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Skylands
Writers & Artists Association with Centenary College Humanities Department
and The New Jersey Council for the Humanities will be presenting a free
concert of jazz classics featuring great American lyricists and composers,
among them George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Richard Rodgers, Cole
Porter and Billy Holiday, on April 25, Sunday at 3 p.m. in the front parlors
of Centenary College at 400 Jefferson Street in Hackettstown.
Featured
artists include The Sir Robin Clark Trio, The Nancy and Spencer Reed Duo,
and Daniela G. lyricist, hosting. The program is made possible by a grant
from The NJ Council for the Humanities, a state agency of the National Endowment
for the Humanities. A trio of wide professional accomplishment, The Sir Robin Clark Trio features Sir Robin Clark at the piano and singing, and Jaimeo Robin Brown from the William Paterson College of Jazz playing drums. Don Chavel Brown, from Staten Island, plays both alto and tenor saxand flute. Sir Robin Clark, called "Superstar" by Roy Eldridge, has travelled widely since his birth in Philadelphia, having been a saxophone player for the Arcadians, a 12-man jazz and dance band led by the inspiring Leroy Lovett. The orchestra featured the music of Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Charlie Barnett, BillieStrayhorn and Duke Ellington. With his oldest brother, Gillette Brown, Sir Robin played regularly at the Strand Ballroom in Philly with Jimmy Adams and Doc Bagby Orchestras. Sir Robin Clark went to sea with the Maritime Service and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant J.G. Again in Philadelphia, he continued his musical studies with William Happich, Abe Belov and Gertrude Williams, concentrating on harmony, saxaphone and piano, respectively. In Los Angeles in the late 1940's, he studied with Merle Johnston Sam Jepperson, and Bud Scott, at which time he became involved with the Schillinger System of Composition. By 1948, he had performed on several live radio shows in the Mid-West and by 1959 had toured the West and Northwest, including Alaska. Sir Robin became a confirmed solo performer on piano and vocals and from 1959 on he has been in the New York area and shared the stage with such artists as Roy Eldridge, Cab Colloway, Ray Nance, Zoot Simms, Woody Herman, Arthur Prysock, Helen Humes, Eddie Durham and many others.He's appeared at the Concord Hotel, the Waldorf Astoria, the Gaslight Club, the Colony Restaurant and the Water Club. Sir Robin plays regularly at the Front Porch Restaurant in Newton and is currently recording a C.D. titled "Sir Robin Sings." Nancy and Spencer Reed, known for their superb, hit C.D. titled "Together," have been playing and singing together as a team for many years, as for example at the Deer Head Inn and The Pocono Jazz Festival where they've performed regularly with Spencer on guitar and Nancy on bass, both providing vocals and harmonies. Though renown as a duo, they've often worked separately. Nancy Reed has toured Japan on her own as well as Latin America with Spencer Reed. Her latest C.D. Is titled "A Time for Love" with Bob Leonhardt on piano. Spencer has played with renown artists like Billy Daniels and The Crosby Bob Cats, Robert Goulet and many others, and he's a talented drummer as well as renown guitar. The duo has been heard at Shanghi Jazz in Madison, Trumpets in Montclair, and all over the Metropolitan Area. They've worked with Daniela G. vocalist and lyricist, at Lafayette Village, The NJ State Botanicals, Al Lago Restaurant and numerous other venues. Daniela G., president of Skylands Writers & Artists Association, will host and perform with the artists who will create an improvisatory finale by jamming on a Strayhorn-Ellington tune, "A-train." This promises to be a gala afternoon of jazz classics, followed by refreshments and a symposium with the artists. All are welcome free of admission. For directions and information call (908)852-1400. Ext. 2267. |
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