in 1974 in Paterson, NJ at Gulliver’s. She credits her style to ‘living with a horn player’ and likes to tell a story about meeting the great scat singer Joe Carroll. When she asked him how he learned to sing those improvised lines, he told her, ‘Listen to the horn players, baby, listen to the horn players.’ Her sense of lyrics she credits to the training she received at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. ‘My approach to lyrics and phrasing is ‘of the moment’. When I sing a song it is always for the first time, and therefore I hope that it will always be fresh and always emotional. I want the audience/listener to see and feel the images in the song. She will be performing at OSPAC with the band from ‘I Had A Ball’ which includes Brandon McCune - piano, Calvin Jones - bass, Cecil Brooks III - drums and Bob Ackerman - woodwinds. Utilizing some very contemporary grooves Pam will be reinventing some classic tunes from the 60’s/70’s as well as offering up her sometimes smooth, often times passionate versions of jazz standards.

2:00 pm - Award winning vocalist Stephen Lovell Mclean with James Gibbs on Trumpet, Steve Meyerson on Piano, Corey Fulmore on drums and Tom DeCarlo on bass
Vocalist Steve Lovell, who was born in Newark, was a finalist in McDonald’s Gospelfest 2006 at New York City Center’s Main Stage and in 2007 was named Musician of the Year by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Wachovia Jazz for Teens Program. He studied at the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Residency Program at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC with Carmen Lundy and Dr. Billy Taylor. Lovell has served as back-up vocalist for Donnie McClurkin, Vicki Winans, Bryon Cage, Jennifer Holliday, and Cissy Houston.

3:00 pm - Dave Stryker and the West Orange All Stars featuring Dave Stryker guitar, Bill Hart drums, Matt King Piano, Ed Howard bass, Steve Slagle alto sax, and Stephen Riley, tenor sax
Guitarist Dave Stryker leads an all--star group made up of fellow West Orange residents Xavier Davis piano, Ed Howard bass, and Steven Riley on tenor sax. They are joined by Montclair drum legend Billy Hart, and alto saxist Steve Slagle. Stryker, recently voted a Rising Star in the 2008 Down Beat Readers Poll, worked with Stanley Turrentine for over 10 years and has released 20 CD's under his own name. Xavier Davis has also released several CD's and along with Billy Hart who performs on Dave's most recent CD "Strike up the Band" (SteepleChase). Billy Hart is known as one of the greatest drummers alive and has played with everyone from Miles Davis to Stan Getz. Ed Howard has played with Roy Haynes and Shirley Horn, and is a member of the Stryker / Slagle Band which Dave co-leads with Steve Slagle, who has 10 CD's of his own out, as well as work with Mingus Big Band, and Joe Lovano Nonet. Steven Riley has released 3 CD's on SteepleChase and worked with Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr.

4:00 pm - Nat Adderly Jr. Trio
Nat Adderley, Jr. is best known for his work as producer, arranger, songwriter and long-time pianist and musical director for Luther Vandross. His compositions include “Stop to Love,” “Wait for Love” and the GRAMMY-nominated “Give Me the Reason.” His many arrangements for Vandross include “Superstar,” “If Only for One Night,” “Creepin’,” and the GRAMMY-winning “Here and Now.” He produced numerous recordings for Vandross, including “My Favorite Things,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and the GRAMMY-winning duet with Beyoncé, “The Closer I Get to You” as well as Luther Live at Radio City Music Hall. He has also written arrangements for Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick. Adderley has also served as musical director for Ashford and Simpson and worked with Melba More and Angie Bofill. He is currently touring with Tom Scott.

