The Jersey Shore Jazz Vespers step away from their usual venue this weekend, as the musical group performs at Dante Hall in Atlantic City. Formed in 1988 by the Rev. Clancy Wilson, the band developed its musical cohesion at the Ventnor Trinity United Methodist Church and has attracted hundreds of jazz aficionados and musicians over the years.
This Friday, the JSJV, consisting of pianist Tony Deluca, guitarist John Mulhern, drummer Tony Day, trumpeters Clancy Wilson and Jack Melton, bassist Andy Alalasis and vocalist Kathleen Angela, will go "on the road" to Dante Hall. The concert will kick off a summer tour that will expose this unique jazz service to a vast range of audiences.
The jazz vespers concept began at churches such as the Church of St. John the Divine and St. Peters Lutheran Church in New York City, where many jazz greats, including Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis and Pat Metheny, contributed to the formation of religious music within a jazz context. Rev. Wilson agrees with the jazz-spirituality concept and adds, "Jazz is the musical incense that collects and carries the prayers of a people."
According to Rev. Norm Freeman some churches carry it one step further. "St. John's African Orthodox Church in San Francisco regards John Coltrane as its 'patron saint.' Founded by jazz musicians, this church includes Coltrane's music in their Sunday liturgies."
Locally, the Ventnor Trinity United Methodist Church has served its parishioners well. "It's become known as the 'Jazz Church,' say Lelah Eppenbach marketing director of Dante Hall. "It's drawn people of all faiths and backgrounds, just for the sake of the great music." -- Steve Angelucci
The Jersey Shore Jazz Vespers perform on Friday, May 11, at Dante Hall, 14 N. Mississippi Ave., Atlantic City at 8pm. Tickets are $20. Call 344-8877 or visit www.dantehall.org.
Fiddler on the Roof 
This weekend the classic Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof comes to the Milton and Betty Katz Jewish Community Center thanks to the talents of the JCC Players and producer Jerry Steiner.
"This is the 15th anniversary performance of Fiddler," says Steiner, who also performed in the 1992 production at the Jewish Community Center. "This is the third time we've done this show in 35 years here at the center. It was done in 1972 when Gil Katz was Tevye and Chad Parlett was Motel the tailor and now 35 years later Chad is Tevye ... What a powerhouse cast we've assembled!"
The play, taking place over the next two weekends, also features Brian Vigue as Lazar Wolfe, Heather Boone as Golde, Allie Constantine as Tzeital, Alex London as Hodel and Steve Perskie as the constable, along with many other local actors. "We are sure you know someone in the cast," adds Steiner, a local attorney. "The cast list can be found on our Web site: www.jccatlantic.org.";
Originally entitled Tevye, the play is based on the character Tevye and derived from stories about him, including Tevye and his Daughters and Tevye the Milkman by Sholom Aleichem, which were originally published in 1894. The musical, set in Tsarist Russia, is about a pious Jewish milkman who, as the father of five daughters, attempts to maintain family and religious traditions while life around him changes rapidly. This is especially true as he deals with his daughters' nontraditional choices of husbands.
"We guarantee you will be more than entertained; you'll be enthralled," says Steiner. -- SA
Fiddler on the Roof at the Jewish Community Center, 501 W. Jerome Ave., Margate on Thursday, May 10 at 7:30pm; Saturdays, May 12 and 19 at 8pm; and Sundays May 13 and 20 at 2pm. Tickets range from $11 to $20 with $2 discounts for seniors and students.
“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.”
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