More GJB Events (2011-2013)
On September 8 (2013) we performed with Noel Kaletsky, John Russell, and Skip Hughes for a Jazz service at the First Congregational Church, located at 26 Meeting House Lane in Madison and continued with a picnic on the lawn immediately after the service.
On August 17 (2013) we returned to beautiful Gordon Hall at Music Mountain in Falls Village, CT for our 20th annual concert at the string quartet capital of the universe, Connecticut's answer to Tanglewood. Our featured guests were trombonist Jim Fryer and Bob Price, the "banjo crackerjack". For more information and tickets to Music Mountain concerts call 860-824-7126. . . . MAP & DIRECTIONS. . .
On August 15 (2013) we returned to the gazebo on the Sherman Green in Fairfield for our annual free outdoor concert with featured guests trombonist Neil DeFeo and Bob Price, the "banjo crackerjack". The weather was perfect, and the crowd was enthusiastic. MAP & DIRECTIONS
On July 14 (2013) we celebrated Bastille Day from 6 to 9 pm at Butch & Leigh's annual Big Feathers Polo Tournament/Jazz Concert at the Giant Valley Farm, on Tuttle Avenue in Hamden, with Noel Kaletsky,Russ Whitman, Tom Artin, Tom Palinko, Red Balaban, Cynthia Fabian and Carol Leigh, along with the regular members of the GJB.
On July 7 (2013) we returned to the beautiful Bartlett Arboretum, located at 151 Brookdale Road in Stamford to present another free outdoor concert from 5 to 7 pm. Our special guests were Skip Hughes and Gim Burton on banjo.
The 2013 Hot Steamed Festival was June 21-23 at the Essex Steam Train Station, and the GJB was there along with several other great bands. Jane Campedelli and Craig Grant were back with us on both Friday and Sunday. Band Schedule . . . Map & Directions
On June 18 (2013) the GJB returned with Jimmy Mazzy and Skip Hughes to the wonderful Nelson Hall at Elim Park in Cheshire to perform a short evening concert for a sold-out house. Nelson Hall is a very comfortable 300-seat recital hall with a Steinway grand piano. For more info you can call 203-699-5495 or visit the Events section of their website. . . . . . Map & Directions:
On June 9 (2013) the GJB performed for a jazz service and picnic at Bridgeport's United Congregational Church, located at 877 Park Avenue. Our special guests were trombonist Jim Fryer, Gim Burton on banjo, and Sal Raniello on drums.
On May 19 (2013) we returned to the First Congregational Church of Southington as part of its regular Sunday morning service, starting at 9:45 am. - DIRECTIONS . . . MAP
On May 4 (2013) the GJB returned to Folly Farm in the heart of the Farmington Valley to perform for Ron's Run for the Roses, a Kentucky Derby Day party to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. Great cause, beautiful location, great food/drink, silent/live auction, and hot jazz from 3 to 4:30 PM. The address is 75 Hartford Road in Simsbury, CT, 06070.
On February 2 (2013) the GJB performed at the new Madison Beach Hotel in a Mardi Gras celebration event for the Shoreline Arts Alliance. Our guest trombonist was Ben Griffin. Naturally, we hope this will become an annual event. DETAILS . . . MAP & DIRECTIONS
On September 9 (2012) we returned to the First Congregational Church, located at 26 Meeting House Lane to perform in a 9:45 am service followed by a picnic on the lawn until 12:30 pm. Jerry Zigmont was our guest trombonist.
Later on September 9 we performed in a free outdoor concert from 3 to 5 pm at the beautiful Bartlett Arboretum, located at 151 Brookdale Road in Stamford, with Jerry Zigmont on trombone and Bob Barta, Long Island's banjo virtuoso.
On August 18, 2012 the GJB returned to beautiful Gordon Hall at Music Mountain in Falls Village, CT for our 19th annual concert at the string quartet capital of the universe, Connecticut's answer to Tanglewood.. These concerts now begin at 6:30 pm. Our featured guests were Noel Kaletsky and Long Island's banjo virtuoso Bob Barta. For more information and tickets to Music Mountain concerts call 860-824-7126. . . . MAP & DIRECTIONS. . .
