Jazz at Rutherfurd Hall presents seven great concerts in their 2017-2018 Season lineup. It’s not just jazz, It’s great entertainment!
Now in its sixth season, Jazz at Rutherfurd Hall brings a variety of outstanding jazz musicians to the historic mansion in Allamuchy Township, NJ, for once-a-month concerts on Sunday afternoons October through April.
All concerts are 3 to 5 p.m. in Rutherfurd Hall, a National and New Jersey State Historic Landmark. Famed architect Whitney Warren, who also designed Grand Central Station in New York City as Warren and Wetmore Architects (1903-1911), designed the 18,000-square-foot Tudor “country home” in 1904. The renowned firm of Frederick Law Olmsted & Sons designed the landscape plan and the plantings for the site.
Now open as a cultural center and a museum owned and managed by the Allamuchy Township Board of Education, Rutherfurd Hall is an elegant and interesting venue to see and hear jazz. Plus, the ability to meet and converse with the performers makes attending these concerts special.
The season kicks off Sunday, October 8, 2017, with an All-Star Quintet Honoring Bucky Pizzarelli in a tribute to the legendary guitarist, who had been slated to play but due to a sudden illness is unable to perform. Instead, the show will feature Ed Laub, Bucky's colleague and a master himself of the 7-string guitar, with Bucky's son Martin Pizzarelli on bass, and special guest Aaron Weinstein, known as "the Groucho of the Violin". Rounding out this spectacular event will be Tomoko Ohno, a virtuoso pianist, and Nick Scheuble with an established reputation as both a first rate Jazz drummer and Latin percussionist. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
The rest of the series is:
Sunday, November 12, 2017: Grant Stewart & 3 Divas
“What separates Grant Stewart from so many of his peers stuck in the quicksand of hard bop nostalgia is the sheer creative spark and spontaneity of his solos... When Stewart gets hot the questions of individuality evaporate amid the in-the moment thrills of his invention.” - Mark Stryker, Detroit Free Press. The 3 Divas are Jackie Warren on piano, Amy Shook on bass, Sherrie Maricle on drums playing original, traditional, and contemporary standards from all genres of music with their own unique style, innovative arrangements, and unified musical joy. 3 Divas combines exuberance, energy to create a fun-filled musical experience for everyone. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
Sunday, December 10, 2017: Houston Person with The Dave Leonhardt Trio
An award-winning tenor jazz saxophonist and record producer, Houston Person is known as the “The Boss Tenor Crown.” He’s performed in the hard bop and swing genres, but is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. Person is also known for his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing. David Leonhardt, jazz pianist and composer, is a highly skilled and versatile artist with a passion to bring the jazz and creative music experience to as many people in the world as he can in a way that allows them to be transported to a higher plain of thought and emotion. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
Sunday, January 21, 2018: Bill Charlap & Peter Washington
One of the world’s premiere jazz pianists, Bill Charlap has performed with many leading artists of our time. He is known for his interpretations of American popular songs and has recorded albums featuring the music of Hoagy Carmichael, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin. Time magazine wrote, “Bill Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved… no matter how imaginative or surprising his take on a song is, he invariably zeroes in on its essence.” Peter Washington is a jazz double bassist. He initially played classical bass and played with the Westchester Community Symphony at the age of 14. Later he worked with electric bass in bands and became interested in jazz while attending UC Berkeley, going on to perform with many outstanding jazz musicians. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
Sunday, February 25, 2018: NY-NJ All Star Big Band plays Music of Count Basie
This 18-piece Big Band is comprised of outstanding musicians who have played under Basie, Ellington, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Wynton Marsalis and so many others. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
Sunday, March 25, 2018: The Hendrik Meurkens Quartet
Virtuoso instrumentalist and composer Hendrik Meurkens began his career in Germany playing vibes. At 19, he heard Toots Thielemans play harmonica, which totally changed his musical life. His career has taken him from Brazil to Germany, then throughout the European continent where he became a pivotal force on the studio and jazz scene, performing, composing, recording, and touring extensively with his own ensembles as well as with visiting legends Harry Sweets Edison and Buddy Tate. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
Sunday, April 22, 2018: Tony DeSare
Tony DeSare performs with infectious joy, wry playfulness and robust musicality. Named a Rising Star Male Vocalist in Downbeat magazine, DeSare has lived up to this distinction by winning critical and popular acclaim for his concert performances throughout North America and abroad. From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall to Las Vegas headlining with Don Rickles and major symphony orchestras, DeSare has brought his fresh take on old school class around the globe. Notwithstanding his critically acclaimed turns as a singer/pianist, DeSare is also an accomplished award-winning composer. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
This season's jazz events are sponsored by Panther Valley Pharmacy and Heath Village Retirement Community and presented by Coyne Enterprises.
Tickets for all shows are available online at www.RutherfurdHall.org or www.rutherfurdhall.tix.com, and locally at Mama’s Café Baci, Hackettstown, and Panther Valley Pharmacy, Allamuchy.
Rutherfurd Hall is located at 1686 Route 517, Allamuchy, NJ 07820. For information, call 908-852-1894 Ext. 338, or Coyne Enterprises at 908-637-8461.
An All-Star Quintet Honoring Bucky Pizzarelli
Rutherfurd Hall was to kick off its 2017-18 Jazz series with legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli but due to Bucky's sudden illness he will be unable to perform. The event will continue, however, with the following outstanding musicians: Ed Laub, a master of the 7-string guitar; Bucky's son Martin Pizzarelli on bass; Aaron Weinstein on violin; Tomoko Ohno on piano and Nick Scheuble on percussion. Tickets: $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
Grant Stewart & Three Divas at Rutherfurd Hall
Grant Stewart is a world known jazz tenor saxophonist being accompanied by the 3 Divas, Sherry Maricle on Drums, Amy Shook on bass and Jackie Warren on piano playing originals, traditional and contemporary standards from all genres of music.
Houston Person with The Dave Leonhardt Trio at Rutherfurd Hall
Houston Person is known as the “The Boss Tenor Crown.” He’s performed in the hard bop and swing genres, but most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. Person is also known for his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing. David Leonhardt, jazz pianist and composer, is a highly skilled and versatile artist with a passion to bring the jazz and creative music experience to as many people in the world as he can.