For 26 years, Atlantic City’s Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation has presented “Jazz on the Beach,” a series of free jazz concerts that take place on the Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza. The Foundation’s bookings through the years have been diverse and well thought out, combining impressive newcomers with proven, crowd-pleasing veterans. And the Foundation has insisted on presenting Atlantic City-based performers as opening acts, a once-common practice on the jazz circuit that’s all but disappeared.
This year’s slate of shows, which run from 7 to 10 p.m. every Thursday from Aug. 6 through Sept. 3, is a cut down version of previous year’s lineups, which usually began in July. The suspicion is, given today’s strange political climate, that funding was an issue, which would account for the last-minute bookings—the Sept. 3 spot is still to be booked—and the reduced number of shows. No matter. The lineup is still great.
Opening the series on Aug. 6th is vibraphonist, drummer and pianist Warren Wolf who has performed with a number of ensembles all over the world, and his recorded works—there are ten right now—have all been well received. In that I’ve been fooling around with the vibes for most of my professional career, I’ve listening carefully to Wolf. This man is a giant. His technique is unparalleled and his knowledge of the jazz tradition is refreshing. A must hear. Opening is our area’s rocking organist, Keith Hollis.
Drummer Marcus Gilmore is a Grammy Award-winning drummer, composer and bandleader who has recorded with everyone from Ravi Coltrane to Natalie Cole. If Gilmore sounds as if he sometimes channels the late and great drumming legend, Roy Haynes, it’s no coincidence. Haynes is Gilmore’s grandfather. He also seamlessly integrates the influences of Elvin Jones and Max Roach into his melodic solos, which are much more than crowd-pleasers. Like a great horn solo, Gilmore’s solos say something. The swinging drummer Tony Day, who appears often at Atlantic City’s popular Kelsey’s, opens the show.
The booking of pianist/composer Amina Figarova is an example of just how thoughtful the Foundation’s bookings are. A native of Baku, Azerbaijan (the largest city on the Caspian Sea), Jazz Times magazine described her as “among the most important composers to come into jazz in the new millennium.” Listen for yourself—she’s all over YouTube—and you’ll find her music mesmerizing, sometimes challenging, but always accessible. Opening the show is the versatile veteran singer Carrie Jackson. Stylistically, Jackson embodies the jazz tradition and she swings like the devil.
Appearing Aug. 27 is singer Jean Carne, probably the most well-known of all the performers booked this year. Her early recordings on the Philadelphia International record label all did well, but it wasn’t until 1986, when Grover Washington, Jr. produced her “Closer Than Close” recording, that she hit number one. The 11th inductee honored with a plaque into The Atlantic City Walk of Fame last year, Carne’s performances are always an event. Singer Gina Roche, a certifiable treasure in these parts, opens. Maybe Gina and Jean will sing one together.
Brass Transit at the Ocean City Music Pier
The South Jersey Jazz Society’s Joe Donofrio is a producer and manager—he managed the legendary guitarist, Pat Martino for 25 years–who is one of the most respected individuals in the jazz world. When he calls with a suggestion, I listen. He’s very enthusiastic about a group he’s been handling for some 14 years, Brass Transit, set to appear with the Ocean City Pops at the Ocean City Music Pier on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Since 2008, Brass Transit has been celebrating the musical legacy of Chicago, among the first mainstream/pop groups to successfully integrate jazz as the foundation of its style. This is no mere cover band, as the eight musicians involved are tremendously versatile, musical and accomplished. Examples: Pianist Don Breithaupt won the Emmy Award for Best Original Song. Drummer Paul DeLong is a respected jazz educator who has worked closely with platinum-selling rock artist Kim Mitchell. These veterans can play anything, and in fact, on their new recording, they go beyond the music of Chicago and interpret the music of other 1970s rock groups.
Indicative of Brass Transit’s musicianship is the recording, “The Symphony Sessions,” from 2024. In this project, the group performs the Chicago hits with a large symphony orchestra. This is not easy music to play and combinations like this sometimes come off as stilted and cumbersome. Not this. It’s beautifully played and just wonderful to listen to. Brass Transit, without doubt, will be rocking the Ocean City Pier. Just like Chicago would have.
Bruce Klauber is the author of four books, an award-winning music journalist, concert and record producer and publicist, producer of the Warner Brothers and Hudson Music “Jazz Legends” film series, and performs both as a drummer and vocalist.
