(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Diane Moser’s Composers Big Band Celebrates Women in Jazz this month with guest composer Ann Belmont, and resident composers Barbara Cifelli and Diane Moser on Wednesday, March 21 at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair. They will perform sets at 8:00pm and 10:00pm. Admission is $20.
Ann Belmont is a long-time member of the BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop. Her work has been featured in concert with the BMI Jazz Orchestra, Diane Moser’s Composers Big Band, Friends Jazz Orchestra, and under her own name. She was awarded a Meet the Composer grant to present a performance in Hartford, Conn., of “Kansas”, a piece for jazz orchestra plus strings.
Barbara Cifelli has held down the baritone sax/bass clarinet/alto flute chair in the CBB since the very first rehearsal in 1996. She is also the baritone/Eb clarinet/flute player of the Ed Palermo Big Band whose CD, Eddy Loves Frank, was nominated for a Grammy and continues to receive rave reviews. She has played with the Lynn Oliver Band, Joe Gallant’s Illuminati, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Buster Poindexter, the Birdland Big Band, the Diva Jazz Orchestra and many others. She has also toured with “Mame" and “Sugar Babies”, and has played multiple woodwinds on Broadway and at the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
Diane Moser, musical director, pianist and contributing composer, has had many of her compositions played by the CBB. She began composing for big band when she co-founded the band in 1996. Many of her compositions are audience favorites such as: Flipped Kitty in the City, The Journey Home and For My Mother.
Joining the CBB in the band for the show will be alto saxophonist Anton Denner, tenor saxophonist Paul Ostermayer, and trombonist Scott Reeves.
The members of the CBB include: Saxes: Barbara Cifelli, Marty Fogel, Craig Yaremko, Tom Colao, Rob Middleton and Ed Xiques (emeritus); Trombones: Erick Storckman, Ben Williams, Matt Haviland and Dennis Argul; Trumpets: Mike Spengler, Jim Cifelli, Chris Rogers and Rob Henke; Rhythm Section: Diane Moser-piano, Larry Maltz-guitar, Andy Eulau-bass and Scott Neumann-drums. Their resident composers include Dennis Argul, Barbara Cifelli, Jim Cifelli, Marty Fogel, Matt Haviland, Rob Henke, Rob Middleton, Diane Moser, Chris Rogers, Erick Storckman,Russ Vines, Ed Xiques, and Craig Yaremko.
"You can always hear jazz big bands that play the classic repertoire, where the music has been. To hear where big band music is going, check out the Composers Big Band," said George Kanzler, Star Ledger Newark NJ
Trumpets Jazz Club is located at 6 Depot Square in Montclair, New Jersey.
PHOTO BY CHRIS DRUKKER
