The Wednesdays of winter need not be drab. Inject some jazz into the doldrums and give the term “winter blues” new meaning.
It’s the regular series Midweek Jazz at Ocean County College, continuing Wednesday and throughout the colder months with 90-minute performances from many genres of jazz.
Here’s what's planned:
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December 14: Ivory & Gold
Fiery piano playing of Jeff Barnhart with the precise classical flute of Anne Barnhart. Ragtime through early jazz and into the swing era, touching on pop tunes and even some gospel. Barnhart, dubbed the “The Victor Borge of Jazz,” bringing humor to the stage. A steady flow of recordings have earned them wide critical acclaim.
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January 11: The Midiri Brothers Salute Benny Goodman
Midiri Brothers bring Goodman staples and gems to excite music lovers of all generations. The Midiris come to OCC after building a following at festivals and concerts, turning up the jazz of the Goodman sound.
February 8: Geoff Gallante
Gallante is a young trumpet and cornet player who would be considered exceptional at twice his age. With a repertoire featuring classic jazz, Gallante plays well-crafted and original solos, with energy and enthusiasm. For this show, he’ll come up from Virginia with a trio joining him.
March 7: Dan Levinson’s Fête Manouche Returns with Django Reinhardt Sound
Fête Manouche focuses on ‘Gypsy Jazz,’ The genre is popular in Europe, known for its electrifying, fast-paced instruments. Originally, violin joined the rapid-fire guitar work that is central to this style, but Dan Levinson substitutes clarinet, reflecting later versions of Django’s groups. "The combination produces breathtaking jazz with distinctive instrumentation,” says OCC.
Shows run on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on OCC’s Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River. Parking is in Lot #2. Tickets are on sale now at the OCC Box Office.
Tickets: $18 adults and $15 seniors. For information, call the Ocean County College Box Office at 732.255.0500 (TTY: 732-255-0424). Purchase tickets online at tickets.ocean.edu. Visit us on the web at www.ocean.edu.