5:00 pm - Cecil Brooks III and Hot Dog featuring Matt Chertkoff, guitar and Kyle Kohler on organ
A West Orange resident, Cecil Brooks III is not only the proprietor of the world-famous Cecil’s Jazz Club and Restaurant, a small, West Orange club about 20 minutes west of Manhattan, but is also an internationally-known drummer and producer of many well-known recordings. A recent winner of Downbeat Magazine’s Critic’s Poll for “Producer Deserving Wider Recognition,” Cecil has performed with such jazz greats as Stanley Turrentine, John Hicks, Billy Eckstine, Jimmy Smith, Geri Allen, and Nat Adderley. His latest project, Hot D.O.G. (drums, organ, guitar) features B3 great Kyle Koehler and renowned guitarist Matt Chertkoff.

6:00 pm - Dizzy Gillespie All Stars featuring John Lee and special guests
The Dizzy Gillespie big band tradition lives on, nurtured by Gillespie alumnus John Lee, program director and bassist of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars. In the ‘early ‘70s Lee was bassist for the Max Roach Quartet. Moving to Europe, he worked and recorded with Gary Bartz, Joe Henderson, Charlie Mariano, and Toots Thielemans. In 1982, Lee joined the McCoy Tyner Quintet, leaving in ’84 to join the Dizzy Gillespie Group. He was a member of Dizzy's various bands, including the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, the 70th Anniversary Big Band and the United Nation Orchestra, until 1992. Besides producing, writing and performing, Lee is program director for “DIZZY: The Man and the Music,” the official concert and clinic program celebrating the life and work of John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie.

7:00 pm - Mayra Casales Latin Band brings her band "Women on Fire" with Cuban Francois Zayas on drums
Mayra Casales, born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Miami, immersed herself in the Afro-Cuban musical culture of her environment. In Miami, she studied with Carlos “Patato” Valdez and soon was performing with some of the biggest names in Latin music: Celia Cruz, Machito, Joe Cuba, Miguelito Valdez and Tito Puente. In 1978, Mayra moved to New York where she worked with such artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, Angela Bofill, Tania Maria, and Grady Tate. She has toured with Sophie B. Hawkins and Regina Carter, with whom she has performed and recorded for the past eight years. Casales has just released her first CD, Woman on Fire/Mujer Ardiente, which has reached #19 on the world charts. The band includes Bill O'Connell (piano), Jennifer Vincent (bass), Francois Zayas (drums), Oriente Lopez (flute), Reut Regev (trombone) with Myra Casales (percussion and vocals).

The performances on Sunday include:

12:00 pm - Jane Stuart and Friends
Jane Stuart is a jazz vocalist; whose recent highly acclaimed CD “Beginning To See The Light” received the Blue Chip Award for “Best Jazz Vocals” given by renowned jazz reviewer Dr. Herb Wong / Intl. Assoc.of Jazz Educators. Some of her credits include, singing with The Jazz Mobile series of Joe Papp’s N.Y. Shakespeare Festival Theatre alongside the late Woody Shaw, Hal Vic, Freddie Waites and with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis quintet, including Jon Faddis, Roland Hanna, and George Mraz. She has sung with Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson, Dick Oatts, Kenny Rankin, Gerry Neiwood, to name a few

1:00 pm - The Bob DeVos Organ Trio with Dan Kostelnik on organ, Steve Johns on drums featuring vocalist Kevin Burke
With long, blues-drenched lines; a warm, fat sound; and a horn-like, melodic approach, guitar powerhouse Bob DeVos has a strong following for his innovative work with a who’s who of jazz legends both in and outside of the Hammond B3 organ genre. Joined with organist Dan Kostelnik and drummer Steve Johns, his trio thrills audiences nationwide with their tight-knit performances of jazz standards, Rhythm & Blues, ballads, and Bob’s hip compositions and arrangements. With his signature mix of groove and sophistication, Bob's recent HighNote/Savant Records releases, “Playing for Keeps” and “Shifting Sands,” were in the top ten nationwide jazz radio airplay charts for 46 weeks, as well on many Top CDs of the Year lists. Vocalist Kevin Burke is a member of Jon Hendricks and Co.

