The Diva Series at the Watchung Arts Center presentation for June 25th, 1999 is unique in many ways and promises to be the thrill of the season. Our Diva, Jan Loe, has an uncanny sense of rhythm and a vocal range that’s hard to believe. She accompanies herself by performing very credibly on 7 string guitar. Also accompanying her, and displaying some incredible guitar solo/duo performances is the incomparable Vic Cenicola, arguably the reigning guitar virtuoso in the NJ/NY scene. Rounding out this musical tour-de-force is Vince Giantomasi, a drummer of impeccable taste who can use sticks as subtly as brushes or drive a 16 piece big band with his powerful strokes. His Latin rhythms will have you out of your seat for minutes on end.

Jan Loe’s interest in jazz guitar stared three hours before she was born! While attending a Charlie Byrd concert, her father kept timing her (soon to be) mother’s contractions and begging her to "hold on" until intermission. It would take such a beginning to instill the love of guitar, music, and Jazz that Jan displays in every performance.

After a number of years studying and performing in Texas and California, fate lured her back to New Jersey where she studied under such Jazz greats as John Pizzarelli, Harry Leahy, Vic Juris and last but not least Vic Cenicola. She also studied Jazz and Classical voice at William Paterson College and has performed throughout the Northeast and at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. To fill her "spare time" Jan teaches music, is developing a CD for September release and is a visual artist.

Vic Cenicola has been producing an almost endless flow of distinctive and intoxicating sounds for over forty years. A master jazz guitarist, Vic has performed with some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians, including Stan Getz, Joe Morello, Claudio Roditi and Gloria Lynn to name a few. He has toured the country with the famous Guy Lombardo Orchestra and with the Les Elgart Band. But that’s not what makes his name synonymous with jazz guitar, his presence since the late 1950’s in New York clubs like the Blue Note to the fashionable Trumpets in Montclair, New Jersey, his soul, and his clarity. Vic has performed in jazz concert by the numbers and is always in demand. He can be heard on the Greenlite Record Label as well as many other recordings with a host of performers.

Vince Giantomasi is a avid jazz enthusiast. He began his professional career playing the drums at age seventeen with a jazz quartet, performing nights and weekends, while still in high school. Thirty-five years later, his love of jazz still has him performing professionally.

As well as a jazz drummer, Vince is an accomplished percussionist. His drum expertise includes styles from Bebop to Cool School Jazz (West Coast). He is known for his fine Latin Jazz especially his conga playing, which he performs regularly.

Along with being part of a "3of a Kind", Vince’s other recent work has been with the Sammy Lee Jazz Quartet and pianist, Rio Clemente.

When not performing as a jazz drummer, Vince works as an actor and has made screen and television appearances on film, TV and commercials. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA.

Don’t miss this great evening of entertainment, call for reservations (908) 753-0190. We’ll hold the tickets at the door for you.