Once again, the WAC presents a fascinating combination of virtuoso musicians who have prepared a special program of festive melodies and medleys created and adapted to suit the instrumentation and the artistic expression of individuality that makes a jazz performance a rare gem.

Our leader tonight is Bob Leive who has been a mainstay of jazz and swing in northern New Jersey for decades.  Long the “regular” band at Nobodys Inn in Mahwah and the Old Forge in Ringwood.  His septet currently appears at least monthly at Shanghi Jazz in Madison and at numerous other venues in the area as the “Wooster Street Trolley.”

Although Bob will be playing trumpet and flugelhorn (and some “surprise” instruments) his “side men” are not from his Wooster Street gang.  The guitar will be played by Lou Pallo who has been a permanent figure in Northern New Jersey jazz music and a “first call” soloist when he is not heading his own group.  For more than a decade Lou has been the featured player on the Les Paul regular Monday night television program from the Iridium in New York.  He and Bob Leive have been “play mates” off and on for most of their professional lives, so don’t be surprised at how they seem to be reading each other’s minds.

The third member of the trio, a relative “youth” who comes from Australia, is the bass player in the all female jazz band “Diva” who appeared at New Jersey Jazz Society’s “Jazzfest” weekend in 1999.  Nicki Parrott, a great bass player, was also featured with Daryl Sherman at the NJJS “Jazzfest” in 2001. 

Nicki was recently selected by Les Paul as permanent bass player for the Les Paul trio (with Lou Pallo), at Iridium and on TV.  Nicki’s remaining time has included gigs as diverse as world touring, and appearing at Bacchus, a restaurant in Fairfield, New Jersey, as one-third of the Betty List trio.

Any appearance of virtuosi instrumentalists playing ensemble is an experience worth having!  Available on Friday, December 14^th at 8pm for $15, including the traditional WAC light snack.