VEL JOHNSON JAZZ BAND AND MAYOR’S PLAYERS

SATURDAY 12 – 1:30 PM

VEL has played for various jazz functions and has opened for Jazz greats…Hugh Masekela, BB King, Spyro Gyra and others. VEL'S musical influences include Miles Davis, Grover Washington, Lester Young, John Coltrane, and Charlie Parker. Vel's interest in music started at an early age and his first instrument was the trombone and the keyboards.

The turning point for him was in 1986 a friend and musical artist inspired him to play the saxophone. Currently he plays the alto, tenor and soprano saxophones. Vel is a native and resident of New Jersey and known on the Jersey Shore as a saxophonist extraordinaire. Vel will soon be releasing a CD entitled "CHARISMA." Look for it later this year.

Band mates include: Kevin G Sanders on vibes and percussions, the former two-term Mayor of Asbury Park also leads the band Mayor's Players who are known for their Jazz and R&B performances in Festivals, Clubs, Parties and Special Events throughout the state of New Jersey. 

Other band members include Donnie Harrell on keyboards and flute, Stephanie Morreale on Vocals, Kevin Brennan on Bass Guitar,      Mike Hogan on lead Guitar, Kendall Scott on Keyboards and Breeze on Drums.

CHELSEA PALERMO

SATURDAY 2 – 3:30 PM

New Jersey native Chelsea Palermo is only 22 years old, but she is already a seasoned performer and interpreter. While she listened to Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey as enthusiastically as her friends, Palermo never saw anything unusual about adoring Ella Fitzgerald at such a young age.

“When I was a kid, I was drawn to the energy of pop music and R&B—and I always will be,” Palermo said recently, “However, I also appreciated the sophistication and nuance of jazz—and I always wished I could share that with my friends.”

Today, as Palermo celebrates the release of her debut studio recording, “All About Love,” she is hoping to do just that: to use her fresh, energetic take on the standards to help bring jazz to a whole new generation.

Her renditions of some of the greatest works in the American songbook are entirely unique—noted as much for the maturity of their execution as for the youth and vibrancy they display. Not many artists who tackle “My Funny Valentine” have a genuine appreciation for Gwen Stefani.

Palermo already shows signs of making her leap successfully. Training with renowned vocal coach, Gwen Moten, who has trained stars like Janet Jackson, Chelsea’s repertoire has reached an unbelievable 200 songs. Now, after years of studying Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong, it should come as no surprise that this young natural can scat with the best.

People are beginning to take notice. In February she opened for both Gato Barberi (at Englewood’s bergenPAC) and Bob Baldwin (at the Two River Theater in Red Bank), and earlier this past winter, on January 29, Chelsea performed for a national radio audience on the Joey Reynolds Show, broadcast on WOR in New York.

Additionally, she has taken the stage at the PNC Bank Arts Center, the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, and Bruce Springsteen’s music venue, The Stone Pony. For the past two years, Chelsea has sung at Drumthwacket, the New Jersey Governor’s Mansion at the annual, statewide D.A.R.E. fundraiser and with Chris Botti at the begenPAC. She has also lent her voice to last year’s Power of Pink cancer fundraiser, which featured Lynn Redgrave as the evening’s emcee.

Now available for purchase, Palermo’s debut recording, was released by A major Record Company and features tracks such as “If I Give You My Love,” “La Vie En Rose,” and “Fine and Mellow.” The album includes performances by special guests Warren Vaché on trumpet and Latin percussionist Luisito Quintero.  Please visit www.chelseapalermo.com for more information.

FUNKTION 11

SATURDAY 4 PM – CLOSING

Funktion 11 delivers powerful, dynamic renditions of soul, 70's - 80's Funk and Disco, 90's dance classics, slamming rock tunes with our hip horns including the hottest pop tunes of today. Make no mistake, this is "in your face" interactive party music at the highest level: No two shows are alike!! They are a high energy, 100% concert experience with no shtick! Definitively and exceptionally hot!  Funktion 11 is a collective group of very well educated and creative musicians. Their mission is to move clients whether performing jazz or high energy dance music! Each member contributes their talents on more levels than simply performing well.  The band has been together since 2005 with some unique concepts of true entertainment and interpretation in mind. On par with the performance ideals and influenced by great national acts such as Earth Wind and Fire, James Brown, Sly and The Family Stone, Tower of Power-blended with smooth the smooth likings of Bill Withers, Ray LaMontagne and Otis Redding- The end result is terrific musicians working together to bring you the finest entertainment on every level anywhere and something known as the: Funktion 11 Sound!  Please visit www.funktion11.com for more information.

