Across the Atlantic Jazz isn't just Manhatten or even New York. New Jersey also seems to have a thriving, albeit maybe parochial, scene particularly down on the Jersey Shore.
Our girl, long-time ex-pat Lydia sent me some info on the Asbury Park Jazz Festival that took place on June 26, 27.
It was held in the, fortunately inappropriately named, Rain Garden and the emphasis was on Jersey talent including Kevin G. Saunders, a former two term Mayor of Asbury Park, and his band The Mayor's Players.
This got me to look around our own local councils but hard as I tried I couldn't find anyone likely to perform at an Old Town Hall Jazz Concert.
Getting back to Jersey there seems to be free festivals all over the place.
In Redbank, at the Count Basie Theatre Max Weimberg, former drummer with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, led his own big band in a tribute to The Count and also Buddy Rich who he described as "The Frank Sinatra and the Picasso of drums". Good description.
Other names which caught my fancy were the Jazz Lobsters and the Gas House Gorillas.
Yes it's all happening down on the Shore as indeed it will be next weekend, closer to home, at Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay.
Lance via Lydia.
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