Atlantic City Weekly

MONKadelphia will play the music of Thelonious Monk on Saturday, March 13 at Gregory's

What has evolved into a most popular and highly anticipated festival featuring many top-flight jazz musicians from in and around the area turns 12 years old this month.

Presented by the Somers Point Jazz Society (SPJS), the 2010 version of the Cape Bank Jazz @the Point festival will take place Thursday through Sunday, March 11-14, and spotlight 11 ensembles performing at four different Somers Point venues.

Last year’s festival was one of the best attended in the event’s history, according to SPJS president Nick Regine, and this year’s promises to be intriguing with most of the acts having never performed at the festival.

The acts include the Ed Vezinho/Jim Ward Big Band and the Sharon Sable Quintet (both performing Thursday); the Barry Miles/Terry Silverlight Quartet, the Jim Snidero Quartet and the Hassan Abdullah Quintet (Friday); the Conrad Herwig Septet, Bob DeVos Quartet and MONKadelphia (Saturday); and the Grant Stewart Quartet, Rick Germanson Trio and KJ Denhert and the New York Unit (Sunday).

Ticket revenue supports the Jazz and Music Education Program in the Somers Point Public Schools.

“Last year our revenues were down mainly because we took in less money through grants and sponsorships," says Regine, "but the gate [at the annual festival] was great and we’ve been in the black each year. We’re accomplishing our mission.”

Regine says the headliner this year — the Conrad Herwig Septet — is not to be missed.

“The big act is Conrad,” says Regine. “He’s opened for the Monterey Jazz Festival for two years, which is one of the biggest jazz fests in world.”

“We like to see the gate in the $10,000 range,” adds Regine. “So we have our fingers crossed that will happened and if that does we’ll have another successful event.”

Regine adds that more ingredients, however, go into a successful festival in his eyes.

“My gauge of success is how full the rooms are and how people are enjoying the music.”

Thursday’s performances are free, and an all-event weekend ticket is $50 in advance ($60 at the door). All-day passes can be purchased separately for Friday ($30), Saturday ($35) and Sunday ($25) by calling 927-6677 or going to spjazz.org.

Shuttle buses will be available Saturday and Sunday night going between venues.

Here is the complete schedule:

Thursday, March 11, 2010 
Ed Vezinho/Jim Ward Big Band,  7 - 10 PM at Calvary Bible Church, 900 W. New York Ave., Somers Point, NJ  08244

Sharon Sable Quintet,   8:30 – 11:30 PM at Gregory’s Bar and Restaurant, 900 Shore Rd., Somers Point, NJ 08244

Friday, March 12, 2010
Barry Miles/Terry Silverlight Quartet, sets starting at 8 and 10 PM,
Sandi Pointe Restaurant (formerly Mac’s) 908 Shore Rd., Somers Point, NJ 08244

Jim Snidero Quartet, sets starting at 8 and 10 PM, Greate Bay Country Club, 901 Mays Landing Rd., Somers Point, NJ  08244

Hassan Abdullah Quintet, sets starting at 9 and 11 PM, Gregory’s Bar and Restaurant, 900 Shore Rd., Somers Point, NJ  08244

Saturday, March 13, 2010
Conrad Herwig Septet, 8 and 10 PM,  Sandi Pointe Restaurant (formerly Mac’s) 908 Shore Rd., Somers Point, NJ 08244

Bob DeVos Quartet, 8 and 10 PM, Greate Bay Country Club, 901 Mays Landing Rd., Somers Point, NJ  08244

MONKadelphia, 9 and 11 PM Gregory’s Bar and Restaurant, 900 Shore Rd., Somers Point, NJ  08244

Sunday, March 14, 2010
KJ Denhert and the NY Unit  4 and 6 PM, Sandi Pointe Restaurant (formerly Mac’s) 908 Shore Rd., Somers Point, NJ 08244

Grant Stewart Quartet, 2 and 4 PM Greate Bay Country Club, 901 Mays Landing Rd., Somers Point, NJ  08244

Rick Germanson Trio, 2 and 4 PM, Gregory’s Bar and Restaurant, 900 Shore Rd., Somers Point, NJ  08244

Find out more about the artists and the festival at spjazz.org.