On July 28 (2012) the 26th annual Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival was in Meriden at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel. The GJB was there with Cynthia Fabian and Craig Grant.
On July 26 (2012) we returned to the gazebo on the Sherman Green in Fairfield for our annual free outdoor concert. Our special guests were Art Baron and Cynthia Fabian. MAP & DIRECTIONS
On July 15 (2012) we performed at Butch & Leigh's annual Big Feathers Polo Tournament/Jazz Concert at the Giant Valley Farm on Tuttle Avenue in Hamden, with Noel Kaletsky, Lew Green, Tom Artin, Red Balaban, Cynthia Fabian and Carol Leigh, along with the regular members of the GJB.
On July 12 (2012) the Galvanized Quartet performed for an enthusiastic outdoor audience at the Parkville Senior Center, located at 11 New Park Ave, Hartford.
The 2012 Hot Steamed Festival was June 22-24 in Essex, and the GJB was there along with several other great bands. We had Jane Campedelli and Craig Grant with us, along with Lew Green on Friday; Fred Vigorito was back with us on Sunday. Jeff Barnhart was there to help celebrate the festival's 20th anniversary!
On June 12 (2012) the GJB performed with Skip Hughes, and Noel Kaletsky at Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham for another jazz potluck supper featuring the High School Jazz Band and dixieland band, followed by the GJB. For the final part of the concert we were joined by the school's dixieland band for a monster jam session. Dean Coutsouridis, the music director at Coginchaug, deserves a lot of credit for his fine work there. Map & Directions . . . Concert Review by Jean Hadley:
On June 3 (2012) we performed at the First Congregational Church of Southington as part of its regular Sunday morning service. - DIRECTIONS . . . MAP:
Later on June 3 we returned to East Haven's Beachhead Restaurant, where We played for dining and dancing from 6 to 8:30 pm. MAP & DIRECTIONS:
On May 12 (2012) we performed at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, Connecticut, located just a few miles north of Danbury at 78 Green Hill Road Our special guests for the evening were trombonist Craig Grant and Bob Price, the "Banjo Crackerjack". This was the fourth in the 2011-2012 series of concerts at St. John’s. For more info about their concert series (and to suggest your favorite jazz band for future concerts) you can call St. John’s at 860-868-2527 or send email stjohnschurch@snet.net .
On May 5 (2012) the GJB performed with Skip Hughes, and Noel Kaletsky, at Ron's Run for the Roses, a Kentucky Derby Day party to raise funds for pancreatic cancer. The event was at Folly Farm, located at 75 Hartford Road in Simsbury, CT, 06070.
On April 30 (2012) we performed at the Bickford Theater in Morristown, New Jersey with trombonist-vocalist Skip Hughes and Bob Price on banjo. The Bickford is a 300-seat hall with generous on-site parking and wheelchair access. The box office number is (973) 971-3706, and their e-mail news list is jazzevents@aol.com. DIRECTIONS . . . MAP
On April 20, (2012) the GJB performed as a quartet in a concert for the Milford Fine Arts Council at the arts center in the old RR station, 44 RR Ave Milford. The group included Fred Vigorito, Russ Whitman, Bill Sinclair, and Art Hovey. For reservations and tickets to other Milford Fine Arts events please call 203-878-6647.
On March 31 (2012) the GJB performed for the Orange Arts and Culture Council, raising funds for a performing/exhibition space in Orange. Our guest on trombone and vocals was the inimitable Skip Hughes. The event was at the Holy Infant School Gymnasium, 450 Race Brook Road in Orange, CT.
