The Piano Spectacular, an annual gathering of jazz pianists, was held in Morristown this year. Local sensation Rio Clemente was one of only four pianists invited, and his performance was exceptional, even among the world-class players with whom he shared the stage.

Morristown's Rio Clemente obviously gets a lot of gigs in this area, but his visits to the Watchung Arts Center are the best opportunity to view his intricate fingerwork. The next opportunity will be on Friday evening, August 20, when he will play there in-the-round. No seat is more than five rows from the piano, and most have a view of his flying fingers. Best of all, the 8 PM concert costs only $12, and that includes intermission refreshments.

No stranger to this setup, Rio Clemente has played for the Jazz Series in Watchung since its first season a decade ago. In fact, he inaugurated piano-in-the-round for soloists there, a format that has been modified slightly and used by all other jazz pianists since.

Reservations may be made by calling (908) 753-0190, leaving a message if necessary. Tickets will be held at the door. Rio Clemente, a Hall of Famer in his native Morristown, has developed both a local and national following for his unique jazz piano style. Performances at Carnegie Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival and the major jazz clubs in New York have brought him acclaim, ovations and encores from excited jazz fans. He's a fixture at the local jazz spots as well. Rio has shared the stage with jazz giants such as Milt Hinton, Joe Venuti, Clark Terry, Bucky Pizzarelli and Urbie Green, to name a few. He even performed at a special concert for a previous Governor of New Jersey.

His recordings, including both standards and his own compositions, are available on several labels. Recordings of his Carnegie Hall concert and several European appearances are also available, with new CDs showcasing his latest material.

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