By Kevin Coughlin
You may want to plant your beach chair on the Morristown Green right now, to stake your spot.
With local favorite Robert Randolph as the headliner, this summer’s Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival is a good bet to break attendance records.
“I’m excited, really excited about it,” said Randolph, the only pedal steel player to make Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest guitarists.
He won’t have any trouble finding the Green for the Aug. 20, 2016, festival. From 2000 to 2009 he lived a block away, on Morristown’s Macculloch Avenue.
“Those were the wildest years of my life. It’s such a fun town,” said Randolph, who was back last weekend for the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade.
BUCKY, LOUIS AND GEORGE GEE
Randolph and his Family Band will cap a free day of music that promises something for everyone.
The George Gee Orchestra should get things off to a swinging start at noon. Look for a tribute to the late Rusty Paul. The son of jazz legend Les Paul was a fine musician in his own right and performed at the first Morristown Jazz & Blues Fest.
One of Les Paul’s pals, jazz guitar great Bucky Pizzarelli, 90, is on the mend from health issues and is determined to return to Morristown, where he’s had a standing gig since the festival started six years ago.
Trumpeter Louis Prima Jr. and his high-energy band are booked for an afternoon set. One more slot will be announced shortly.
Mayor Tim Dougherty, who launched the concert series in 2010, said it never gets old.
“Robert Randolph? What a great event!” the Mayor said. He sees Randolph, a personal favorite, as a musical ambassador for Morristown, sure to draw droves of newcomers to discover the downtown.
Dougherty credits the festival’s success, year after year, to a crackerjack staff and generous sponsors who underwrite the $80,000 production.
Co-promoters Linda Smith and Don Jay Smith are back, along with music consultant Phil Fielding, town Attorney Vij Pawar, and the Mayor’s secretary, Kristen Wedderburn.
“You have to start in early January. It’s a team effort. A lot of meetings, a lot of conference calls,” Dougherty said. “It would not be possible if we didn’t have people donating money to make it happen.”
Major donors include real estate mogul Larry Berger, Normandy Real Estate Partners, Morristown Medical Center, JCP&L, PSE&G, town redevelopment lawyer John Inglesino and Riker Danzig.
“We really enjoy this event. It’s great advertising for us. And we’re a stone’s throw from the show,” said Frank Vitolo of Riker Danzig.
‘NICE AND ROWDY’
Linda Smith said Robert Randolph has been atop her concert wish-list for years, and she’s delighted that his schedule had an opening this summer.
“He’s local, he’s a fabulous musician, we love his band, and he’s excited about doing it. He’s going to be a big draw,” she said.
Randolph, who is heading to Australia next week for the Byron Bay Bluesfest, aims to release a new album before his Morristown gig. Working title: Got Soul! (“You know, like ‘Got Milk!'”) He’s sifting through 32 new songs, and lining up guest stars.
While he has enjoyed performing in town at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, he thinks the venue needs to let its hair down.
There’s an “opera-sit-down feel” that’s not really conducive to rock and roll, in his opinion.
“We won’t have any trouble with that on the Green,” Randolph promised. “The people out there will be a nice and rowdy. It’s going to be good fun.”
SCENES FROM THE 2015 MORRISTOWN JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
