April is Jazz Month. April is also Poetry Month.
Why not merge the two?
On Tuesday, April 24, the Karen Zumbrunn Jazz trio will present its 17th concert in the past 16 years at the Manville Public Library at 100 S. 10th Ave. The free concert from 7 to 8:15 p.m. will offer refreshments.
As an aspect to the show, Manville Library Director Ed Smith, a published poet himself, will read.
”We are absolutely delighted to return to the Manville library,” said Dr. Zumbrunn. “Ed Smith and I arrived at the Manville Library at the same time in 1996. A few years ago I realized Ed was a published poet (his book is “I am that Hero”). One of his poems (entitled “Morning Cracks”) is cut into stone and displayed at New York City’s Penn Station.) We began adding Ed reading his poetry with a soft jazz background great fun! Since April is both jazz month and poetry month it seems a good combination.”
Beside his own work, Dr. Zumbrunn said that Mr. Smith might read some Jack Kerouac poems, perhaps some where jazz is mentioned.The trio includes Dr. Zumbrunn on piano, Rick Crane on bass and Tom Sayek on drums.
”The small jazz ensemble format gives the musicians the opportunity to communicate with each other and the audience,” she said. “When our jazz music swings, it’s something magical for both audience and players.”
Dr. Zumbrunn will draw on tunes from the Great American Songbook.
”Some of the music we play may not be new, but the playing of them is always new for the performer since we are constantly creating fresh ideas,” she said. “Jazz is constant discovery. I choose tunes with care and spend a great deal of time working on repertoire.”
”I have a commitment to my audience to share with them the vitality and spontaneity of my jazz playing,” she said. “People rarely succeed at anything unless they have fun doing it. I love jazz performance and connecting with my audience. My style of playing is highly rhythmic, accessible, straight-ahead jazz.”
