FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Arts/Features Editor
September 6, 2011
CONTACT
Merri Milwe, Artistic Director
Tel.: 201-836-3499
Fax: 201-836-1734
E-mail: mmilwe@puffinfoundation.org
Legendary Guitarist Warren Battiste, with Quartet, Performs at the
Puffin
Teaneck, NJ, Saturday, October 8 – Warren Battiste has played jazz in New Orleans
longer than many people have been alive. Having first learned to play guitar from his
father, a jazz guitarist and banjo player at Preservation Hall, Warren began his playing
career on the streets as a teenager in The Big Easy. During the 75 years he has played the
guitar, Warren has performed with many of the jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Barry
Harris, Jimmy McGriff, Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughn. Rescued by helicopter from
his roof during Hurricane Katrina, Warren relocated to Teaneck, NJ in 2005 and has since
rebuilt his career splitting his time between gigs in New York City and New Orleans.
Performing selections from “The Great American Songbook,” Warrant Battiste is back at
the Puffin by popular demand after his sold out performance in February. He is joined by
Rave Tesar on piano, Ron Naspo on bass, Danny Johnson on drums and vocalist Ellen
LaFurn. $10.00 suggested donation. Reservations recommended:
tix@puffinfoundation.org. Saturday, October 8, 8:00 p.m. The Puffin Cultural Forum is at
20 Puffin Way (off Teaneck Rd.) in Teaneck, NJ. Call 201-836-3499 or visit
www.PuffinCulturalForum.org.
WARREN BATTISTE, born in New Orleans in 1925, is a living jazz legend. He
completed 4 years of instruction at Gruenwald Music School in New Orleans studying
guitar, bass, banjo and piano and was the first guitarist to play with Fats Domingo on a
regular basis. He later joined Illinois Jacquet in New York, rounding out his broad
musical knowledge and range from classic blues to R&B and jazz, which all play their
part in his distinctive guitar methodology. In New Orleans, Warren has performed at
Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor, the Matador and numerous other jazz clubs on Bourbon
Street; he has also performed with fellow guitarist George Benson. Warren received the
Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in
2000. In 2001, he released his debut CD “Street Jazz” to rave reviews; his second CD,
“Just Friends,” was released in 2004; his latest, “Quiet Storm in New Orleans,” was
released in 2008. Warren has taught music at Wequachie High School, Essex County
College and the Newark Art Center in Newark, New Jersey.
DANNY JOHNSON is a professional drummer who has performed on a local and
national level with a diverse array of artists ranging from jazz greats like Ron Carter and
Mongo Santamaria to well-known R&B acts like Soul De Force and The Marvellettes.
Danny’s high level of musical versatility has allowed him to perform in all major New
York City rock clubs as well as classical performances with members of the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra.
RAVE TESAR began his musical career working in the jazz scene in and around New
York City. His reputation soon led to national and international tours as a side man with
singer Frankie Randal, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band The Shirells, and minimalist
pop group “Tirez Tirez.” Rave is best known for his long-standing collaboration with
singer Annie Haslam and her progressive rock band “Renaissance.”
RON NASPO is active in both symphonic and jazz fields. He has done seasons with the
New Jersey Symphony, the American Symphony under Stokowsky and has toured the
United States and Canada with the Robert Joffrey Ballet. Ron also toured with the Don
Shirley Trio as well as working with jazz musicians such as Stan Kenton, Sonny Rollins,
Wild Bill Davison and Bucky Pizzarelli.
ELLEN LAFURN began singing professionally at the age of 17 with a group called
Chang Lee and the Zaniacs. She subsequently joined Jerry Mitchell and the Impacts,
working and learning from many jazz greats including the Joe Zarr trio with the late Al
Ross on organ and Warren Battiste on guitar. Ellen took a break from performing to raise
her daughter and taught in Jersey City’s public schools for a number of years. She is now
back to her first love, music performance.
______________________________________________________________________
The Puffin Cultural Forum is a project of the Puffin Foundation, Ltd. which, through the arts, encourages
dialog about issues important to the community. The Puffin Foundation, Ltd. underwrites this and all other
Puffin Cultural Forum events and programs in order to make it possible for everyone to attend.
NOTE TO PRESS AND PHOTO EDITORS: This release and high resolution JPEGs can be downloaded at
http://www.puffinculturalforum.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=12
&Itemid=75