Willow Grove Church to Hold Jazz Concert and Lunch

The following information was provided by Willow Grove Church.

The Dixie Mix Dixieland Band will perform a noon time Jazz Concert on Sunday, Jan. 27 at Willow Grove Presbyterian Church in Scotch Plains. Included in the price of admission is a lunch with pulled pork sandwiches, beverages and dessert. Lunch will begin at 11:30 am downstairs in the church fellowship hall with the concert at approximately 12:30 pm in the sanctuary. Admission to both lunch and the concert is $10 for adults and teenagers, $5 for children from 5 to 12 years old, with a one family maximum of $25 and no charge for children under 5 years old. Those coming to lunch and the concert may also want to attend our contemporary Sunday worship service at 10 am, with classes for youth after the children’s message. Please make your reservation for the lunch by calling the church office: (908) 232-5678 or email office@willowgrovechurch.org.

The Dixie Mix Dixieland Band plays Dixieland jazz standards from the early to mid 20thCentury in a classic improvisational style.  The Willow Grove concert on January 27 will include such popular tunes as “Lazy River,” “That’s-A-Plenty,” “Tiger Rag,” “Tin Roof Blues,” “St. Louis Blues” and “Bill Bailey.” Some of the other jazz standards to be performed in Dixieland style include: “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” Bei Mir Bist Du Schon,” “Undecided” and “Tequilla.”

The Dixie Mix Band has performed in a variety of different settings - from the NJPAC Rotunda to small venues.  The Dixie Mix Quintet has played at the Willow Grove Mardi Gras Jazz Worship Service in 2010 and 2011 with tenor sax lead, and in 2012 introduced cornet lead.  The musicans performing in concert with the Dixie Mix Jazz Concert on Jan. 27 are as follows:

Doug Rollender was the founder of the Dixie Mix in 1994 and serves as its musical director and trombonist.  Scott Ricketts, trumpet, for many years has been in big bands and small groups, most recently appearing at Preservation Hall and several clubs on Bourbon St.  Cass Gilbert, piano and vocalist, spent two years with Jimmy Santo’s Latin Band and spent 10 years with the “Silver Starlite Big Band Orchestra.  Frank Narucki, clarinet, completed his studies at the Juilliard Conservatory and has played with many different bands in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. Alex DuGuay, bass, has played in several different ensembles, from intimate Jazz trios to pit orchestras and Big Bands.

Willow Grove Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) is located in Scotch Plains at 1961 Raritan Road, across the street from the Scotch Plains Southside Firehouse and Southside Soccer Field, and near the corner of South Martine Avenue. All our facilities are handicap-accessible.  Check our website for other ministries at  www.willowgrovechurch.org or call the church (908)232-5678.