Pioneering Arts Group Celebrates 10 Years in Asbury Park on Dec 5th

It all began with a knock at 3 Deal Lake Court. "You're Maureen Nevin and I hear you know everybody in Asbury Park," the delicate green-eyed brunette said. "I'm Terri Thomas," she sang out in a lilting British accent. "I'm an actress and coloratura soprano and I want to create a Black Box here."

Soprano, thought Nevin, that would explain the voice. Having an hour of air time to fill for her new radio show each week, Nevin had met quite a few people in town. She invited Thomas inside.
"But how would that work?" she asked. "Do you peak inside the box like an antique film projector?"
"Not exactly," said Thomas, accepting a cup of Earl Grey from her host. The concept was common in the United Kingdom, Thomas' long-time home. "A black box is a small, plain -- in fact black -- performance space, so versatile that it easily morphs to accommodate a variety of productions; poetry and spoken word readings, script-in-hand play readings, jazz combos and chamber ensembles, one-person shows, works in progress and small plays..."

Nevin dictated about six or eight names and numbers and Thomas hit the pavement never stopping until she had secured a storefront on Cookman Avenue and opened her Black Box. That was ten years ago. Today, the Black Box of Asbury Park is an arts incubator helping to nurture new works and encourage writers and performers who might otherwise slip through the cracks. A not-for-profit, the Black Box is recognized by the Monmouth County Arts Council for its long list of credits for helping to produce plays, hosting women's festivals, musical productions and weekly writers' workshops. And, the Box hopes to enter its next phase with a brand new home courtesy of Carter Sackman and Trip Brooks, city developers, who are restoring the historic 500 Building of Cookman Avenue.

December 5th, from 3 - 6 PM, supporters will celebrate the Black Box's anniversary at Chico's House of Jazz, 631 Lake Avenue, Asbury Park. The event features an open bar from 3 - 4 pm with refreshments, courtesy of Wegman's, and entertainment MC'd by Ocean Mile actor Steve (Gary) Hirsekorn: Greg (Buster) Lega on piano, Mary Hirsekorn, of Neptune City, on vocals, and the Chico's House Band with Rosemary (Marilyn) Conte, and more surprises...
Tickets are $40 until Dec.3, and $48 at door, available online at www.BlackBoxAP.org, or checks payable to the Black Box of Asbury Park, can be mailed PO Box 955, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. Email tickets@BlackBoxAP.org, or call Maureen at 732-774-0779

Jazz in the City

Winding my way from The Harrison back to my parking spot on Lake Av last night I ran into a gentleman, just coming from a business meeting of fellow lawyers at Carmine's, who was trying to find Chico's new jazz club.
We walked the short block (my car was parked across from the club just past Crust 'n Crumble on Lake Ave by Wesley Lake) and found a line of people outside the club, milling about, talking, some smoking, as jazz riffs drifted out on the warm night air. In the entryway of the club Chico greeted a steady throng of mostly men in the kind of suits men used to don before picking up their sweethearts for a night on the town. Call me old fashioned. And by the way, tonight's 70s night!!

From Marilyn and crew...
As the Big Easy celebrates Jazz Fest, Asbury Park will be jazzing it up
New Orleans-style with....
the GRAND OPENING of TRINITY AND THE POPE!!
Our new sister restaurant, will bring progressive, Cajun Creole
cuisine, a freshly squeezed cocktail menu and enough LIVE jazz,
blues, and zydeco to keep those toes tappin'! Saturday night
will be first the official night in business. Stop by, check out
our digs, and help share some good ol' fashioned, Crescent City lovin'!

Asbury by Night - Out n About in Asbury Park

Have you tried Mattison Park lately?

The Mattison Avenue-based restaurant, which features a lovely long bar and deep fireplace, offers up American fare from tasty pizzas to the more elaborate dishes.

Last Saturday night, which happened also to be First Saturday in Asbury Park, the Park had a great trio, featuring songstress Yvette Norwood-Tiger, billed as a 'Traditional Jazz Vocalist'. Now that might send those who associate jazz with scat and lots of jarring sound running for the door, which would be a big mistake. As I whispered to Yvette on my way back from the powder room, "It's so rare to hear her selections -- "Cry Me a River", "God Bless the Child", "Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me", "Green Dolphin Street", "They Can't Take that Away from Me"-- because you actually need a real singing voice to do them." Ms. Norwood-Tiger is the kind of accomplished voice one associates with the classically trained female singers of the 30s and 40s. This woman sings the standards the way they were meant to be sung. I hope the management of Park keeps this group for a long, long awhile.