Juicing Up the Park

The Downtown Stroudsburg, PA Business Association in partnership with the Sherman Theater presented Jazz Juice on Saturday August 17th as part of their 2013 Music in the Park Series. The quartet consists of Vinny Bianchi on Saxophone, Spencer Reed on Guitar, Paul Rostock on Bass Guitar, and Dave Parfitt on Drums. The musicians in the quartet are well known throughout the jazz community for their proficiency in the musical form and for their extraordinary talents. This was made evident throughout the evening as a number of favorites were performed in a manner both reflecting the musical nuances of each piece which made them memorable as well as enhancing the work through a series of improvisations commonly associated with the art form of Jazz.

The concert began with the song titled, “On Broadway” written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil in collaboration with the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and made popular by a band known as “The Drifters” in 1963. The instrumental version presented by Jazz Juice not only rendered a faithful rendition of the song but it also set the tone of the concert’s flavor for its entirety. Besides the improvisations prevalent throughout the concert as mentioned earlier, a great deal of comradely between the musicians and their binding love for the music they played were an ever present aspect of the performance which enhanced the experience of the numerous audience members who came to enjoy the show.

The songs and the energies of the musicians who played them simultaneously exuded the elements of hot and cool. The music was cool as a nice easy flow emanated from the quartet allowing the audience to float along with the melodies. However, the music also proved to be hot as it stirred the spirit of those who heard it inspiring many to click their fingers, tap their feet, and bob their heads in rhythm to the beat. In regards to the heat generated by the performance, a fire truck traveled down the street during the performance with its alarms blaring leading some to muse that it was summoned to subdue the heat generated by the band by spraying the area with water. But this was merely a mused thought and everyone remained dry so they could continue enjoying the performance.

The hour in which the concert was scheduled to take place ended with the Jazz Juice version of the Stevie Wonder “Isn't She Lovely” from his 1976 album titled, “Songs in the Key of Life.” But, the huge audience that filled the vacant lot located between Josephine's Fleur-de-lis and The 14KT Outlet’s Fine Jewelry Design and poured onto the sidewalk would not entertain the notion the concert was over and called the musicians back for an encore. The quartet resumed their performance to the great delight of the audience and received a very appreciative applause when the song concluded. You’ll find more photographs taken during the Saturday August 17th Jazz Juice performance in The Music in the Park 2013 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151718928905421.1073741839.636000420&type=1.

The Downtown Stroudsburg, PA Business Association and the Sherman Theater Music in the Park Series takes place in Stroudsburg, PA every Saturday evening from the months of June through August presenting as variety musicians and bands reflecting various musical genres. The next installment of the series will take place on Saturday August 24th beginning at 6:45pm featuring the bluegrass band known as “The Lost Ramblers.” The concert is a free event with seating available.

The Downtown Stroudsburg, PA Business Association (aka The Jacob Stroud Corporation) is an organization dedicated to a vibrant Downtown Stroudsburg by improving the municipality’s image by enhancing its physical appearance, building consensus among organizations and the community, promoting downtown's unique characteristics, and restructuring and diversifying our economic base. According to their Facebook Page, Stroudsburg, PA has been a well-established center for Monroe County commerce. You can learn more about The Stroudsburg, PA Downtown Stroudsburg Business Association long with it’s perceptions and vision for the town at their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Downtown-Stroudsburg-Business-Association/242126962482288?ref=ts&rf=168378193176439.

The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA was built in the 1920s and has been renovated during the 2000s to become a venue presenting a variety of related events such as those associated with the arts of theater, dance, and music. In addition to the performances presented within the theater itself, the Sherman Theater also hosts a number of festivals throughout the town along with events presented at their extended non-profit venues known as The Living Room which featuring art exhibitions and a weekly Open Mic Nite Series which are free of charge and invites the public to participate. You can learn more about The Sherman Theater at www.facebook.com/ShermanTheater?fref=ts.