True Blue Jazz Series announces fall headliners

Eddie Sherman and Peggy Raley have completed their calendar for the 2014 True Blue Jazz Series this fall, and it’s smokin’ hot again. This years’ schedule includes some favorites and makes introduction of some yet-to-be-seen talent from the burgeoning mainstream jazz scene.

Eddie Sherman said, “Our 2014 Jazz Series has grown beautifully from last year’s premiere. We have expanded from a single location to four different venues for our straight-ahead jazz shows, all in downtown Rehoboth Beach.”

“The most exciting news for us this year is, because of sponsor support, we have been able to book two great headliner shows,” said Peggy Raley. Returning to Rehoboth Beach is a young man with a gift and a horn, Geoff Gallante.

This 13-year-old trumpet prodigy is wowing the jazz world nationally and abroad. In festivals, from the Santa Fe Jazz Fest to the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, Gallante is on an incredible ride to the top of straight-ahead jazz. Gallante will be on the Rehoboth Bandstand Saturday, Oct. 18, in a free public concert, along with jazz bands from Cape Henlopen and Sussex Central high schools.

“Our kids in these local school music programs deserve to be featured during a week when jazz is showcased in their own county and for some, their own hometown. Geoff Gallante appearing there as well will be inspirational to all of our local, budding jazz players,” said Raley. Gallante will also perform at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18, at The Cellar Door at 20 Baltimore Ave., in Rehoboth Beach. Highway One is featured as the sponsor of the 2014 True Blue Jazz Rehoboth Beach Bandstand free concert that afternoon from noon to 3 p.m.

Appearing for the very first time in Delaware Friday, Oct. 17, will be The Freddy Cole Quartet. Raley said, “Freddy Cole is a jazz icon in his own right. Though Freddy is brother to Nat Cole and uncle to Natalie, he has his own distinctive style and phrasing vocally, more reminiscent of Sinatra or Billy Eckstine. He is his own accomplished vocalist and artist at the piano, a Grammy nominee, an award winner for Best Male Jazz Vocal, numerous music honorariums, and a 2005 Living Legend Award. This man is among those who have motivated and inspired all the rest of us who love this music.”

"We're negotiating with Clear Space Theater to be the location for The Freddy Cole Quartet for its one-night-only appearance," said Raley.  The Freddy Cole Quartet will appear for one night only in the 2014 True Blue Jazz Series, 8 p.m., Friday Oct. 17.

The Back Porch Café and The Avenue Inn will each host a True Blue Jazz Happy Hour from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 and 18. The Back Porch at 59 Rehoboth Ave. will feature Bernard Sweetney on the vibes. Over at 33 Wilmington Ave., The Avenue Inn will have jazz guitarist Ron Cole performing.

This year's home for the 2014 True Blue Jazz Series is the newly established Cellar Door, the downstairs club at 20 Baltimore Ave. “This location will be the focal point of our Straight Ahead Live Jazz Scene in downtown Rehoboth. We’ll showcase three great acts from around the region, plus our own Eddie Sherman Show performance Saturday, Oct. 18, featuring the incomparable Peggy Raley and our special guest, Geoff Gallante,” says producer/performer Sherman.

Raley said, “I’m really pleased to have my longtime musical brother Fred Hughes back with us. We’ll have the Fred Hughes Trio with special guest Camille Thurman on sax and vocals for Wednesday, Oct. 15, and also returning, the awesome talents of Unified Jazz Ensemble Thursday, Oct. 16. The Chris Simonini Organ Trio will hold court Friday, Oct. 17, at The Cellar Door.”

The Cellar Door Supper Club shows will have doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner seating from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Showtimes for all shows at the Cellar Door are 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Watch the Eddie Sherman Show website for ticket sales and pricing info for the 2014 True Blue Jazz Series. Tickets will be available online at www.eddieshermanshow.com.