MIDWEEK JAZZ 2008 August 22

							MIDWEEK JAZZ CONCERTS HEAT UP THE FALL!

TOMS RIVER – Ocean County College’s Fine Arts Center continues the popular

MidWeek Jazz Series off campus on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 p.m. at Mancini

Hall, Ocean County Library – Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, Toms River.

Admission: $13 in advance and $15 at-the-door.

       Pianist “Dr. Ken” Lipkowitz makes his inaugural solo visit to Mancini Hall on

September 24. Lipkowitz has built up a vast repertoire that reaches beyond the usual

bounds of jazz and has established a reputation for piano mastery. He has amassed a

broad repertoire that goes to the boundaries of jazz and even touches on Broadway and

classical music.

       Bassist Ed Wise and his New Orleans Jazz Band will play authentic traditional

jazz on October 29. Arriving in Philadelphia to escape the devastation of Hurricane

Katrina, Wise has rapidly moved into the ranks of first call string players. His all-star

quartet for this engagement has Joe Midiri playing reeds, Pat Mercuri on guitar, and

introducing Stan Slotter, a leader of several bands, on cornet. Expect some hot jazz!

       Master Stride and Ragtime Pianist Tom Roberts travels from Pittsburgh to

torture the ivories on November 19. His electrifying solo work alone would be worthy of

an entire evening. His special guests are NYC-based cornet star Charlie Caranicas and

Klezmer-style clarinetist Susanne Ortner, heard often and extensively in Europe.
      Vocalist Molly Ryan will make her solo debut on December 17, after having

appeared for MidWeek Jazz with several groups. She's recruited Dan Levinson to play

various reeds, and they'll be backed by an unusual string-based rhythm section. Ryan

is expected to make good use of the acoustics and intimacy of Mancini Hall.

      For ticket information, call the Ocean County College Fine Arts box office at

732.255.0500. Please note: Advance tickets are only available through the OCC

Fine Arts box office. Tickets can be purchased “at-the-door,” as noted, only on the

night of the performance.