What if you gave a concert... and everybody came? That was the (pleasant) predicament we faced last year when we celebrated the 60th anniversary of Benny Goodman's landmark Carnegie Hall concert. Seats for the 500-seat auditorium at Watchung Hills Regional High School sold out in a matter of weeks, and carloads of people were turned away at the gate.Star Gversary of Historic Carnegie Concert
The solution: make the celebration an annual event. Not the same concert either, since Benny Goodman left a huge legacy of music that could never be covered in one evening. The current swing revival has young people discovering the dance hits of the Jazz Age, and they will be competing for those tickets with those who have been fans of this music for years.

The date will be January 16, exactly 61 years to the day after Benny Goodman's band appeared at Carnegie Hall and introduced jazz and swing to a waiting world. The event made swing music the anthem of a generation and legitimized jazz as a musical form. Ticket prices have been held at last year's very reasonable rates: $15 advance/$20 door (if any are left), including intermission snacks.

Dan Block is the clarinetist selected to lead the all-star band. Dan has captured the Goodman sound in a manner that pays tribute to the master rather than merely mimic his style. He brings a freshness to the ensemble that reflects his affinity for early small-group jazz.

The remainder of the group is no less qualified. Mark Shane will again handle the Jess Stacy-Teddy Wilson piano parts, the Gene Krupa of the evening will be drummer Joe Ascione. Dave Ellson will fill out the quartet on vibes, that difficult percussion instrument that catapulted young Lionel Hampton to fame.

When the fuller sextet sound is appropriate, guitarist Frank Vignola and bassist Greg Cohen will join them.

Advance purchase of tickets is strongly advised. Act now! Many were disappointed last year. Checks should be sent to the Watchung Arts Center (not the high school) at 18 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ 07060. A self-addressed envelope will get the tickets back to you faster.

Those not familiar with the high school's acoustic auditorium will be pleased with the hall. There are plush seats with good sightlines, barrier-free ground floor access, over 200 parking spaces just outside and a smoke-free environment within. Free refreshments are served at intermission. The high school is just two miles from either Interstate 78 (exit 40) or the Watchung Circle. Another mile to Route 22. A simple map and directions will accompany the tickets.