Jazz Series Continues at Ocean City Library

For the second week in a row, the Ocean City Free Public Library hosted a Sunday jazz performance for the "Women of Jazz Series" in the building's lecture hall, sponsored by the Somer's Point Jazz Society. This week's performance featured Mary Lou Newnam, the director of St. Augustine Prep School's music program and a 25-year resident of Ocean City.

The lecture hall was filled, and spectators were lining the back walls when all seats were taken. Newnam had gathered a band full of professionals from Philadelphia, New York City, and New Jersey that included keyboardist John Pruitt of Mays Landing, bassist Andy Lalasis of South Philadelphia, trumpeter and Philadelphia School of the Arts professor George Rabbai and drummer Barbara Merjan of New York City.

The performance focused on some of the most important women of jazz from the 1930s to the present. Newnam spoke about her own introduction to the jazz scene 30 years ago, and about being a woman playing in many male dominated bands.

"It was a little bit of a feeling that it was a sideshow, being a woman in jazz," she said. "In high school it was a non-issue; I didn't realize until I was in the professional world, I was almost always the only one [woman in a group]."

Each musician took a solo in the first song, showing off their skills and introducing themselves musically to a crowd that applauded after each solo.

"It was a little tongue-in-cheek way to start," said Newnam. "Lady Be Good."

Newnam and her band performed songs by Mary Lou Williams, Mary McPartland, Melba Liston and Valaida Snow.

Michael Pedicin of the Somer's Point Jazz Society praised the library for hosting such events as the jazz series, and asked the crowd to share jazz with younger people.

"They just do not get the opportunity to experience this music," he said. "Exposure is really what it's all about."

The jazz society regularly hosts events at local schools and the library has been working together with the society for more than a year.

"We're very pleased to host this series," said Ocean City Library Director Chris Maloney. "Our jazz programs have an education aspect to it...where the history of jazz and importance of jazz is talked about, but there is also an entertainment value of seeing local jazz music."

The third and final week of the series will feature guitarist Monnette Sudler and will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Admission is free. For more information, see the Ocean City Public Library website.