On April 15, 2010 the Sherman Theater will be filled with the sounds of swing music with local high school musicians and the COTA Festival Orchestra performing music from the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection. A special treat will be the appearance of “Blue” Lou Marini of SNL and the Blues Brothers fame. The concert is at 7:30 PM tickets are available at the Sherman Theater box office for $15.00 and $5.00 for students.

This will be a unique educational experience for young jazz musicians from the Pocono Mountain East, Delaware Valley and Stroudsburg Area School Districts. Each band is preparing music from the Al Cohn Collection and will be participants in a workshop/clinic with members of the Festival Orchestra and special guest “Blue” Lou Marini. They will then perform with Mr. Marini and evening will close with a set by Lou and The Festival Orchestra.

Lou Marini is no stranger to either the Poconos or the music of Al Cohn. About Al, Lou states, “To me, his charts are the embodiment of a natural inherent swing. They just feel right and natural to play. They reflect his intelligence and great sense of humor and above all, they swing.” Lou has performed with the East Stroudsburg High School (South) band in 1985 and with the University band in 2000.

It’s been said a person can be described by the company he keeps.  When wind player Lou Marini, Jr. is introduced on stages and recording projects worldwide, it’s amidst luminaries like James Taylor, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Buddy Rich, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Doc Severinson, Blood Sweat & Tears, Steely Dan, Woody Herman, Steve Tyrell, the Rolling Stones, and the Dan Akroyd and John Belushi cult phenomenon, The Blues Brothers, born out of Saturday Night Live, where Lou’s signature wailing sax is imitated to this day.

COTA CampJazz an educational outreach program of the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts Fund for Young Musicians will benefit from a portion of the proceeds from the concert This program, the 4th annual, held from July 26 – August 1 in Water Gap, provides an opportunity for young musicians to study the art of jazz improvisation by working in small groups with the jazz masters of the COTA organization.

Dedicated to preserving all forms of jazz from all eras, the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection (ACMJC) was founded in 1988 to honor the life and legacy of Al Cohn—legendary saxophonist, arranger, composer and conductor, and long-time Pocono resident.  The collection is housed in Kemp Library on the ESU campus and consists of jazz recordings, oral histories, sheet music, photographs, books, videos, and original art and memorabilia, all generously donated over the years by supporters from around the world.

The COTA Festival Orchestra has performed at the annual COTA Jazz and Arts Festival throughout its 31-year run, and has twice toured Europe as the Phil Woods Big Band.  The members include: Nelson Hill, Jay Rattman, Tom Hamilton, Bob Keller, and Jim Buckley (saxes); Ken Brader, Danny Cahn, Eddie Severn, and Patrick Dorian (trumpets); Rick Chamberlain, Fred Scott, Kevin Haines and Jim Daniels (trombones); Eric Doney, Evan Gregor, Bill Goodwin and Marko Marcinko (rhythm).

Eager to bring this Big Band music into the heart of the community, the Sherman Theater offered to partner the “Library Alive” series.  Built in the 1920s, the recently renovated Sherman Theater is equipped to present many of today’s biggest shows.  Complete with full bar and restaurant, it offers everything needed for a complete evening of entertainment.  Audiences and performers alike have been awed by the fantastic acoustics, comfort, and historic feel of this rejuvenated downtown performance venue.

Jenae Shoup, senior band member at Delaware Valley High School, has earned the Ralph Hughes Memorial Jazz Scholarship, a $1,000 award that recognizes the most academically proficient jazz student at the regional Celebration of the Arts Honors Jazz Band. Hughes, a jazz trumpet player, was a pillar of the Pocono Mountains jazz scene. The memorial scholarship is sponsored by Michael and Elvi De Lotto of Antelao Restaurant in Delaware Water Gap. Shoup is the first DV player to earn the honor. Photo by Lance Rauh/DVHS

Jazz, song, original compositions highlight program,

By Kimberly Montalbano

WESTFALL — Music permeated Delaware Valley High School’s hallways on Dec. 14 at the annual band concert, under the direction of Lance Rauh.

The jazz band headed the concert, starting off with a very hot performance of “Muy Caliente” by Scott Stanton. Following a brief introduction, the jazz ensemble continued accompanied by featured soloist Jaime Wright singing “Blue Skies.”

Next, vocalist Cristina Estepa stepped to the mic to sing “How About You” with the jazz ensemble in tow.

The gang continued with “Winter Wonderland,” showcasing various players. Estepa traveled to the stage again to perform “That Old Black Magic,” her final song of the night. After “The Nearness of You,” arranged by Mark Taylor, Wright came to the front of the auditorium to sing “All of Me,” which concluded the night’s singing.

“Tune for T.D.” by Matt Vashlishan, was composed for the 2009 COTA Cats, a competition for music students.

Hard to say if Delaware Water Gap missed a chance at being the Branson, Mo., of the East some 60 years ago.

What is certain is that when Bob Lehr chose jazz over country-western for his new business venture, the Deer Head Inn became an epicenter of jazz and an incubator for three generations of stellar jazz musicians.

It began with piano players such as Keith Jarrett and was followed for years by the weekly treat of Johnny Coates, whose elegant arrangements and jazz sensibilities drew fans and put the place on the map.

And it was there that tavern owner Ed Joubert, trombonist Rick Chamberlain and sax player Phil Woods concocted the idea for an arts festival called the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts, or COTA. That yearly event is often known simply as "The Jazz Festival," as if it were the only one in the country. For those who play or attend the event, it is.

The 32nd annual Delaware Water Gap COTA festival will be held this weekend in Delaware Water Gap.