XL Jazz Delivers Three Sets of Pop-Inspired Contemporary Jazz to a Delighted Audience
On the final day of May 2025, board member and event promoter Joseph Vincent Riggio of J v Archer Entertainment put together an afternoon of local Jazz artists who entertained an ever growing and devoted group of both aficionados and unsuspecting locals at the JSJBF member venue, The Chubby Pickle in Highlands for another Saturday Jazz Café. These events were started during the pandemic to both bring this, often neglected, genre to the forefront of live music in Monmouth county and to expand its exposure and appeal to an audience who would not often be exposed to it in keeping with our foundations mission.
Featured performers this day were XL Jazz Band who treated the crowd to 3 full sets of contemporary Jazz. Headed by spouses, Marie Doberentz on vocals and Walt Doberentz on drums, who are long-time supporters and JSJBF members. Sister/sister-in-law, Carmella Williams on a 3 keyboard rig with her husband Cliff Williams on Bass. With guest artist, Ron Alvarado on Congas and percussion.
Carmella carefully chooses her keyboard sounds and is a precision master making each note stand out always complimenting Marie’s silky voice.
Walter is as solid a time keeper as you will find. He just added his cymbals and a nice sounding snare to the house set proving the best players don’t need much to get the job done, and he got the job done all night long adding tasteful fills exactly when needed.
The first set was highlighted by the opener “Black and White” by Joe Sample. “Kiss of Life”, one of the Sade songs they played during the night, another being the mega hit “Smooth Operator” which really highlighted Ron’s percussion.
For set two they opened with “Hippies on the Corner” another Joe Sample instrumental. Also, Cliff really stood out on the Herbie Hancock penned, very well known, “Watermelon Man” giving it a Funk edge.
They weren’t joking the rest of the night, as set three was chock full of solid and smooth transitions with Cliff, Ron and Walter in complete sync allowing the ladies to really shine. Solid, bold and smooth all at the same time. The room had an energy it had not had for a while and everyone in attendance agreed that this day was right to be at The Chubby Pickle.
The next Jazz Café will be Saturday, July 19th same place same time 6pm to 9pm featuring Hip Pocket Jazz. See you then.