By Bruce Klauber
Not only has spring arrived; jazz is also arriving at the Jersey Shore.
The 2025 jazz season is getting started early this year, which indicates that the state of this music is healthier than ever. A good deal of that health in these parts is due to the foresight and efforts of the South Jersey Jazz Society, an organization which continues to innovate in terms of the acts booked and where they perform.
Michael Pedicin Jr.’s free “Music of the Jazz Saxophone Masters,” continues its impressive run at the Ocean City Free Library on Sunday, April 6, and Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m. Maestro and saxophone master Pedicin will be backed by a stellar rhythm section: Bassist Andy Lalasis, drummer Bob Shomo, and pianist Jim Ridl, as he explores the music of saxophone icons John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, Michael Brecker, and Kenny Garrett. When it comes to saxophone, no one does it better than Michael Pedicin Jr.
These free events are very popular so best to get to the library as early as possible to ensure getting a seat. See www.oceancitylibrary.org to learn more.
South Jersey Jazz Society and Somers Point’s Gateway Playhouse have announced an important, new partnership. The two iconic organizations are teaming up to present acclaimed jazz trumpeter Benny Benack III, and Broadway star Khailah Johnson in a concert set to take place at the Playhouse 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
What makes the this pairing of the Society and Gateway unique is that this is the first actual co-production between the two organizations. According to Gateway Executive Director Alice Woods, “While SJJS has produced shows at the Gateway before, this is the first time we are fully co-producing, and the two entities are already entertaining additional shows moving forward. We are so excited to be able to bring such extraordinary music to our stage. By bringing our two groups together, we can pool our resources to attract the next level of regional and New York talent. It just strengthens our message that Gateway Playhouse is the venue for arts and entertainment in South Jersey.”
This first show with Benack and Johnson is called “Some Enchanted Evening,” and will feature songs from Broadway and the Great American Songbook. Trumpeter Benack, who also sings, is a rarity in the world of jazz for someone of his age – he’s only 34 – in that he concentrates on an American popular song repertoire and is thoroughly grounded in the jazz tradition. Who else out there at his age would quote “Man with a Horn” in the midst of a trumpet solo on “A Lot of Livin’ to Do?” And his latest recording, “Third Time’s a Charm,” features songs ranging from “Where is the Love?” to “The Shadow of Your Smile.”
He’s quite the showman as well, and can scat sing with the best of them. Benack’s current tour has often included rising jazz vocalist, and another relative youngster Veronica Swift, so it will be interesting to hear the collaboration between Benack and singer Khailah Johnson at Gateway, in that Johnson’s experience is mainly on the Broadway stage.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at GatewayByTheBay.org, or by calling the Karen S. Sutherland Box Office at 609-653-0553.
The late Latin percussionist and bandleader Tito Puente, known as the “King of the Timbales,” was a giant of a player and a major influence in Latin American jazz and dance music. Puente passed away in 2000, but his son, Tito Puente Jr., continues to carry on his father’s legacy. His reasons for that are simple. “There was magic in the music my father made,” he says. “It made people happy all over the world.”
Currently on a nationwide tour, Puente, and his sizzling and swinging ensemble, will appear at Stockton University’s Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5. Tickets are available at the Performing Arts Center’s box office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 90 minutes before showtime. Call 609-652-9000 for more information.
Several continuing jazz events in the area are always worth checking out. Council Oak Steaks & Seafood restaurant, within the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, continues its weekend policy of booking jazz and jazz-oriented performers, including top-notch singers Paula Johns and Paul Jost, and from time to time, the veteran Brazilian ensemble, Minas. And for as long as I can remember, Bob Sterling’s jazz/fusion crew continues to hold forth at Bocca in Margate every Wednesday night.
Pianist and “open mic maven” Bob Egan’s last appearance in Atlantic City took place at the Claridge in December, which is only one reason why this tremendously popular artist’s upcoming appearance at Atlantic City’s newest nightspot and restaurant, the ByrdCage, is so eagerly-anticipated. Egan will be holding forth at the club on Monday, April 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. Egan, deservedly, has a tremendous following, so reservations are recommended.
Early Ticket Alert: Cape May’s Exit Zero Jazz Festival, taking place May 16-18, has been around in various guises since 2012. While the fest has hosted its share of jazz stars through the years, this upcoming confab is one of the most impressive.
Featured performers this spring include pianist Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band, trumpeter/composer Terrance Blanchard, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Trio, and one of jazz’s newest and youngest singing sensations, award-winning vocalist Samara Joy. Note that all shows will take place in Cape May’s Convention Hall. Tickets – which are sure to go very quickly – are available now. Visit exitzerojazzfestival.com for ticketing details and scheduling.
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.
