Princeton JazzFeast Set for September 11, 2010 in Palmer Square

Posted on 07. Sep, 2010 by PNN Editor in Events, Food, Music

Princeton NJ – On Saturday, September 11, 2010, Palmer Square will host their 19^th annual JazzFeast.  The open-air festival features performances by some of the industry’s best jazz musicians and showcases cuisine from a selection of the area’s finest restaurants.

This Year’s Musical Line-up Includes:

Noon-1:00pm  Princeton University Jazztet
1:15-2:15pm   Alan Dale & the New Legacy Jazz Band
2:30-3:30pm   Nicki Parrott and Friends: Bucky Pizzarelli, Harry Allen and Rossano Sportiello
3:45-4:45pm   The Fins
5:00-6:00pm   Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks

This annual street festival draws more people to Princeton NJ than any other Palmer Square event.

New Jersey Jazz Society (NJJS) co-founder Jack Stine spent 18 years as JazzFeast’s only musical producer. As announced last year, Jack decided to pass the baton to another NJJS member, cornetist and bandleader Ed Polcer.

“We are so pleased to be working with Ed Polcer.  He did a great job keeping with the tradition of this event and is presenting a program that includes a broad spectrum of jazz styles, ranging from traditional through contemporary jazz,” says Anita Fresolone, Marketing Director for Palmer Square.

“Newcomers to Jazzfeast will be the international all-stars of Nicki Parrott and Friends,” explains Mr. Polcer.  “Nicki’s from Australia, pianist Rossano Sportiello is from Italy, while Bucky Pizzarelli hails from New Jersey and Harry Allen from Washington, DC.  Also new this year will be the ever-popular Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, considered to be New York’s best classic jazz orchestra.”

In addition to great burgers, sausage sandwiches and the like, the menu at Jazzfeast is eclectic with food vendors serving up selections including jerk chicken, samosas, pad Thai, paella, pulled pork, grilled clams and more.

Participating Restaurants Include:

Blossom’s Catering,
Buzzetta’s Festival Foods,
Elements,
Masala Grill,
Mediterra,
Mehek,
Princeton Soup & Sandwich Company,
Teresa Caffe,
Thomas Sweet Chocolate,
Tico’s,
Tiger Noodles,
Tiger’s Tale,
Triumph Brewing Company,
Winberie’s Restaurant & Bar,
Whole Earth Center,
Yankee Doodle Tap Room,

The event takes place from Noon-6pm, rain or shine, on the Palmer Square Green.  Musical performances are free; food vendors charge accordingly.  BUCKS LIFE magazine is the Media Sponsor of the event.

Noon-1:00pm
Princeton University Jazztet, directed by Anthony D.J. Branker
The Princeton University Jazztet, directed by Dr. Anthony D.J. Branker is one of a number of outstanding groups that are part of the university’s jazz program. Princeton’s jazz students and ensembles have received national awards from Down Beat magazine; collaborated in performance with the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and the Delaware Valley Philharmonic Orchestra; performed internationally in China and Estonia; appeared at the International Association for Jazz Education Conference, North Texas Jazz Festival, and the University of Notre Dame Intercollegiate Jazz Festival; and have performed in the IAJE Sisters-in-Jazz All Star Quintet in Toronto, Canada and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  The members of the University Jazztet include trumpeter Will Livengood, trombonist Mark Nagy, pianist Jason Weinreb, bassist Eric Weiser, and drummer Will Kain

1:15pm -2:15pm
New Legacy Jazz Band

Celebrating their 19^th consecutive appearance at JazzFeast, the New Legacy Jazz Band is one of America’s premier full-time professional ensembles.  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. Honoring a heritage of genius in American popular music, the New Legacy Jazz Band is dedicated to the highest standards of artistic elegance and professional excellence.

2:30pm-3:30pm
Nicki Parrott and Friends Bucky Pizzarelli, Harry Allen and Rossano Sportiello
Nicki Parrott came to New York in May 1994 on an Arts Council grant from Australia to study with the acclaimed bassist, Rufus Reid. Since coming to New York she has performed with notable musicians such as Clark Terry, Michel Legrand and New York Pops Orchestra.  She has also headlined with her sister, Lisa Parrott, at the prestigious Tribute to Mary Lou Williams festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  Nicki has been known to play Monday nights at the Iridium Jazz Club with the legendary guitarist and inventor, Les Paul.  Her Broadway performances include Avenue Q, Charlie Brown and Jekyll and Hyde. Nicki has performed at major jazz festivals in Litchfield, CT, Newport, RI, and Detroit, MI, as well internationally in Canada, Poland and Australia.   Nicki has been honored by Swing Journal for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2007 and 2008.  Most recently she recorded a song on “All My Friends Are Here,” a tribute to Arif Mardin, alongside, Chaka Khan, Barry Gibbs, Norah Jones, Carly Simon and Bette Midler.

3:45pm-4:45pm
The Fins

The Fins, hailing from New Jersey, have brought together several particularly rich musical styles to form one powerful, hard driving sound. During their tenure they have been the vanguard of rhythm and blues. The Fins are credited with bringing big band blues to the east coast. Their blend of rhythm & blues, jump, swing, jazz and urban Chicago sound has been exciting audiences wherever they perform. Since the group’s inception, The Fins have performed and shared the stage with such legends as B.B. King, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Phil Woods, A.C. Reed, KoKo Taylor, Mitch Woods, Ronnie Earl, Otis Rush, Ray Charles, Bobby Rush, Mick Taylor, Dr. John, George Thorogood, Johnny Lang, Wilson Pickett, Rod Piazza and James Brown.  The Fins have been touring the United States and Europe in support of their two releases on M.A.S. Records, Bluesprint and Superstar.

5:00pm-6:00pm

Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks

Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, Vince began his odyssey into the world of music at the age of five. Vince began playing tuba, string bass, bass sax, and banjo.  Later he became interested in the music of Bix Beiderbecke and studied with Bill Challis, the legendary arranger for the Paul Whiteman and Jean Goldkette Orchestras. You’ve seen and heard Vince Giordano in movies by Woody Allen, Sam Mendes, Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese. And as the go-to guy for authentic 20’s & 30’s jazz arrangements he will be providing much of the music and appearing in the highly anticipated Scorsese HBO series Boardwalk Empire this September 19. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks play every Monday and Tuesday night at Sofia’s downstairs at the Edison Hotel in NYC.

About Ed Polcer, Musical Producer

Like many jazzmen, Ed comes from a musical family. His father and uncle were prominent horn players in New Jersey, where Ed grew up. At Princeton University in the mid 50′s, he joined Stan Rubin’s Tigertown Five.

If you dropped in at Eddie Condon’s club in New York City between 1975 and 1985, chances are good you ran across Ed. Besides being the resident cornetist and bandleader at that historic jazz spot, he was also the manager and co-owner. President Clinton invited Ed to play for the 1994 Congressional Ball in the White House, and in 2001, Ed appeared in a command performance in Bangkok for the King of Thailand.
During the past several years, Ed Polcer has appeared in hundreds of concerts, festivals and jazz parties throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Ed’s musical versatility and leadership have earned him a reputation as a dynamic bandleader, and he is often called upon to organize festivals, concerts, dances and parties.