After moving to New York from London in 1996, Conal Fowkes became Woody Allen's favorite pianist. Since 2001, he has been part of Allen's New Orleans Jazz Band, which appears regularly at New York's Cafe Carlyle. He was featured on the soundtrack of Allen's 2010 film, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and then, in 2011, he was the voice and piano of Cole Porter in Midnight in Paris, which won Allen an Academy Award for best screenplay. He is also in Allen's 2013 movie, Blue Jasmine.
Fowkes, who plays bass and sings, in addition to playing piano, will be bringing his talents to the New Jersey Jazz Society's Jazz Social, from 3-5:30 p.m., on Sunday, January 19, at Shanghai Jazz in Madison. Born in Zambia and raised in Mexico, Fowkes moved to England in 1971. He studied classical music at the Royal College of Music and performed with such British jazz musicians as the vocalist Cleo Laine and saxophonist John Dankworth. In New York, he has appeared at such venues as the Blue Note, Birdland and the Village Vanguard and has played with such jazz artists as trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.
The New Jersey Jazz Society is comprised of jazz devotees from all parts of the state, the country and the world. In addition to showcasing live jazz in a variety of venues, the Society publishes a monthly magazine, Jersey Jazz, which contains feature articles, photos, music calendars and concert reviews. Admission to the Jazz Social is free to NJJS members, $10 for non-members. There is also a $10 food/beverage minimum. Shanghai Jazz is located at 24 Main St., in Madison. For more information, call 1-800-303-6557, or email info@njjs.org.
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