Cape May Jazz Vespers

 It's been about three years now since the charms of Cape May County claimed the heart of a world-famous jazz pianist, Barry Miles.  Having lived in the county year-round for three years, he's a local--and proud of it.   Barry and friends will perform a concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St. (on the corner of Hughes and Decatur streets in downtown Cape May) Sunday, August 16^th at 8 pm.

 Barry Miles is a Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist who has not only played with virtually all of the greats over the past two decades, but through his own bands has introduced many of these greats to the music world.  He once played at the White House for President Reagan.  He has  composed and performed many individual songs that have become classics and in the 60's and 70's was largely responsible for the genesis of an entire genre of music (often termed "fusion" and referring to music integrating elements of jazz, classical, rock and Eastern music).

 Whether we've been aware of it or not, Barry's music has been all around us for many years.   He composed and performed musical scores for hundreds of television programs, radio commercials, movies and movie trailers, and he has been on hundreds of pop, R&B and jazz recordings.   For 15 years Barry was musical director for Roberta Flack. 

 Barry continues to a lot of recording with world-renowned musicians and appears on several new CDs that were or will be released in 2009.  But Miles also likes out-of-the ordinary projects, which he often finds present real challenges.  "Recently I took on a project that involves turning a bunch of raw music files into finished songs.  The tunes were composed by a very talented guitarist/singer named Coleman Mellet who tragically died recently in a freak plane crash.  Before he died we met and I really liked his music, so now I'm trying to develop what he started so his great music can live on." 

 Miles also enjoys playing and nurturing talented-but-undiscovered persons he comes in contact with in his new community.  "It's fun to work with these folks,' said Miles recently, 'because you never know what's going to come out.  Sometimes it's very, very beautiful.  Sometimes it's very unique.  That element of surprise is what keeps making music interesting."

 Joining Barry as he takes the Vespers stage for his annual summer concert will be master Bassist Tim Lekan and veteran drummer Bob Shomo.  There may also be a special guest or two.  The group will play a number of recent classic tunes and some jazz standards.   They will also play modern jazz interpretations of one or two Steven Foster tunes (Foster is often called the first truly American Songwriter for the many tunes he made famous around the Civil War).

 So come on out and hear Barry and these great players.   It will be a night to remember. The concert begins at 8 p.m.  A love offering is requested.  No reservations are required but Vespers concerts are frequently SRO, so coming a little early is suggested.  Limited free parking is available and the church is handicapped accessible.  For further information, call Bruce Jeffries-Fox at 609-884-0680 or visit www.capemayjazzvespers.com