CABARET
NEWS
NEW JERSEY - NEW YORK STATE
JAZZ ARTS PROJECT PRESENTS JOE PISCOPO'S SINATRA BIRTHDAY BASH
Television, film and stage star, Joe Piscopo returns to Red Bank, this
time to perform at the historic COUNT BASIE THEATRE (99 Monmouth Street,
Red Bank NJ - 732-842-9000 - http://www.countbasietheatre.org/
), on Wednesday evening December 12th at 8:00 pm. He will be accompanied
by the 18-piece Red Bank Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Joe Muccioli.
The Orchestra is the professional flagship ensemble of Jazz Arts Project,
producer of the event. After a surprise appearance that quickly sold
out this past summer during the Project's popular "Summer Jazz Cafe'
Series", the former Saturday Night Live star will once again showcase
his vocal and musical talents in memory of his friend and idol, Frank
Sinatra who was born on December 12th, 1915 in Hoboken, NJ.
This special, elegant, red carpet gala will reprise
many of the Sinatra hits with a special emphasis on the musical relationship
between the legendary singer and Red Bank's own, jazz great, Count
Basie. One of Sinatra's all-time greatest albums, Sinatra at the Sands,
was recorded live at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1966,
accompanied by Count Basie and his Orchestra and conducted by Quincy
Jones. Sinatra and Basie had previously collaborated on 1963's Sinatra-Basie
album and 1964's It Might As Well Be Swing, with both albums released
on Sinatra's Reprise label.
Joe Piscopo's "Sinatra's Birthday Bash" will be a night
to remember as Joe Piscopo sings many of the Sinatra legendary hits;
I've Got You Under My Skin, Fly Me To The Moon, You Make Me Feel So
Young, All of You, Come Fly With Me, One For My Baby, and later hits
like, New York, New York. As important as the songs are to the Frank
Sinatra legacy, it is actually the modern jazz-tinged, swinging, big
band music arrangements that helped create his distinctive and unforgettable
sound. The evening will feature authentic recreations of the original
arrangements by the most important Sinatra arrangers including Billy
May, Sy Oliver, Nelson Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mandel, Don
Costa, Neal Hefti and Quincy Jones.
Joe Piscopo has won the acclaim and affection of millions.
After stints as a disc jockey and dinner-theater performer, Joe turned
to comedy. In 1980, he was chosen to join a newly formed ensemble
charged with one of the most difficult tasks in TV history-replacing
the original cast of Saturday Night Live. By the time he left the
show in 1985, Joe had left his mark on the program, and the nation,
thanks to his wide range of hilarious original characters and celebrity
impersonations, from The Sports Guy and Doug Whiner to David Letterman
and, of course, Frank Sinatra, who had repeatedly endorsed Joe's portrayal
of him.
His work on SNL quite naturally led to Hollywood, and
starring roles in such smash hits as "Wise Guys" (with Danny DeVito)
and "Johnny Dangerously" (with Michael Keaton). Other film credits
include "Dead Heat", "Sidekicks" and the independent feature films
"Two Bits & Pepper", Roger Corman's, "Demolition Day", "The Last Request"
(with Danny Aiello) and a dramatic, critically-acclaimed performance
in Jonathan Parker's "Bartleby".
Joe currently tours with his own nightclub act with
frequent stops in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. He has proven to be
one of show business' brightest lights. By singing great standards
and Sinatra tributes, playing a variety of instruments, and delivering
rapid-fire jokes, antics and celebrity impressions, his inexhaustible
energy and talent never fails to surprise and delight his audience.
The Red Bank Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of
Joe Muccioli, is culled from the finest musicians in the region. The
group consists of an all-star roster, a veritable "who's who" in a
generation of jazz greats, who each have impressive credentials, and
are among the "first call" musicians in the NY/NJ metropolitan area.
They are routinely called upon to perform for concerts, Broadway shows,
radio, TV & movie-score recording sessions both in the area and abroad.
The RBJO is also known for accurately recreating the sounds and spirit
of the legendary and historic jazz orchestras of the past, reminiscent
of those led by the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Joe Muccioli
is the artistic director of Jazz Arts Project as well as an internationally
renowned conductor, arranger and musicologist. He also serves as a
conductor and music director for many of Piscopo's appearances.
Jazz Arts Project, inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3 tax-exempt
arts organization. The group's mission is "To preserve, promote, and
perpetuate the American musical art form known as jazz; by producing
world-class jazz performances of the highest quality, by creating
educational programs about jazz and its history, and to serve as an
advocate for jazz."
The "Project" has produced numerous memorable events
in the area including last seasons "Swinging in the Holidays" at the
Two River Theater, Red Bank; "Cool Yule" At the Paramount Theater
in Asbury Park; The Asbury Park "Jazz Alive" series; and the ever
popular annual "Summer Jazz Cafe'". Jazz Arts Project is a member
and 2008 grant recipient of the Monmouth County Arts Council. A portion
of the proceeds of this show will benefit the Jazz Arts Project Education
and scholarship fund.
Tickets for the gala event range from $25 to $50 and
are available through the box Office on line.
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