27 years of fabulous talents: A sampler of world class performers

Article Credit: Dr. Lynn L. Siebert, Morris Arts

A hallmark of First Night Morris County and perhaps one of the core reasons for its longevity and appeal is the high quality of talent on the program. This year’s roster once again showcases outstanding performers representing multiple artistic genres. Since its inception 27 years ago, First Night Morris has relied on Morris Arts, working for the last twelve years with Dr. Lynn L. Siebert to program the artists for this unique event.

Performer, composer, improviser and professor at Princeton and NYU, Matt Sullivan plays the oboe (and related instruments) magnificently, exploring classical and avant-garde realms and producing sounds you have never heard from an oboe (or any double reed). Called “gorgeously lyrical” by the NY Times, and “the cutting edge” by The New Yorker, Sullivan’s highly original sonic world employs echoes, loops and revolutionary processes blending electro/acoustic oboe and English horn sounds into fascinating, mesmerizing, dramatic and colorfully compelling improvisations.

Outstanding classical groups such as Harmonium Choral Society, the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey and the Solid Brass Quartet will also share their talents, performing choral, orchestral and brass music (respectively) spanning 300 years and multiple cultures from Europe, as well as South, Central and North America.

ROCK: A two-time Grammy nominee as a founding member of Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Morristown native and Hammond B-3 organist John Ginty has toured/recorded with artists such as Jewel, Santana, and the Dixie Chicks. Ginty’s own album No Filter was named RMR’s #1 Blues/Rock album of 2015 and his new album, Rockers, debuted (2017) at #10 on the Billboard Blues Chart. The live, four piece John Ginty Band, features top NJ musicians and a “…passion and intensity that shines on every note,” said Michelle Wilson, Ink19.

BLUEGRASS: Featuring brothers Rourke (fiddle) and Patrick (mandolin) and three of the best bluegrass musicians of the tri-state area (fiddler/guitarist Ronnie Goldberg, banjo wizard Terry McGill and bassist Peter Elegant), the Feinberg Brothers Bluegrass Bandmarries classical training to bluegrass tradition, delighting audiences with tight, soulful harmonies and masterful instrumental techniques. They perform widely at bluegrass festivals, radio broadcasts and country music shows (including the fabled Wheeling Jamboree) and recently released their second CD. In recognition of their outstanding talents, they were profiled expansively in the September 2018 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited. These guys are the real deal.

JAZZ: Frank Vignola’s Hot Jazz Guitar Trio. After a near fatal accident, the legendary jazz guitarist, Frank Vignola, is back and better than ever! One of the top guitarists in the world according to the late Les Paul, the amazing Vignola has performed with Ringo Starr, Lionel Hampton, Madonna, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, the Boston Pops, Les Paul, Donald Fagen, Bucky Pizzarelli, among other top stars. With his astounding virtuosity, extraordinary versatility, sly humor and incomparable musicianship, Vignola shares the stage with longterm touring partner and remarkable rhythm guitarist, Vinny Raniolo, and monster bassist, Gary Mazzaroppi – bringing this mega-talent trio back to First Night Morris. It doesn’t get better than this!

A consummate jazz musician who has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and NJPAC, Rio Clemente, the “Bishop of Jazz,” holds his audiences spellbound with the sheer brilliance of his improvisations and his unique fusions of classical passagework and jazz. His Juilliard training blends magnificently with his inexhaustible improvisatory talents.

FOLK MUSIC:

An internationally acclaimed folk band, the Windborne Singers, is a unique quartet of vocal chameleons equally at home in 400 year old English workers’ songs or Corsican couplet songs. They specialize in close harmony singing, skirting effortlessly among drastically different styles of traditional music, spanning continents and cultures, but always deeply rooted in American folk singing traditions. Praised for the purity of their voices, strength of their material and attention to detail in their arrangements, this quartet spotlights stories about their music that fascinate, educate and intrigue audiences. Their video singing a centuries-old protest song outside of Trump tower went viral, reaching all 50 states and 22 countries. Described by SingOut! as “Some of the finest singers of protest and folk music that I have ever heard…One of the Best Albums of 2017,” the group has been hailed by Watford Folk for their “Vocal virtuosity such as you rarely see on any folk stage.” NPR’s Brian O’Donovan (of WGBH) called Windborne “The best musical discovery of the year…Stunningly powerful vocal harmony…Windborne sets a new bar for folk harmony singing today.” An unforgettable aural experience!

Comedy Folk Singer and “Professional Smart Aleck,” Carla Ulbrich delights audiences with her clever songs about everything from wedgies to Klingons and how rich she’d be if she had the copyright on the “F” word!. The genre is also represented by Americana folk artist, Spook Handy, who shares the music and legacy of the iconic Pete Seeger, continuing his Remembering Pete Seeger World Tour, covering all 50 US States, 10 Canadian provinces and 21 NJ counties. An outstanding artist, Spook was named “best folk artist” by the East Coast Rocker, Gannett New Jersey, The Courier News, The Home News and About.com.

WORLD CULTURES:

Without leaving Morristown, audiences can be adventurous and sample cultural riches from Africa, India, the Balkans/Eastern Europe, Ireland, Spain, and the Caribbean at First Night.

