Joel Zelnik Trio to Perform at Bernardsville Library

Joel Zelnik at the Steinway

The Joel Zelnik Trio will perform in free concert at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, October 13 at 3:00 pm.  "My Bill Evans – A Personal Conversation" is a fascinating program based on the dialogues between Joel Zelnik and Bill Evans, a seven- time Grammy Award winner, at the Village Gate during the mid-1960s.  Signature Evans works will be performed as the trio presents informative insight into this jazz great.  Part of the “Sundays at Three” series, this concert is funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library.  Doors open at 2:45 pm.  No sign-up is needed.

Bill Evans, who was born in Plainfield, NJ, is acknowledged to be the most important innovator of jazz piano in the late 20th century.  Joel Zelnik had the great fortune to play at the Top of the Gate in New York City during the mid-1960s.  On Monday nights, he split sets with the Bill Evans Trio, and his greatness has stayed with Zelnik right up to the present.  As Zelnik tells it, "Bill said to me: as a musician, it’s not what you play, but how you play it.” Zelnik has lived that in his own piano playing no matter what style or circumstance.

Jazz great Dr. Billy Taylor was the first to give air play to Mr. Zelnik's first jazz album, “MOVE.”  A contemporary of Bill Evans, Zelnik has entertained five presidents, has been a pianist/bandleader for thousands of events, and has performed at concert venues in New York, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Japan and Greece.  New York venues include Windows On The World and The Rainbow Room.  He has recorded four CDs and holds an M.A. from Rutgers University.  His latest recording, “Live At Steinway Piano Gallery,” was performed on a Steinway Model D Concert Grand and released in Japan.

Brian Glassman, bassist for the trio, is an extremely versatile musician, at home in almost any genre of music be it classical, rock, Latin, R&B, or cabaret.  He is perhaps best known for his work in jazz, cabaret and world music styles such as Klezmer.  Glassman has performed nationwide, throughout Europe, and in Asia, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Israel, Russia, and the Mid-East.  He can regularly be heard playing his historic c.1820's Prescott American double bass at many New York City venues.  He has been Instructor of Jazz Bass at Princeton University since 2003.

Percussionist David Cox is currently on the faculty of Adelphi University.  He has performed in many New York theater productions including Annie, My Fair Lady (with Rex Harrison), Dancin’, 42’nd Street (with Jerry Orbach), Cats, Pippin (with Ben Vereen), and My One and Only (Tommy Tune and Twiggy).  He toured with Mr. Vereen in Pippin and in his Vegas night club act, and with Engelbert Humperdinck, Vic Damone, and Liza Minelli.  As a Graduate Fellow he served as the Assistant Conductor of the Brooklyn College Conservatory Orchestra (1994-97) while earning a Master’s Degree. He holds an Undergraduate degree from Manhattan School of Music, doing graduate work at the Julliard School (1970-72).

There is no charge to attend the concert and no sign-up is needed.  For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.