Wednesday, June 20, 2018

The Sun, The Sea And Top-Notch Cool JAZZ!


A Cape May Jazz Vespers Concert featuring Grammy-winning pianist/composer Barry Miles and his trio will be held at at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May on July 1st at 8 pm. Advance tickets not necessary. A $10 minimum donation is requested; wheelchair accessible. For more information and directions visit www.capemayjazzvespers.comor call 609.846.3979.

Pianist/composer Barry Miles, a favorite of Cape May audiences, started his music career early, joining the Musicians Union when he was nine and recording his first album of original compositions at age fourteen. Since then he has been a leading figure on the jazz scene, having released numerous recordings on major labels as a leader, including the recently re-released “White Heat” and “Scatbird” on Mainstream, and “SkyTrain” on RCA. 

Early in his career he had the opportunity to perform with many jazz greats such as Woody Herman, Cannonball Adderley, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Roy Eldridge, Buck Clayton, Coleman Hawkins, and John Coltrane. Members of his ensembles have included Woody Show, Eddie Gomez, Richard Davis, Ron Carter, Al DiMeola, Pat Martino, John Abercrombie, and Lew Tabackin. Barry was musical director for Roberta Flack for 15 years and performed, produced, and arranged on a number of her albums including the soundtrack for the Richard Pryor movie, “Bustin’ Loose”, and “Songs from the Neighborhood”, which won the 2006 Grammy for best children’s album.

Prior to composing music for several hundred national and international TV and radio commercials, along with numerous Miramax movie trailers, and playing in the studio on hundreds of pop, R&B, and jazz recordings, including Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia”, Barry was a leader in the early development of Jazz Fusion. He has recently released a solo piano album, Home and Away – Volume One.

Barry has played in the Cape May Jazz Vespers series for eleven years straight, since moving to the area. “I enjoy playing Vespers because the the sound is great, the acoustics are great, and folks who come out for the Jazz Vespers shows are really into the music and are just terrific audiences to play for.”

“This year,” Miles says, “I’ll be playing with two of my best friends, who are also wonderful musicians, Andy Lalasis on bass and Bob Shomo on drums. We be playing some contemporary classic tunes and maybe some originals. We’re also also planning to play one or two (of the more than 400!) show tunes from the amazing tunesmith Dorothy Fields whose career ran from the 1920s to the 1970s. Her music is being featured in the current East Lynne Theater Company production, also at the Presby Church, so we thought we’d tie in with that.”

Bassist, composer and educator TIM LEKANbegan his musical journey touring the United States playing electric bass in R&B bands. His love of jazz, and the bass playing of master such as Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden and Dave Holland, eventually led him to the acoustic bass. Tim lived and worked in New Jersey from June 1986 through April 2016. As a free-lance bassist he had the opportunity to work with and accompany many artists, including Joe Barrett, Oscar Brown Jr., Paula Jons, Paul Jost, Barry Miles, and Gina Roche. Tim was for years the guiding light behind much of the jazz scene at the Sandi Point Coastal Bistro. Tim currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where he maintains a busy schedule working both as a substitute teacher and a freelance bassist.

Percussionist BOB SHOMObegan his musical career as a teenager in Atlantic City, NJ, working with pianist George Mesterhazy, saxophonist Michael Pedicin Jr., and the Club Harlem House Band. Bob can be heard on recordings with The Antfarm Quartet, Jim Ridl, Paul Jost, Michael Pedicin Jr, Dennis DiBlasio and Andy Lalasis, among many east coast favorites. Recent club and concert appearances include performances with Barry Miles, Steve Gilmore, Steve Giordano Trio, Bucky Pizzarelli and Rebecca Paris, among others.

“I always look forward to my Vespers shows. For this year’s concert, we’ve picked out some wonderful tunes that I think the audience will enjoy. It’s a great way to start the summer."

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