Afrika Meets India is a global fusion ensemble that brings together the rich musical traditions of India and Africa with an immediacy that speaks to all and a passion for celebrating life. Featuring African instruments such as the mbira (thumb piano), the kora (harp) and the Indian tabla (drums)and bansuri (flute), this intriguing ensemble fuses multiple melodic traditions and features noted “world” musicians Eric Fraser, Kevin Nathaniel Hylton, Salieu Suso and Naren Budhakar.

Named after a Macedonian bean stew, Tavche Gravche features Dan Nadel on guitar, Daniel Ori on string bass and Vasko Dukovski on clarinet and is described as a unique “group of virtuosi on their instruments who can wow and audience in any concert hall, and then rock a crowd at a Dance Club.” Audiences will thrill to the fiery and fascinating blend of Balkan-Gypsy-Flameco-Jazz fusion featuring traditional Balkan and Eastern European music from this award-winning NYC-based ensemble. Merging haunting Macedonian and Mediterranean melodies with dynamic improvisational elements, the trio also maintains the explosive danceable rhythms and energy of Balkan music. Tavche Gravche has graced stages at The City Winery, Caramoor and at Brooklyn’s fabled Balkan Golden Festival (“Zlatne Uste”). Its first CD won Ohrid Awards’ “best world music album of 2014” and All About Jazz added, “The group’s level of cohesion is extremely high, to the point of disbelief.”

Back by popular demand…Irish (and all other) eyes will be smiling at the performance by All-Ireland fiddling champion Brian Conway, considered one of the best Irish fiddlers of any style. Conway recently retired as an assistant district attorney and now devotes his full energy to the rich tradition of Irish fiddling. He has performed throughout North America, Ireland and Europe and recorded to critical acclaim. Irish-American guitarist, singer and producer John Walsh, joins him onstage.

THEATER/COMEDY: From America’s Got Talent to Morristown, David Darwin is a remarkable one-man sideshow. A juggling contortionist who can sing and play guitar when twisted like a pretzel, Darwin combines an unparalleled mastery of sword swallowing, glass walking, fire manipulation with illusion, magic, song and clean comedy. The first contortionist to be nationally televised (under the name David Smith), Darwin reached the semifinals of America’s Got Talent and continues to define a new concept of vaudeville sideshow, captivating audiences of all ages!

Who doesn’t need a good laugh? Armed with a megawatt smile, an engaging conversational style and relatable humor, comedienne Erin Jackson is a regular feature on the national stage – as a semifinalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and, nightly, in many of NYC’s top comedy clubs. She has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, OWN’s Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live and TV Guide Network’s Standup in Stilettos.

Comedian Tom McTiernan, one of the East Coast’s best and cleanest comedians, has appeared at NYC’s and Los Angeles’ best comedy clubs including Comic Strip Live, The Gotham Comedy Club and The World Famous Improv. Seen on TV’s Comedy Central, The Metro Channel and AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live!, he has also worked in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, opening for acts including Brian Regan, Jeff Dunham, Englebert Humperdinck, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Tom Jones. Pack in those smiles and catch laughs with McTiernan and Jackson.

The Loose Canons: Manhattan Transfer meets Second City says it all. How do you describe the indescribable? Zany, humourous, eclectic and always entertaining, this musical parody group includes funny, satirical, semi-political, doo-wop, original parodies and socially (ir)responsible songs. Enjoy an evening of pure musical fun and laugh your way into the New Year with these purveyors of parody.

Enjoy more laughs with Mr. Hypno, Comedy Hypnotist Stephen Christopher who can make you think you are a ballet dancer or savor stories from around the world with gifted storyteller Julie Pasqual. And, speaking of stories, travel back in time with Living Voices: Our Revolution which explores the saga of the American Revolution via the first person perspective of an African American soldier in 1776, powerfully narrated by a professional actor and accompanied by riveting, documentary graphics.

DANCE: In addition to the power and passion of the Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre and the nuance and grace of Shubanjali’s Indian Classical and Folk Dance, First Night offers NJTAP2, a dynamic company of young artists who will thrill audiences with their youthful enthusiasm and skill as they present the wonderful American art form of rhythm tap dancing. A great way to tap into the New Year. And neither partner nor experience is needed to participate in Square Dancing with Caller, Mary Moody – who invites all ages to participate in the fun of line dancing, reels, and square dancing. Fun (and exercise) for all.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING includes everything from Dinoman (with life size inflatable dinosaurs) and the participatory magic of Illusionist Benjamin Lipman’s Comedy Cascade to LEGOs, live reptiles (Rizzo’s Wildlife Discovery), hula hoops (Whirled Revolution), art projects (Art 4 Kids), circus science (Mr. Fish and the Mystery & History of Science) and the clowns and facepainters of the Children’s Fun Festival and Transformations Facepainting.

This is just a sampler of the world-class performances which have become a hallmark of First Night Morris County. There are programs to suit every age and taste along with three visual arts exhibits (displaying over 200 artworks) and two sets of fireworks. You don’t have to travel the world or spend a fortune for tickets to experience world class live performance. It will all be in Morristown on New Year’s Eve.

One inexpensive admission ($22.50 -$25) covers all events at First Night®. Every venue is indoors and a free shuttle will take you to all locations. For more information, the latest program updates, to volunteer or to purchase tickets, please visit the First Night® Morris County website at www.firstnightmorris.com or call (973) 455-0708.