Summer Jazzfest: The Les Paul Trio

When Les Paul died in 2009 at the age of 94, the jazz and country guitar genius had left a legacy of music and innovation. He is, after-all, credited with the development of the solid-body electric guitar that made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is also noted as the man who developed recording innovations that include overdubbing, delay effects and multi-tracking. And, for all of those pioneering breakthroughs and recordings from years gone by, jazz and music lovers can still tap into and tap along to the Les Paul sound recreated by a tribute trio of players that Red Bank audiences enjoyed at the first night of Summer Jazzfest at the Two River Theater (TRT).

The Jazz Arts Project is presenting their annual Summer Jazzfest at  TRT with shows every Friday and Saturday (8PM) through August 6th. The concert series began at TRT in 2006, the same year the music organization was formed. The event, held in the Marion Huber performance space within the TRT, offers audiences the opportunity to experience intimate jazz performances with some of the craft's most skilled players, bands and solo artists.

The Les Paul Trio, the inaugural performers of this year's Jazzfest traveled down from New York City where they play a weekly Monday night show at the Iridium, in mid-town (1650 Broadway - 51st). The Trio, it should be noted, is also putting together a tribute CD and DVD titled Thank You Les, which will feature the trio along with some other Les Paul lovers, including Keith Richards, Jose Feliciano and Slash, to name a few. This must-have for music lovers is currently wrapping up recording and will be available shortly.

This weekend's Jazzfest performance includes Ralph Bowen. The jazz saxophonist holds a position as Associate Professor at Rutgers University. His two performances at TRT will honor not only his musical influences but also the great educators that he studied with such as Pat LaBarbera and Phil Nimmons at the Banff School of Fine Arts and Distinguished Professor David Baker at Indiana University.

For more information or to support the Jazz Arts Project, check them out on the web at:http://www.jazzartsproject.org/WP/

To order tickets go to: http://trtc.org/plays_events/events.php

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