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.