Musician Biographies

JAZZ FEAST 2001

Downtown Princeton
SEPTEMBER 29 and 30, 2001
NOON – 5PM


New Legacy Jazz Band
Junior Mance
Warren Vache’
Marlene VerPlanck
The Fins
Bill Charlap Trio
Rene’ Marie
New Legacy
Jazz Band

Elegant and exciting, The New Legacy Jazz Band mixes the classic tradition of
the great bands of the swing era with soulful and contemporary sounds from the
Pop and Jazz scene of the 50’s and 60’s. Dedicated to instrumental excellence
and spiced with the exquisite vocal contributions of Miss Felicia Carter, the
New Legacy Jazz Band is playing to enthusiastic audiences throughout the Mid-Atlantic
region at concerts, jazz festivals, private receptions, corporate events, conventions
and casinos. Legendary drummer Louie Bellson says of the band, "This is a classy
group…they reflect the honesty and purity of good hard swinging music and they’re
doing it with style."



Junior Mance

A talented jazz pianist, composer, and author of "How to flay Blues Piano", Junior
Mance is a recording artist of thirty plus albums, as a leader, and numerous recordings
as a sideman. Junior Mance has toured with many jazz greats, including Dizzy Gillespie,
and remembers his time with Dizzy as one of the highlights of his career, and
a great learning experience. Inducted into The International Jazz Hall of Fame
in 1997, where he joined the elite company of many of his heroes, he made his
solo piano debut at Lincoln Center at the Kaplan Penthouse in October of 2000.
He is a member of the faculty of the Jazz and Contemporary Music Program at the
New School University in New York City, where he teaches Blues and Blues Ensembles.



Warren Vache’

An accomplished and versatile performer, Warren Vache’ has pleased audiences with
his magical cornet (trumpet) for nearly three decades through his music, in recordings,
on stage, screen, radio, and television. His style is a rare blend that defies
conventional labels. Warren Vache’ has spent years playing with such greats as
Rosemary Clooney, Benny Goodman, Hank Jones, Woody Herman and Bobby Short. He
has performed for royalty and heads of state, and has been a featured performer
at major jazz festivals and venues all over the world, including the Newport Jazz
Festival, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Vienna Opera, and Royal Festival
Hall in London.



Marlene VerPlanck

Marlene VerPlanck has provided back up for the biggest recording names in the
industry, including Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Tony Bennett and Kiss. After appearing
on the celebrated National Public Radio series American Popular Songs, she emerged
as a leading solo performer in clubs and concert halls. Appearances at Carnegie
Hall, Michael’s Pub and The Rainbow Room have brought rave notices throughout
her career. Today, Marlene performs at leading clubs and concert halls across
North America and in Britain, France and Japan. Her solo CD’s, featuring exciting
arrangements by her husband Billy VerPlanck, and accompaniment by many of the
nation’s finest musicians, win applause from fans and critics worldwide.



The Fins

The Fins have brought together several particularly rich musical styles to form
one powerful, hard driving sound. The Fins are credited with bringing big band
blues to the east coast; and their blend of rhythm and blues, jump, swing, jazz,
funk and the urban Chicago sound has been exciting packed houses wherever they
perform. The group has performed and shared the stage with such legends as Albert
Collins, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, John Mayall, Johnny Winter,
AC Reed, KoKo Taylor, and Ray Charles. At the request of President Clinton, The
Fins performed at the 1992 and 2000 Democratic Conventions and at the President’s
1993 Inaugural Gala in Landover, Maryland.



Bill Charlap Trio

Pianist Bill Charlap, with the first-rate team of bassist Peter Washington and
drummer Kenny Washington, is unique among contemporary jazzmen. His approach to
melody makes the Great American Songbook sound fresh and new. His sophisticated
harmonic knowledge and sense of drama make him one of the most vital pianists
of today. He brings his own personality to each song -while managing to leave
it more than recognizable. For his November 2000 debut album Written in the Stars,
a culmination of the trio’s last four years playing together, he gives the listener
a fresh perspective on well-known songs, as well as uncovering some lesser-known
gems.



Rene’ Marie

Ask Rene’ Marie about her formal training and she gives a modest, tongue-in-cheek
description of herself as a "career student at Fitzgerald-Vaughan University".
In actuality, she is a self-taught jazz vocalist, singer/songwriter and song stylist
that critics have compared to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson.
While it is true she learned from the masters, there is no mimicry. Rene’ Marie’s
style defies comparison. She is an original. Rene’ Marie has performed with John
Hicks, Royce Campbell, Chip McNeill, Mulgrew Miller, Sam Newsome, and Marvin Sewell.
Her latest CD, How Can I Keep From Singing?, released in May of 2000, rocketed
to the top position on the national GAVIN Jazz Chart within three months of its
release.