2:00 pm - Oscar Perez Nuevo Comienzo piano, Greg Glassman trumpet, Stacy Dillard sax, Anthony Perez bass, Jerome Jennings drums, with special guests Emiliano Valerio on percussion and Charenee Wade on vocals
Pianist Oscar Perez is a New York City native whose training has been as diverse as his musical tastes. During his high school years, he studied with two very prominent classical pianists, Robert Harris (Juilliard faculty) and Edgar Roberts (New York University faculty). He was later a student of Danilo Perez and Sir Roland Hanna at the New England Conservatory and the Aaron Copland School of Music, respectively. He has spent recent years traveling and playing in the musical groups of Wycliffe Gordon, Virginia Mayhew, and Steve Turre. He premiers his latest project, “Afro-pean Affair,” created with support from Chamber Music America’s New Works: Creation and Presentation Program. Oscar Perez Nuevo Comienzo includes Stacy Dillard (saxophones), Greg Glassman (trumpet), Anthony Perez (bass), Jerome Jennings (drums), Emiliano Valerio (percussion) and Charenee Wade (voice).

3:00 pm - Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim with the Vic Juris Quintet - Featuring Nilson Matta, Mauricio Zottarelli, Kate Baker and Steve Wilson on Alto Sax
Vic Juris is one of the world’s premier jazz guitarists. Since his emergence on the scene in the 1970s, his international career has included associations with Dizzy Gillesie, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith Sarah Vaughan, Michel Legrand, Chico Hamilton, Gary Peacock, Richie Cole, Mel Torme, Eddie Jefferson, Bireli LaGrene, and, since 1991, the renowned David Liebman Group. Juris is also one of the leading jazz educators in the world and has written two highly regarded guitar books published by Mel Bay. He currently teaches at The New School and Rutgers University and has conducted clinics throughout the U.S. and Europe. OSPAC Executive Director Kate Baker is an internationally renowned jazz singer who has performed at the Carini Jazz Festival, The North Sea Jazz Festival, and the JVC Jazz Festival. Her distinctive vocal style and lyrical expression have made her one of today’s most sought-after singers. Newsday said, "Kate Baker’s phrasing and rhythmic concept are brilliant." Nilson Matta, has performed and recorded with such renowned artists as Paquito D’Rivera, Slide Hampton, Herbie Mann, Mark Murphy, Trio de Paz, and Kenny Barron. Matta worked extensively with four-time GRAMMY Award-winning saxophonist Joe Henderson. Steve Wilson has brought his distinctive sound to more than 100 recordings led by such celebrated and wide-ranging artists as Chick Corea, George Duke, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, Bill Bruford, Gerald Wilson, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd, Billy Childs, Karrin Allyson, Don Byron, Bill Stewart, James Williams, and Mulgrew Miller among many others.

4:00 pm - Ali Jackson Trio featuring Aaron Goldberg piano, and Carlos Henriquez on bass
Drummer Ali Jackson, the principal drummer and percussionist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a member of the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, studied with master teachers Elvin Jones and Max Roach. He has been part of Young Audiences, a program that educates New York City youth about jazz, and has also hosted “Jammin’ with Jackson,” a series for young musicians at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. He has performed and recorded with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Harry Connick Jr., Joshua Redman, and Diana Krall. Jackson has released several CDs as a bandleader, including Wheelz Keep Rollin'. He was recently featured on the CD/DVD Two Men with the Blues, a Blue Note release with Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson.

5:00 pm - Grammy Award winning New York Voices
Celebrating their 21st anniversary this year, the GRAMMY® Award-winning New York Voices are renowned for excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. Their critically acclaimed self-titled debut on GRP records in 1989 established the group on the cutting edge of vocal ensemble singing, breathing new life into a genre pioneered in the late ‘50s by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. The New York Voices: Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian and Lauren Kinhan -- have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the North Sea Jazz Festival, and the Blue Note Jazz Clubs (New York & Japan). They have performed and recorded with a variety of artists, including Ray Brown, George Benson, Paquito D'Rivera and the Count Basie Orchestra.In addition to their own CDs, the group has made many guest appearances on recordings and live performances. Their most recent release is "A Day Like This".