Welcome to the Pennsylvania Jazz Society web site. Please e-mail us with any comments or suggestions. Enjoy!
Presenting Jazz Since 1978!
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PA Jazz Society Presents:
John Banker's Hot Jam Jazz Band
Sunday, September 14, 2008
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Doors open at 12:30
Personnel: John Banker - Leader, vocals, trumpet, trombone, tuba, washboard; Sherman Kahn - Clarinet, sax & flute; Sal Ranniello - Drums; Al LaPorte - Piano, vocals; Gim Burton - Special Guest on Banjo.
$18 for members, $20 for non-members, $5 students
Tickets available at the door
American Legion Hall
Wind Gap, PA
Info call – 610-740-9698 / 610-258-2082
PAJazzSociety@aol.com
Band info: Hot Jam members have performed New Orleans Jazz, Big Band Swing, Gospel and Mardi Gras party music throughout New England since 1980. Hot Jam has performed four times for the Connecticut State legislature on Arts Day and was selected to represent Connecticut at the national live airing of QVC local.
Hot Jam's aggressive rhythmic style and outrageous humor attracts young audiences wherever they perform. The group represents over 150 youth celebrations and educational concerts annually, also representing the Eastern Connecticut Symphony at a variety of large audience educational programs.
Hot Jam members have appeared together at jazz festivals in Edinburgh, Sun Valley, Sacramento, Hot Steam Jazz Festival, Pennsylvania Jazz Society, Potomac Jazz Club, Brecon Wales, Bar Harbor Jazz Festival, Great Connecticut Jazz Festival, Bix Beiderbecke Festival, Bath England, Friday Harbor and Victoria B.C. Group members have also appeared at Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans several times. While in New Orleans, the group presented special student matinees in Preservation Hall.
John Banker (vocals, trumpet, trombone, tuba, washboard) - While completing his Bachelor's Degrees at Indiana University, John toured with top entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Henry Mancini and Mel Torme. He has appeared on over 20 recordings, recorded numerous TV and radio commercials and appeared on two National Public Radio artist features.
Sherman Kahn (clarinet, sax and flute) - Sherman has toured and performed with America's most famous big bands including Sammy Kaye, Vaughan Monroe, Bob Crosby and Vincent Lopez. He has played in pit orchestras on Broadway and regularly appears with the New Haven, Bridgeport and Waterbury Symphonies. Sherman has degrees from Yale University and Columbia University and has recently retired as music director after serving in the Wallingford Hamden and North Haven public school systems.
Sal Ranniello (drums) - Sal received his Bachelor Of Music from the Hartt School of Music in Hartford. Sal is an extremely versatile drummer performing classical, jazz, cajun, and rock. In 1992, he traveled as percussionist with the Evita world tour. Sal currently performs with the Hartford Symphony and the Goodspeed Opera House and teaches at the Hartt School of Music and the Creative Music Studio.
Al LaPorte (piano, vocals) - Al LaPorte is Connecticut's busiest pianists presenting over 400 performances annually. Performing since he was 4 years old, Al is comfortable in all musical styles. Al is the staff piano instructor for the Thames Valley School of Music and Performer/Accompanist for the Children's Musical Theater production "Patti's Green." Al has appeared at major music festivals throughout the country and runs Classic Company, a very popular Swing and Rhythm & Blues band.
Gim Burton (banjo) - Gim has been playing banjo and guitar since high school. Starting with Dixieland jazz, country music, and then playing rock 'n' roll to put himself through college, he went on to play in the very popular banjo bands of Red Garter and Your Father's Mustache in the 1960's. Throughout his career, Gim has played with Vic Dickenson, Pee Wee Erwin, Gene Ramey, Dick Wellstood, Bennie Morton, Woody Allen and Max Kaminsky. In 1981 he joined the Bearcats Jazz Band. Specializing in a repertoire of jazz from the 1920's to the 1960's, the popular Bearcats continue to appear at jazz festivals and concerts throughout the US.
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2008 Concerts
Sept 14 – Hot Jam (American Legion)
Oct 12 – Ed Metz and Heritage Jazz Ensemble (American Legion)
Nov 9 - Jerry Rife and his Rhythm Kings (Easton ML) FREE for members
2009 CONCERTS
Feb. 8 - Barbone St. - Annual Mardi Gras Party (American Legion)
March 8 - TBA
April 19 - TBA
May 3 - TBA
June 21 - TBA
July 12 - Annual Jazz Fest
Sept. 13 - TBA
Oct. 11 - TBA
Nov. 8 - TBA
MAP to
Our Mission
The Pennsylvania Jazz Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and presentation of traditional and mainstream jazz music. The Pennsylvania Jazz Society is a founding member of the American Federation Of Jazz Societies
Membership Information
Membership dues is $20 for calendar year. Membership includes you and your significant other, and all of your children under 18. If you are a single person, your admission will allow you to purchase one extra admission to each of the PJS events at the PJS membership price. Membership includes our monthly newsletter, discount concert admissions, and free admission to our November concert.
Click here for a printable membership form.
Contact Information
- Telephone
- 610-258-2082 (Lois Volk) or 610-740-9698 (Michele Curatola)
- Postal address
- P.O. Box 995 Easton, PA 18044
- Electronic mail
- General Information: info@pajazzsociety.org
Webmaster: music@pajazzsociety.org