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Thursday, November 15, 2018

Guitarist Charlie Apicella Leads Trio @ NJ Jazz Society’s November Social in Madison

apicellaGuitarist Charlie Apicella

WHEN: Sunday, November 18. Doors open at 3 p.m., and the music is performed from 3:30-5:30 p.m., with one short intermission.
WHERE:
Shanghai Jazz is located at 24 Main St. in Madison
ADMISSION: free for New Jersey Jazz Society members and $10 for non-

“A lithe, swinging guitarist with an affinity for the contrasting styles of both Grant Green and Wes Montgomery.” That’s how Jazz Journal’s Mark Gardner describes the playing of jazz guitarist Charlie Apicella, who will lead a trio at the New Jersey Jazz Society’s November Social at Shanghai Jazz in Madison.

Apicella began his music training in 1999, studying composition and improvisation at the University of Massachusetts with multi-reedist Yusef Lateef and saxophonist Archie Shepp. He has performed at such venues as the Blue Note and Mezzrow in New York City and Chris’ Jazz Café in Philadelphia, as well as at Shanghai Jazz. In 2014, Apicella was invited to study improvisation and composition by guitarist Pat Martino.

His 2014 Zoho album, Big Boss, was described by allaboutjazz.com’s Dan Bilawsky as “a record that speaks of good times, fun grooves, and high spirits . . . Apicella takes everyone to church, shuffles along in high spirits, and delivers no-frills-blues-funk with vim and vigor.” In 2017, Apicella recorded an album on the Carlo Music Records label called One Night Only: A Tribute to Jack McDuff. It featured the legendary saxophonist Sonny Fortune, who recently passed away. His next album, Groove Machine, will be released next year.

Drummer Alan Korzin, who can be heard on Big Boss, and bassist Gene Perla will join Apicella at the NJJS Social. The afternoon’s program will include Apicella’s arrangements of classics by Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. His innovative trio arrangements have been compared to those of master guitarists such as Green, Kenny Burrell and Barney Kessel.

Funding for the New Jersey Jazz Society socials has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the N.J. State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Photo credit: Chris Drukker