Something Both Cool And HOT In January!

Cape May Jazz Vespers presents a concert featuring trumpeter Bob Ferguson playing a salute to the “Cool Jazz” era at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May on January 7th at 3 pm. For more information and directions visit www.capemayjazzvespers.com or call 609.846.3979. A $10 minimum donation is requested; limited free parking; wheelchair accessible.

Bob Ferguson and his quintet of highly acclaimed jazz musicians will pay tribute to the “Cool Jazz” movement that became popular after World War II. Cool Jazz generally has relaxed tempos and a lighter tone, contrasting with the fast and complex “Bebop” style. It usually employed formal arrangements of tunes and sometimes incorporated elements of classical music. Many cool jazz players employed a subdued approach, as compared to the aggressively fiery varieties of jazz.

“When I was coming up”, says Ferguson, “trumpeters Freddie Hubbard, Cliff Brown and Miles were my big three influences. They were all superb technicians and their playing at that time was very lyrical and melodic. That’s what really turned me on to the cool sound.”

The Cool Jazz era might have started around when Capitol Records released in 1953 the album “Classics in Jazz: Cool and Quiet.” Musicians started playing soft variants of bebop. “The cool sound was more laid-back, lyrical and soulful. It was the opposite of the Coltrane’s sheets of sound,” adds Ferguson.

Over the years several varieties of cool developed, played but such Jazz greats as Joe Henderson, Dave Brubeck, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Stanley Turrentine and later on in the music of Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock.

Ferguson has put together an all-star quintet for this concert. The group includes Andy Lalasis on bass, Vic Stevens on drums, Matt McCloskey on guitar, and Jason Long piano. The group will play tunes by Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Miles and several others. The show will be a compelling and fascinating salute to “Cool.”

Bob Ferguson has been performing in concert venues throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean for over 30 years. Bob is a very talented music stylist with a big sound and a lot of flexibility. He is comfortable performing in all styles of music from Jazz, Latin, R&B, or Big Band. Bob's educational is a BA from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and a MS from The University of Pennsylvania. Since 2005 Bob has been teaching at Stockton University of New Jersey.

Bob has appeared in the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival-DE, Trenton Jazz Festival-NJ, Music Fest in Bethlehem-PA, The Chicago Blues Festival-IN, Berks Jazz Fest, PA The San Juan Caribbean Jazz Festival-PR, The Cape Jazz @The Point-NJ, The Philadelphia Folk Festival-PA, The Toronto Jazz Festival-CA, The Cape May International Jazz Festival-NJ, Tivoli Jazz Festival in Italy, Nepi Jazz Festival- Italy, APAP 365 in NYC. Bob has performed throughout Italy during tours with the acclaimed Atlantic City Jazz Band as a USA ambassador of traditional jazz music from 2005 through 2009. As an honorary member of the trumpet section of the Saxula Band of San Gregorio Da Sassola, he has performed in Palestrina, Tivoli, Scandriglia, Padua, Teolo, Nepi, the Popes summer residence Gondolfo and Cevera home to famed composer Ennio Morricone.

As lead trumpet for the Latin Jazz sensation "Cintron" he performed for the inauguration of President George Bush with the group in Washington and continues to perform and record with the group today.

Bob has many recording credits as a soloist and section player on countless recording projects. National television broadcast appearances including "The David Letterman Show", and numerous recordings for commercials, feature films and documentaries.