​Sundays at Three with the Jefferson Jazz Ensemble​

Enjoy a free concert on Sunday, April 30 at 3:00 pm when trumpeter TH Kieren and the Jefferson Jazz Ensemble (a sextet and vocalist) perform a selection of jazz and swing songs from the American Songbook of the 1940s to the 1970s. Songs such as Begin the Beguine, September Song, Tenderly, Over the Rainbow, Pennies from Heaven, Stardust, Angel Eyes and others will lighten up listeners' minds and hearts. Good listening, good singing, good dancing! Stroll down memory lane to hear what made that era so special and memorable. The ensemble will be made up of TH Kieren on trumpet, Mike Yannuzzi on keyboard, Neil McNamara on guitar, Ron Naspo on bass, Adam Brenner on sax, Carl Arena on drums, and vocalist Selena Piazza.

Mr. Kieren, a resident of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, is founder and director of the Jefferson Jazz Ensemble. A jazz-swing musician since his high school years, he was originally trained in the classical methods, but has a varied musical background and thrives on diverse musical experiences. His group performs in jazz clubs, community centers, and libraries and at corporate events.

Michael Yannuzzi (keyboard) has been a working musician since the age of six and has performed for such groups as "Sandy and the Wanders" for over 30 years, having opened for the likes of Andy Williams, Asleep at the Wheel, and the Charlie Daniels band. He is a co-music director for "The Steve Ames show" on Comcast cable, and has been teaching music for several years.

Neil McNamara (guitar) has been performing and teaching guitar for over 25 years in New York and New Jersey. He has played with such names as Rufus Reid, Sonny Fortune, Bill Crow and Gene Perla, and has performed at the Blue Note, Birdland, The 55 Bar and other NYC venues. He also performs regularly with pianist Rio Clemente and recently appeared at the Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Festival in Atlantic City with vocalist Kameelah Samar.

Ron Naspo (bass) is an accomplished performer and teacher of string bass. He is active in both the symphonic and jazz fields. He has performed with the American Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, the New Jersey State Opera and the Florida Symphony. He has also worked with such jazz groups as Stan Kenton, Sonny Rollins, Bucky Pizzarelli, Johnny Hartman, and Wild Bill Davison, and is a former faculty member of Montclair State University and William Paterson University as professor of string bass and as an ensemble coach.

Adam Brenner (saxophone) is an accomplished freelance artist and band leader in the New York and New Jersey area. He has performed with noted musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton and George Coleman, and has also worked with such notables as Mel Torme, Slide Hampton, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, and Wynton Marsalis among many others. He has toured Europe several times including a State Department sponsored tour in South America.

Carl Arena (drums) has been performing for over 40 years as a drummer, with big band swing as well as with rock' n roll groups. He has opened for Dave Mason, new Riders of the Purple Sage, James Cotton and Richie Havens, to name a few.

Selena Piazza (vocalist) performs with church groups, at cabaret clubs, from classical to jazz and the American Songbook. She has been a member of the Rockland Jazz and Blues Society and was the lead vocalist for such jazz greats as Hildred Humphries and Bucky Pizzarelli as well as the Jefferson Jazz. She also plays guitar, congas and percussion, and is an accomplished equestrian.
This concert is funded by gifts to the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library. It’s free and no sign-up is needed. There will be light refreshments. Doors open at 2:45 pm. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.