The Summer Bash No One Has Told You About

If you are a fan of jazz music then you should definitely check out the annual Jazz Record Collectors’ Bash in Edison, New Jersey. While this event is clearly perfect for buyers and vendors of 78s, LPs, CDs, and memorabilia, it is also a wonderful opportunity to meet and speak with jazz music lovers.

If you don’t know anything about this event, here is a brief history: The first bash was held in the summer of 1974, sponsored by Rutgers University’s Institute of Jazz Studies. They were initially one-day affairs with collectors gathering at the Holiday Inn in North Brunswick to sell, trade, play, and discuss records. By 1992, the bash had outgrown the venue, and moved to Somerset. Though it had success to that point, the founder and organizer was aging, and there came a few tumultuous years when the event was passed between multiple hosts and venues. Finally, in 2008, Art Zimmerman of Zim Records took over as host, and the two-day bash moved to the Hilton Woodbrige in New Jersey. The attendees loved the new venue so much that the hotel has housed the bash ever since.

You might not be a huge fan of records, but there is more to this event than the vendors. The community of collectors who attend the bash are passionate about jazz and their craft. In addition to the selling, trading, and playing of records, there are also a variety of featured events. This year, rare film and TV clips by jazz collector and film historian David Weiner will be shared on Friday evening. On Saturday, there will be Clip Joint presentations featuring vintage Nat Cole.

Another long-time program of note is the Vitaphone Project, a special program which presents a largely previously unseen collection of early sound jazz and vaudeville short subjects. Sadly, the co-founder and longtime bash presenter, Ron Hutchinson, passed away this year. If you are interested in learning more about this project, visit http://vitaphoneproject.com/

The 45th Annual Jazz Record Collectors’ Bash will take place Friday-Saturday, June 21-22, 2019. General admission is only $20 total for the two days, with a special deal of $10 after 5:00pm on Friday that includes re-entry on Saturday. They even offer a special hotel room rate a the Hilton.

Whether you have a passion for vinyl or simply love jazz music, this event might just be a hidden gem that you should check out this summer. Grab a few friends and make it a weekend getaway!

If you would like more information about the Jazz Record Collectors’ Bash, visit their website at https://jazzbash.net/info/history/

Why We Like FAMU

If you don’t know by now, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, or FAMU, is an academic institution that is near and dear to Kathy Salem’s heart. Back in November, four talented jazz musicians from the school were inaugural recipients of the Kathy Salem Jazz Scholarship. Salem started the scholarship because she believes that it is important to foster the talents of the next generation of jazz musicians. The scholarship allows her to support the genre of music that she loves so much and enrich the lives of aspiring performers.

So, you’re probably wondering, “Out of all the schools that she could have supported, why FAMU?”

Allow us to share a few interesting things about this university.

Founded in 1887, FAMU is the fifth largest historically black university based on enrollment and the only public historically black university in Tallahassee, Florida. FAMU is also a land-grant university.

At its start, the school was known as the State Normal College for Colored Students. Four years later, the school became a land-grant university under the second Morrill Act and its name was changed to the State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students.

There were three Morrill Acts. One in 1862, one in 1890 and the last one in 1994. Under these acts, schools were designated to teach agriculture, military tactics, mechanic arts, and classical studies so the working class could obtain a liberal and practical education.

The second Morrill Act in 1890 was created to extend access to higher education by providing additional endowments for all land-grants, but prohibited the distribution of money to states that discriminated against students based on race. However, states that provided separate land-grant institutions for black people could receive funding.

While FAMU was eligible for the grant, it didn’t become an official learning institution until 1905. After a few more name and leadership changes, the school became known as Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1953.

Today, FAMU’s main campus has 156 buildings that are spread out over 422 acres of land. The university also has several satellite campuses in Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, and Tampa. FAMU enrolls around 11,000 students annually from the United States and more than 70 countries. The university offers 54 bachelor’s degree programs, 29 master’s degree programs, three professional degree programs, and 12 doctoral degree programs.

FAMU is also home to a nationally ranked Jazz Ensembles that is composed of eighteen musicians selected from approximately four hundred musicians in the university’s band program.  The Jazz Ensemble is noted for its diversity of styles and is often invited to perform at jazz festivals across the country.

These are just a few things that make FAMU special. You can read more about the school and its history, here.

Kathy Moses Salem Presents at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee

Article by Elizabeth Carney, Editor, Night is Alive

The week before Easter, Night is Alive Managing Director Kathy Moses Salem traveled to Tallahassee Florida – not for a vacation, but to give presentations at Florida A&M University. On Wednesday, April 17, she stood up in front of an audience of students and faculty to speak about her career and what it means to become a professional musician in today’s fast-paced world.

 

Some topics Ms. Salem touched on are universal, not merely specific to the music industry:

 

  • If you’re on time, you’re late.

 

“You know time; you can keep time; so show up on time,” Ms. Salem said.

 

  • Dress professionally.

 

“First impressions count. Make sure yours is a good one.”

 

  • Keep your promises.

 

“Don’t say something unless you mean to follow through.”

 

  • It’s not what you know, but who you know and what they think of you.

 

“Don’t be arrogant. Play well with others on and offstage! If people don’t like working with you, you won’t be hired a second time.”

 

  • Remember your Third Grade Teacher.

 

“Write with good grammar. Remember your manners. Think back to those elementary school lessons and always put your best foot forward.”

 

The audience was interested and engaged throughout the presentation, that, with questions, lasted a full three and a half hours (from 1:00pm-4:30pm). Students even approached Ms. Salem, interested in music management, and asked if she would be willing to mentor them. “They seemed to love it,” Ms. Salem said afterwards. “I want to change how jazz is perceived. If these young people can get out there, go to jazz clubs and be a part of the audience, then we can start to make that happen. That’s my ultimate goal.”

On Friday, April 19, Ms. Salem attended an evening jazz ensemble rehearsal at the University to personally award six scholarships to students specially selected by their professors. A need-based award, the scholarships are given in the form of a personal check to give recipients the ability to focus more clearly on their studies. “Most scholarships can only go towards tuition, which is helpful sometimes, but what if a student needs a new set of tires?,” Ms. Salem mused. “What if they need groceries, or to help pay their family’s rent that month? That’s what these scholarships are for – to help students in need so they can attend the University and study jazz.”

Ralph Moore Performs A John Coltrane Tribute

John Coltrane was a legend in his own right. Easily considered one of the greatest musicians of the modern era, Coltrane revolutionized jazz with his intense improvisations, multi-tonic changes and globally inspired sound.

Ralph Moore is a legend as well. The tenor saxophonist is known for his solid, straight-ahead and inspiring style. He’s a heavyweight in the jazz world and he’s played alongside amazing musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Roy Hargrove and Oscar Peterson.

Both men have forged solid jazz legacies in their own memorable and unique ways.

On Saturday, March 16, Ralph Moore had the chance to honor the man who influenced his tenor sax tone and playing style—John Coltrane.

Moore and his quartet headlined the 47th annual Lakeland Jazz Festival with a tribute to John Coltrane at 8 P.M. The Ralph Moore Quartet featured Moore on tenor sax, Xavier Davis on piano, Rodney Whitaker on acoustic bass and Sean Dobbins on drums.

A special pre-concert discussion with the quartet took place at 7 P.M. Hosted by WCPN radio host Dan Polletta, this portion of the show was only for ticket holders.

Post written by Devon F.


photo: Benjamin Lehman http://benjaminlehman.com