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| 16th Annual Jazzfeast at Palmer Square in Princeton, NJ On Saturday, September 15, 2007, Palmer Square will host their 16th annual Jazzfeast. The open-air jazz festival features performances by some of the industry's best jazz musicians and showcases cuisine from a selection of the area's finest restaurants. The incredible musical line-up this year includes The New Legacy Jazz Band featuring Beth McDonald , The Kenny Werner Trio, Greg Piccolo, The Princeton University Jazztet and The Jon Burr Band. “We were getting some feedback that the day should last a little longer,” explains Anita Fresolone, Marketing Director for Palmer Square. “So we are testing it out this year and are very excited that our additional act is a local one, as the Princeton University Jazztet will be joining us - the first time we've had a group from the University.” Food vendors at Jazzfeast are not serving up your average festival food. Gourmet selections ranging from samosas and Paella to pulled pork and grilled clams are just some of the many things on the menu. Participating restaurants include: Alchemist & Barrister, Buzzetta Catering, Chez Alice Gourmet Cafe & Bakery, Masala Grill, Mediterra, Mehek, Teresa Caffe, The Original SoupMan, Tico's, Tiger Noodles, Tiger's Tale, Triumph Brewery Co., Underground Caf & Restaurant, and Winberie's. Celebrating their 16th consecutive appearance at JazzFeast, the New Legacy Jazz Band is one of America's premier full-time professional ensembles. Featuring the captivating voice of singer/songwriter Beth McDonald, and led by the dynamic and relentlessly swinging drummer Alan Dale, The New Legacy Jazz Band performs at festivals, weddings, corporate and other private receptions, casinos, colleges and theatres throughout the mid-Atlantic states. The New Legacy Jazz Band is dedicated to the highest standards of artistic elegance and professional excellence. Acclaimed pianist Kenny Werner has performed and recorded with many of the giants of modern Jazz, including Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp, Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, and harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, with whom he has been playing duo concerts for the past decade. Since 1999, he has had a trio with Ari Hoenig on drums and Johannes Wiedenmueller on bass. They have released three CDs together: Form and Fantasy, Beat Degeneration and Peace: Live at the Blue Note. In March 2007 he released “Lawn Chair Society,” his first recording for the Blue Note label, with a quintet consisting of Dave Douglas, Chris Potter, Scott Colley, and Brian Blade. Copies of this critically-lauded CD will be available at Jazz Feast. Connecticut-based Greg Piccolo is approaching forty years of touring and recording. He created his “Piccolo sound” by blending blues with traditional jazz, pop, reggae and rock 'n roll. Piccolo's repertoire combines covers of selected obscure gems dressed with unique arrangements and a fluent delivery of American roots music. This dynamic ability to glide from tenor sax, to alto sax, to guitar, and even bass, has made Piccolo a two-time recipient of a Blues Music Award nomination for instrumentation. Greg Piccolo's history encompasses Grammy-winning session work with Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughn and the legendary Big Joe Turner. Additional performances include Hubert Sumlin and Earl King. The Princeton University Jazztet, directed by Anthony D.J. Branker, is one of a number of outstanding groups that are part of the university's jazz program. Its members--alto & soprano saxophonist Irwin Hall, tenor saxophonist Ben Wasserman, pianist Julia Brav, bassist Dean Reynolds, and drummer Chuck Staab--were also part of the University Jazz Composers Collective, which traveled to Estonia during the fall of 2006 for a series of concerts sponsored by the Department of State of the United States of America, the U.S. Embassy in Estonia, and the Estonian Academy of Music. These five musicians have also performed at the University of North Texas Jazz Festival as members of the University Afro-Groove Ensemble. The Jon Burr Band will be premiering new songs form an upcoming record release featuring Houston Person, Bob Mintzter, Ted Rosenthal, Howard Alden, Ty Stephens, Yaala Ballin, Joel Frahm, Laurel Masse, Loston Harris and others. Bassist Jon Burr will be leading an all-star quintet with vocalists. Featured at this performance will be Harry Allen, Jon Davis, John Hart, Anthony Pinciotti and the featured vocalists will be Yaala Ballin and Tony Jefferson. The music has been described as exciting, accessible, engaging, melodic and swinging--all new material, and a sprinkling of familiar titles as well. Don't miss this debut performance of songs you will be hearing for a long time to come! write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |