Countdown to April 29 to PERMANENTLY close M. R. Reiter. Ask the board to see the 6 point plan.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Jazz Fest at Willimason Park Today

Thanks to the emailer who wanted to remind us all about the Jazz Fest THIS AFTERNOON from 3-8 at Williamson Park.

Come on out and join the fun!


Annual jazz festival arrives in Morrisville

Friday, July 18, 2008

The fifth annual Morrisville Jazz Festival will take place 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Williamson Park on Route 32 in Morrisville, Pa.

The lineup will feature Ella Ganht, the Donna Antonow Trio, the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, Eric Mintel and the Midnight Sun Orchestra.

The Philadelphia-based Ganht is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who has been performing professionally since she was a teen. Among other things, she is vocalist for the Philadelphia Legends of Jazz Orchestra, which is directed by her husband, Leon Mitchell. Ganht's debut CD is "Immaculate Union."

The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble has been playing around Philadelphia since its formation in 1979. It was founded by Warren Oree, an acoustic bassist, producer and composer who continued to lead the band in the late 1990s.

The group embraces a variety of acoustic and electric jazz styles -- often combining them with African and Middle Eastern music -- and has dabbled a bit in R&B.

New Jersey native Antonow began playing the piano at an early age and cites such influences as Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Rowles and Red Garland.

She studied voice with Dita Delman, of the New York City Opera and, while studying at William Paterson College, played with such notables as drummer Carl Allen, and saxophonist Bill Evans. She notes Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway as vocal influences.

Local pianist Mintel formed the Eric Mintel Quartet in 1993 to perform original jazz compositions and new interpretations of the American song book.

Also a composer of orchestral music, Mintel performed his composition "Millennium Suite" for jazz quartet and orchestra with the Riverside Symphonia.

The quartet's most recent CD is "Times Change," which among other things includes interpretations of compositions made popular by famed pianist Dave Brubeck.

The Midnight Sun Orchestra is a 17-piece local band that plays monthly at the Havana nightclub in New Hope, Pa.

The festival is free.

In advance of the festival, there will be a concert 6 p.m. tomorrow by the Monday Blues Band, a 16-piece orchestra that specializes in big band music.

For information, call (215) 295-8181.

1 comment:

Peter said...

We all like to bitch when we're not happy. Just wanted to give props for those that sponsored and made this event happen. I only caught a little bit of it, but I'm glad we're trying to make Morrisville a destination, not just a stop for cigarettes. I hope this continues and grows.