COTA Library at The Sherman

The Sherman Theatre* in Stroudsburg, PA hosted Phil Woods* and The COTA* Festival Orchestra on Sunday April 13th as part of their Library Alive Concert Series. The afternoon featured music arranged by Jazz Great Al Cohn as retrieved from The Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection kept at East Stroudsburg University (ESU)* in East Stroudsburg, PA. Composers of these pieces ranged from Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie along with those created by Phil Woods* and Al Cohn himself. The orchestra comprised of the many Jazz great those who attended the past 30 Annual Celebration of the Arts (COTA) festivals which has become a Mecca for jazz enthusiast throughout the world. These mega talented musicians include Nelson Hill*, Jay Rattman*, Tom Hamilton, Matt Vashlishan*, Jim Buckley, Ken Brader III, Danny Cahn, Eddie Severn*, Pat Dorian*, Rick Chamberlain*, Zachary Giffel, Joel Mikylyak, Jim Daniels*, Eric Doney*, Evan Gregor*, Bill Goodwin*, and Mark Macinko*. The Orchestra featured the considerable talents of Phil Woods* while Wolfgang Knittle served as its music director. While the size of the audience was surprisingly small, there were so many friends I dare not attempt to name them all in fear I may forget to mention a few. So, if you attended this wonderful event, I invite your to share your reflections and recollection of the show. I look forward to learning of them. The next event at The Sherman Theatre* will be The Umphrey’s McGee Show featuring their unique improvisations of a wide variety of musical styles. on Friday April 18th at 8pm. Please Explore The Sherman Theatre* Website for more information. You can find more information on COTA and its upcoming 31st Annual Festival held on September 5th, 6th, and 7th in the Delaware Water Gap, PA by exploring their website at www.cotajazz.org. You’ll find numerous photographs at The Forwardian Arts COTA Library at The Sherman Gallery at myspace.com/forwardian_arts.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.