By Don Jay Smith
“Don Jay Smith who is in charge of the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival was my guest last Saturday at our Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival. He asked if he could have some pictures to include in an article he was going to write. The article he wrote “Long Branch Jazz and Blues Fest serves up a perfect day of hot blues” was published on NJarts.net” said Tom Baldino, the President of the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation.
Excerpt from the article:
“Having Popa Chubby and his band headline the festival was a good choice by programmer Tom Baldino, who stepped to the microphone to introduce the band, which included Craig Dryer on keyboards and sax, Mike Merritt on bass and Andrei Koribanics on drums. Popa Chubby played with his trademark intensity and ferocity for 90 minutes, opening with kick-out-the-jams versions of “All We Need Is Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “You’ve Got to Love Somebody.” His set was a blend of originals (he writes a lot of material) and covers done in his frenzied electric guitar style. He played an extended version of the “Love Theme from ‘The Godfather’ ” — very appropriately, since he plays up his gangster persona. But then he shifted gears to play a gorgeous rendition of a beloved blues tune made famous by Howlin’ Wolf, “Goin’ Down Slow.””
Read the full article “”Long Branch Jazz and Blues Fest serves up a perfect day of hot blues” on https://www.njarts.net/long-branch-jazz-and-blues-fest-serves-up-a-perfect-day-of-hot-blues/
More about 2023 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival
The Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival is a 2-day. FREE admission festival taking place on Friday, September 22nd at the Pioneer Plaza from 5pm to 10pm with performances by the Spectrum Jazz Band from Morristown High School, Ty Stephens and Soul Jaazz, the Debra Devi Group, and The Downtown Charlie Brown Blues Band.
And then on Saturday, September 23rd on the Green from NOON to 10pm the Festival moves across the street to the Morristown Green with the U.S. Navy’s Jazz Band The Commodores opening at noon. They will be followed by the Gotham City Latin Jazz Septet, the Hot Sardines, the Ana Popovic Band, and Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses.
More info on https://www.morristownjazzandblues.com/
More about NJ ARTS:
NJ Arts is a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. The website offers its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. https://www.njarts.net/