KAREN LEE & SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE

SUNDAY 12 – 1:30 PM

Karen Lee is a multi-faceted musician who sings, composes and plays flute, alto/tenor & soprano saxophone and piano. 

She began playing jazz in the late 70’s and was a frequently featured artist at venues such as the Peppermint Lounge in Orange and Trumpets in Montclair.

 She began her own weekly jam session at Park Street Studios in 1996 which ran for nine years, until she moved to the Jersey Shore. 

She wrote and produced her first CD,  “The Sweetness of Your Love” in November 2002 which features her on the above instruments along with bassists Ed Schuller and Al James, pianists Carl Viggiani and John Bicknell and drummers Victor Jones and Lenny Covington.   Her song from the album, “Blues for Amadou” received an Honorable Mention Award from the John Lennon songwriting competition.

In 1999, she performed with legendary drummer and vocalist Buddy Miles at Resorts International in Atlantic City.  In 2006 she traveled to Berlin where she was featured for a three-night engagement at the A-Trane, performing her own compositions to sold-out venues. 

In addition to performing, Ms. Lee has been teaching music in NJ public schools for 22 years and is the current band director at Asbury Park High School for the last 7 years.

Karen Lee continues to write compositions for a new album and will be performing some of her original works with her band” Sympathetic Resonance.   

THE JAZZ LOBSTERS

SUNDAY 2 – 3:30 PM

The Jazz Lobsters have been tearing up the New Jersey shore for the last thirty years playing everything from the swingin' sounds of Count Basie and Frank Sinatra to Motown hits, dance favorites and rock classics.

The band is led by James Lafferty, arranger and keyboardist, and includes some of the hottest musicians in the tri-state area who have shared the stage and recorded with such artists as: Bruce Springsteen, The Asbury Jukes, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffet, Sam and Dave, Paul McCartney, Charles Earland, Blood Sweat and Tears, Tower of Power, Dido, Stan Kenton and Tommy Dorsey, to name a few.

Out front is the unique velvet-toned bass voice of Michael Andrews.  On vocals, is Bob Ferry, who displays amazing rock and jazz chops on guitar and can play anything from Wes Montgomery to Jimi Hendrix. Featured on tenors are Tom Labella and The Professor, Warren Fioretti, Cliff Pecota-Alto, and Audrey Welber-Lafferty (“Mrs. Lobster”) on saxes and clarinet ripping up Benny Goodman favorites. The incomparable Chino Roberts on vocals and percussion with his long dreds can take you from Cab Calloway to Bob Marley.

The Jazz Lobsters swing hard, featuring the timeless music of Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Quincy Jones, as well as hip new arrangements--everything from 40s swing to fiery latin and salsa to ballroom dance numbers.  The power and energy of the live big band will knock your socks off!  For more information visit www.jazzlobsters.com

SOUL PROJECT

SUNDAY 4 PM – CLOSING

Digging deep into the soulful grooves dug by O.V. Wright and Wilson Pickett, the funky moves of James Brown and Maceo Parker, the old school cool of the Meters and The Neville Brothers, and the feel good fuel of the Crescent City itself, the Soul Project brings New Orleans soul with them wherever they go.

Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, this group described as a “…hip group with horns…” spent 7 months building a following on the Jersey Shore and Tri-State area before returning to New Orleans to help and be part of the rebuilding process. They are planning to split their time between the two places and keep playing to as many people as they can while spreading the New Orleans culture and music wherever they go.

Formed in New Orleans in 2002 by Cristian Duque, The Soul Project is made up of an ever evolving mix and match cast of members currently featuring:

Cristian Duque (Guitar & Vocals) who has spent the last 10 years (and counting) living in New Orleans, cutting his teeth as a member of Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s Roadmasters and leading his own act, the Soul Project.  He has performed with Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters, Eric Lindell, Papa Grows Funk, Galactic, Theresa Anderson, and New Orleans Juice, among others.

Other accomplished members of the band include Rich Smith (Drums), Paul Gaita (Bass), Tommy Meares (Trombone/Vocals), Stash Stimpson (Washboard/Percussion) and Andy Citkowicz (Saxophone).  For more information visit www.soulprojectnola.com  

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