NJ Senate OKs 'Clarence Clemons Day'

Resolution sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Beck

One of the Jersey Shore's most iconic musicians will be honored annually with a day named after him. Every Jan. 11 will now be Clarence Clemons Day. The state Senate last week passed a resolution sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R-11) that memorializes the legendary saxophonist from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Clemons died last year at the age of 69 after suffering a stroke. “The New Jersey Shore would not be the same without the music of Bruce Spingsteen’s E-Street Band,” said Beck. “And the E-Street Band would not have been the same without the sound of a saxophone played by Clarence Clemons. For me as a resident of Red Bank, where he once owned a rock club, the loss rings ever more true. New Jersey lost an icon last year, an …

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Jazz Legend Freddy Cole Comes to SOPAC on Friday

The world-renown jazz man's quartet will treat a SOPAC audience to jazz and holiday standards.

  Grammy-nominated singer and pianist Freddy Cole and his band will take the stage at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) Friday night for an evening of jazz, blues, swing and a few Christmas classics. The 80-year-old Cole is the younger brother of legend Nat “King” Cole and uncle of Natalie Cole, but one need only hear a song like “I’m Not My Brother, I’m Me,” from the 1990 album of the same name, to get an idea of how his spry wit, graceful piano playing and unique personality sets him apart from his talented family, and have made him one of the most respected singers in jazz.   On Friday, Cole will be lending his raspy tenor to a repertoire of songs he likes to describe as “from Broadway to the blues” for its scope and cohesion…

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Music at the Mansion Offers a Holiday Escape

Corinna Sowers-Adler’s cabaret series, “Music at the Mansion” is an eclectic melange of comedy, jazz favorites, movie soundtracks and good old-fashioned blues.

  The decorated atrium at the Oakeside Mansion once again served as the backdrop to “Music at the Mansion,” a delightful afternoon of musical entertainment. Hostess Corinna Sowers-Adler began with a bubbly welcome to the appreciative crowd.  She opened the show with a cover of Garry Novikoff’s “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?”, a comical take on an accidental poisoning that was especially apt just days after Thanksgiving. She then relinquished the stage to the first singer of the event, Bistro Award Winner Deb Berman. Although she appeared to forget a few of the lines in her first song, she actually seemed more comfortable with the twisty, serpentine lyrics and melodies that dominated the middle of her set. Accompanist for the afternoon Sean …

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Rhonda Denét Making a Name in Bloomfield

Rhonda Denét, of the Silver Songs Trio, performs her show “From Jazz to Soul” at the Bloomfield Public Library.

“I’ll be doing everything from Ella to Aretha,” said Rhonda Denét as she opened her show “From Jazz to Soul” at the Bloomfield Public Library. This time she was unfortunately flying solo, as part of her three-piece band was out sick. Luckily, for the cozy midday crowd Denét didn’t let that stop her from commanding the modest stage with her melodious voice. Next to her simple electronic set up Denét launched into her first song, “The Lady is Tramp” by Ella Fitzgerald. She moved on to “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Billie Holiday (especially apt given the sporadic weather) and “I Wish You Love” by Nancy Wilson. Denét really hit her stride with “My Baby Just Cares for Me” by Nina Simone, dropping her voice to match Simone’s low tenor and even …

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Broadway Performing Arts Holds First Adult Hip-Hop Class

Broadway Performing Arts brings their adult hip-hop class to Bloomfield grown-ups

“Even if you’re afraid of looking like a fool, do it. You never know what’s going to happen,” said Jennifer Lehansky, one of the students at Broadway Performing Arts’ new hip hop class. She, of course, was being modest given the prowess the class showed during their first adult lesson. They seemed to be one step away from backing up Beyoncé. But their moves and speedy understanding were no mistake. The members of this class were not mere beginners. Lehansky had been taking tap and ballet at the school for years while Hailey Aromando and Dashana Francis have been doing hip-hop since childhood. This was simply the next step in their performing arts education. With this in mind, it becomes clear why the students seemed to pick up such complex…

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