The George Mesterhazy Trio Headlines the The 2nd Annual Somers Point Jazz Society Benefit Concert.
If there’s one thing that the Somers Point Jazz Society is blessed with, it’s the support of so many of the southern New Jersey area’s great jazz musicians. Think about that for a second. Normally, you’d expect that to be the other way around. A nonprofit group like the society, dedicated to putting on affordable jazz concerts through state grants and business sponsorships, is designed to support local artists.
But in a pinch, those artists, especially long-established artists such as George Mesterhazy, for example, are always ready to support the society. So, this Sunday, January 10, Mesterhazy and his jazz trio will play the 2nd Annual Somers Point Jazz Society Benefit Concert at the Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point.
“We were very lucky last year that George agreed to play a benefit for us,” says Nick Regine, president of the society. “He’s a local guy, but really he’s a very renowned artist. We held it at the Inlet and about 150 people turned out. So it was well attended. This year, it’s even more important because of the economy and I think George knows that nonprofits suffer at times like these and especially nonprofits that support the arts. So George is coming back and we’re thrilled.”
The Mesterhazy trio is the headliner of the show, which features special guests Joe Barrett and David O’Rourke. Pianist Mesterhazy has played on two Grammy nominated Shirley Horn recordings, “Loving You” and “May The Music Never End” along with several other great jazz artists.
But the show isn’t the only attraction. “We’ve added a silent auction this year and we have some great jazz related items for sale,” Regine says. “We have some photos of great jazz artists taken by Popsie Randolph (one of the great celebrity photographers of the 20th century) and a series of classic LPs and other memorabilia.”
The event supports the society, which offers several jazz series through the year and the four-day Cape Bank Jazz @ The Point festival in March.
“Through is all we strive to keep these shows as affordable as we can,” Regine says. “Even for our festival, a $50 pass gets you into 11 different shows and venues. That’s what this events supports.
Tickets are $25. For information call 927-6677 or 457-7892 or visit spjazz.org.
The Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point was founded in 1910 and moved to its current 280-seat location at Bay and Higbee avenues in the early 1920s. It was purchased by the City of Somers Point in 2006 and has been closed since that time pending much-needed renovations.
Mesterhazy had just played with his renowned trio at Sandi Pointe in Somers Point the night before, Wednesday night, April 11.
The Mulgrew Miller Trio is one of this year’s headlining acts at the 15th annual Somers Point Jazz Society Jazz @ the Point Festival, which runs Thursday through Sunday, March 8-11. Miller’s trio performs two sets (8 and 10pm) Friday, March 9, in the banquet room of Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro (see sidebar for details).
The Mulgrew Miller Trio and Jimmy Cobb's Mob headline this year's 15th annual Cape Bank Jazz @ The Point Festival in March.
“We haven’t had a disappointing month yet, and Dan and Sandi have been fantastic. They’ve gone above and beyond anything we could ask them to do, and the audience has been terrific. It’s been a lot of fun. We couldn’t do it without the support of the community and without the help of Dan and Sandi. They’ve really championed the cause of jazz music in the Somers Point community.”
If you’re a real food fan, ask to sit in the left rear section. Here you’ll be afforded a peek at the kitchen staff, through a screened service portal, as they prepare your meal.
In its first three years, the SPJS Benefit and Silent Auction has raised between $4,000 and $5,000 annually based on a $20-per-person donation, and the silent-auction sale of items donated by the community. This year’s donations include several jazz-oriented pieces of artwork.
You might be surprised to hear Andrew Latz refer to his new Somers Point restaurant as a “return to Bay Avenue.”
'I never want to be a gimmicky woman in jazz. It’s a by-product of what I do, because I am a woman, but I always wanted to be a great musician. ...I like wearing dresses and heels, you know, make-up. It’s funny, because I used to try to blend in when I first moved to New York. I was physically very girly, but I wore slacks and pants, because I wanted to blend in.'
One reason the Cape Bank Jazz @ The Point festival has not only survived but thrived regardless of the economy is that it’s given jazz fans top-flight entertainment for a reasonable fee. That’s certainly the case with the 13th version of the festival, which takes place this Thursday through Sunday, March 10-13, at three venues in Somers Point.
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