Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
Michael Pedicin, Jr., has been a presence on the Atlantic City music scene for decades in many capacities. His latest musical offering finds Pedicin paying homage to many of the great jazz saxophonists of the last six decades at the Ocean City Public Library (OCPL), in a four-part series beginning this Sunday, Feb. 4, with saxman Chris Farr (pictured above) performing.
Successive weeks will see performances by Carl Cox (Feb. 11), Louis Taylor (Feb. 18), and Adam Niewood (Feb. 25). Start time for each event is 2 p.m. Admission is free. The band includes bassist Andy Lalais and drummer Bob Shomo. The concerts will be held in the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall. The OCPL address is 1735 Simpson Ave.
Pedicin was originally set to perform the music himself by greats such as John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Dexter Gordon, Atan Getz, Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett, and others with his well-respected rhythm section, but had to bow out due to a hand and wrist injury.
“In addition to the live performance on each February Sunday at 2 p.m., the concerts will be live-streamed as well,” says Pedicin. “At the end of each seventy-five-minute performance, myself and the other musicians will spend fifteen to twenty minutes answering any questions about the music and players represented and/or discussed. We will welcome you at the Ocean City Free Public Library!”
For additional information on this fine music series, visit: www.oceancitylibrary.org.
News ‘N’ Notes: While we’re on the subject of jazz, don’t miss the Tom Angello All-Stars (led by the renowned drummer of the same name, plus Steve Beskrone on bass and Bill Schilling on piano) with special guest vocalist Suzanne Cloud Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Gregory’s in Somers Point (7-8:30 p.m.) It’s free for South Jersey Jazz Society Patrons, $10 for SJJS members, and $15 for non-members.
Cloud is a past executive director of Jazz Bridge, which sponsors and supports the Philadelphia jazz and blues communities in many ways. Cloud is currently the director of the Philadelphia Jazz Legacy Project. Gregory’s is located at 900 Shore Road in Somers Point. Tickets/info: https://southjerseyjazz.org/
Atlantic City continues to be a big destination for Legacy R&B/hip-hop acts, all performing at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. This Saturday, Feb. 3, finds a solid multi-artist bill of DaBaby, Chinese Kitty, NLE Choppa and others. Tickets/info: https://www.boardwalkhall.com/. Anchor Rock Club on New York Avenue presents its always-popular Emo Night with David Earl spinning angst-y anthems Saturday, Feb. 10, and there’s no cover.
Mezzin’ Out: Fat Mezz, young (all under 30) rockers who perform cool versions of predominantly classic rock tunes and are booked throughout the Tri-State area, most of which are practically twice as old of any of the band members, have also been making noise lately with their original music. They recently released a well-received single, “Sleeping with The Fish,” and are heading to Memphis this week (through Feb. 7) to record some originals at Memphis Magnetic Recording. Locally, catch Fat Mezz in the Hard Rock Lobby Bar on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
In Closing: The big two-night Tedeschi-Trucks Band/Little Feat shows at Hard Rock Casino Hotel (Feb. 16 and 17) just got a little more interesting with word that celebrated New Orleans-based funksters Dumpstaphunk will perform at an after-party in the Hard Rock’s Sound Waves on Feb. 17 at midnight (tickets $25 via Ticketmaster). Anchor Rock Club, meanwhile, features the always-popular Billy Walton Band playing their originals, also a Tedeschi Trucks after-party, Saturday, Feb. 17 (10:30 p.m., tickets $13).
