[JPL] Cape May Jazz Fest features Eulau and Chembo Corniel Latin Band

[Dr. Jazz]

  Cape May Jazz Fest features Eulau and Chembo Corniel Latin Band


      by Zan Stewart/The Star-Ledger
      Thursday November 06, 2008, 2:54 PM

      *Andy Eulau with the Chembo Corniel Latin Band*. At the 30th Cape
      May Jazz Festival presented by Bank of America. When: 8 p.m. to 1
      a.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
      Where: Various venues in Cape May and vicinity. How much: Passes:
      $55 daily, $150-$175 weekend, $25-$35 jam sessions only. Call
      (609) 884-7200 or visit capemayjazz.org <http://capemayjazz.org>.

      Though *Andy Eulau *definitely enjoyed his first instruments --
      the recorder, which he started at age 5, and the clarinet, which
      he studied from around age 8 -- they never really grabbed him. But
      that changed when he picked up an electric bass at around age 13.

      "I was thrilled, it was great," says North Tarrytown, N.Y., native
      Eulau, 50, of playing bass with the "cool" rock trio Devil's Creek
      when he was a high school freshman. The band was led by a
      guitarist named *Jimmy Cochrane*, who was a senior, as was the
      bass player. "I was the little guy," Eulau says.

      The group played covers of hits by Led Zeppelin, Cream, and
      others. "I had a great time, took stuff off records, put my own
      little thing on it."

      Bass has proved an ideal instrument for Eulau, who plays Friday
      with the Chembo Corniel Latin Band, as part of the 30th Cape May
      Jazz Festival in Cape May (see accompanying story for complete
      lineup).

      "I'm a support man. If somebody has something to do and I can help
      them, I'm gonna do it," says Bloomfield resident Eulau (pronounced
      YULE-ow), who plays mostly acoustic bass. "That's what a bass
      player does: whatever needs to be done to make the front sound good."

      Eulau has performed with, and sometimes recorded with, such
      notables as pianists Bill Charlap and Diane Moser, saxophonist
      Anthony Braxton, flutist Andrea Brachfeld, and Latin drummers Ray
      Barretto and Bobby Sanabria.

      He had the good fortune to hear a lot of traditional Cuban music
      growing up in Tarrytown, which gave him an edge when he started to
      play in Latin bands. Later came experiences with top Latin artists
      Barretto, Sanabria, Brachfeld and Corniel, with whom he has played
      since 2001. The latter is a joy to work with.

      "He's the nicest cat in the world, and the music is fun to play,
      it has a lot of good energy," says Eulau, whose website is
      andyeulau.com. "And Chembo has a gorgeous, musical tone on congas.
      He makes the drums sing."

      The conga drummer's A-1 band at Cape May also includes tenor
      saxophonist and composer Ivan Renta, keyboardist and composer Elio
      Villafranca and the top rate Latin drummer Vince Cherico.

      Eulau, who holds a master's from North Texas State University in
      Denton, is also an established educator. He's currently an adjunct
      professor at New Jersey City University in Jersey City and New
      York University. He finds teaching to be a meaningful experience.

      "You help the kids, sometimes say something that changes their
      lives," he says. "I don't have kids of my own, so in a sense,
      they're my kids. It's very rewarding."

      /Zan Stewart is The Star-Ledger's jazz writer. He is also a
      musician who occasionally performs at local clubs. He may be
      reached at zstewart at starledger.com
      <mailto:zstewart at starledger.com> or at (973) 324-9930./

      Here's the lineup for the 30th Cape May Jazz Festival:

      FRIDAY

      Tribute to Maynard Ferguson with Jon Faddis and the Ed Vezinho/Jim
      Ward Big Band, 8 and 10 p.m., Theater at Lower Regional High
      School, 657 Route 9 North, Erma.

      Jackie Ryan, 9 and 11 p.m., Grand Hotel 1st Floor Ballroom, 1045
      Beach Drive.

      Chembo Corniel Latin Band, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Carney's Main Room, 401
      Beach Drive.

      Michael Pedicin Quintet, Carney's Other Room, same location, times.

      Frank Bey Blues Band, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Cabanas, 429 Beach Drive.

      SATURDAY

      Free jazz workshops for youths and adults, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Cape
      May Elementary School, 921 Lafayette St. (near Madison Avenue).

      Eleazar Shafer, noon; Jam session with Steve Greene, others, 1-4
      p.m., Carney's Main Room.

      Divine Jazz Trio, noon, Jam session with Bill McGrady Trio,
      others, 1-4 p.m., Carney's Other Room.

      Latin Jazz Jam with Edgardo Cintron and Inca, Tribute to Carlos
      Santana, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Grand Hotel 1st Floor Ballroom.

      Blues Jam with Alan Weber and Frenz, 1-4 p.m., Cabanas.

      Pieces of a Dream, 8 and 10 p.m., Theatre at Lower Regional High
      School.

      Pamela Williams, 9 and 11 p.m., Grand Hotel 1st Floor Ballroom.

      Bob Ferguson Quintet, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Boiler Room, Congress Hall,
      Perry Street and Congress Place.

      Denis DiBlasio with Jim McFalls, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Carney's Main Room.

      Antoinette Montague with Bill Easley, Carney's Other Room, same
      times.

      David Cole and Main Street Blues Band, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Cabanas.

      SUNDAY

      The Little Jazz Giants, noon; Jam session with Pieces of a Dream
      Trio, others, 1-4 p.m., Carney's Main Room.

      The Young Lions Jazz Trio, noon; Jam session with Robin VanDuzee
      Trio, others, 1-4 p.m., Carney's Other Room.

      Cruising the Blues with Big Walt Johnson, others, 1-4 p.m., Cabanas.

      All venues in Cape May vicinity; festival buses run to all venues.


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