On February 21 (2012) the GJB returned with Skip Hughes and Noel Kaletsky to the wonderful Nelson Hall at Elim Park in Cheshire to perform in concert from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Nelson Hall is a very nice 300-seat recital hall with a Steinway grand piano. For more info you can call 203-699-5495 or visit the Events section of their website. . . . Review by Jean Hadley . . . Map & Directions:
Our return to the Beachhead Restaurant was December 11, 2011. It was Bob Price's final CT performance for the year; we hope to see him again next summer! MAP & DIRECTIONS:
On September 11, 2011 the GJB performed in Madison for a Jazz service at the First Congregational Church, located at 26 Meeting House Lane. followed by a picnic on the lawn.
On August 20, 2011, the GJB returned to beautiful Music Mountain in Falls Village, CT. The concert began at 6:30 pm and featured guest trombonist Jerry Zigmont and Bob Price. This was our 18th annual concert at the string quartet capital of the universe, Connecticut's answer to Tanglewood. For more info and tickets to Music Mountain concerts call 860-824-7126. . . . MAP & DIRECTIONS. . .
On August 3 (2011) the GJB returned to the stage on the green in Fairfield for our annual concert from 7 to 8:30 pm. Our guests were Jane Campedelli, Bob Price, and Art Baron. There were some brief light showers, but the weather was warm and everybody stayed and enjoyed the music. This event is free and open to the public. . . MAP & DIRECTIONS
On July 30 (2011) we performed in the 25th annual Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival in Meriden at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel with the amazing trombonist Ben Griffin, banjo crackerjack Bob Price, and Jane Campedelli, our favorite vocalist. More Info & Festival History:
On July 21 (2011) the GJB gave a free concert at Evergreen Woods in North Branford, with Bob Price on banjo and Skip Hughes on trombone. . . . Route 22 Entrance . . . Route 1 Entrance
On June 7 (2011) the GJB performed at Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham for a jazz potluck supper. The High School Jazz Band and dixieland band performed, followed by the GJB with Ben Griffin. For the final part of the concert we were joined by the school's dixieland band for a monster jam session. Dean Coutsouridis, the music director at Coginchaug, deserves a lot of credit for his fine work there. Map & Directions . . . Concert Review by Jean Hadley:
On June 5 (2011) the GJB performed from 9:15 to 10:30am at the First Congregational Church of Southington as part of its regular Sunday morning service. - DIRECTIONS . . . MAP:
Later on June 5 we returned to the Beachhead Restaurant for another evening of good food and good jazz from 6:30 until 9 PM. It was a tribute to Benny Goodman, with Noel Kaletsky and Dirck Spicer. We did all of the tunes from our "Air Mail Special" CD, and a few more. The Beachhead (203-469-5450) is located at 3 Cosey Beach Avenue in East Haven. This is a great spot, with great food but limited seating.
On May 31 we performed for a dinner-dance at the Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, for a Harvard Business School 50th reunion. The amazing Ian Frenkel joined us at the Steinway Grand. We also learned that Rosecliff is located at 548 Bellvue Avenue, which is not the address given by Google.
On May 17, 2011 the GJB gave a free concert in Nelson Hall at Elim Park in Cheshire. (This event had been postponed from Feb. 1 because of snow.) Nelson Hall is a very nice 300-seat recital hall with a Steinway grand piano, and we hope to be back there before long. . . Review by Jean Hadley . . . Map & Directions:
On May 7, 2011 the GJB perform at two fund-raisers: From 3 to 5:30 we played for Ron's Run for the Roses at the Folly Farm in Simsbury for the Ron Foley Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. www.ronsrun.org.
Then from 6:30 until 9:30pm on May 7 we were at the Hartford Golf Club, with a two-hour cocktail social featuring the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby aired live from Churchill Downs, passed and stationary hors-d'oeuvres, an open-bar including mint juleps, and a silent auction. This was a fundraiser for the Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation.
On March 26 (2011) the GJB performed at the kick-off fund raising concert-dance for the Orange Arts and Culture Council, raising funds for a performing/exhibition space in Orange. The event was at the Holy Infant School Gymnasium, 456 Race Brook Road in Orange, CT, with Skip Hughes on trombone and vocals. Seating was cabaret style, with attendees encouraged to bring snacks and beverages. Nearly three hundred people attended, and no one left early.