CAPE MAY — One of the most popular, professional, and well-attended events held in this city was the bi-annual Cape May Jazz Festival, which recently ceased after running for 17 years. But there is a strong push to have the music resurrected, and perhaps as early as next spring.
“New people are reorganizing the festival,” said Bob Steenrod, the festival’s program director. “There’s a new board in place, and efforts are underway to get the funding that will return the festival.”
That fundraising begins in earnest Nov. 11 and 12 as Cabanas and Martini Beach presents the 2011 Cape May Jazz Fest Fundraiser for the “Friends of Cape May Jazz.”
The two day program features local jazz entertainers. On Friday, Geno White appears at Martini Beach at 6 p.m., and The Tom Larsen Blues Band performs at Cabanas at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday it’s Frank Bey at Cabana’s at 1 p.m. and Blue Bone at 9:30 p.m. Eddie Morgan performs at Martini Beach at 6 p.m.
“Our goal is to raise money to get the festival back on its feet,” said Steenrod. “We plan to have a festival next April and again next fall. And we intend to keep the prices reasonable.”
It took more than a faltering economy to kill the festival, according to Steenrod, and one key factor was the demise of Cape May’s convention hall.
“When the hall closed,” he explained, “we had to look for other venues, and that took money. It took a couple of years to get in this kind of financial trouble, and of course, the bad economy didn’t help.
“I’d say there is an 80-20 (percent) chance that there will be a festival in April,” he added. “The board is working hard to make this happen. They’re getting the bills paid, and our creditors are being cooperative.”
The best way for jazz patrons to help out is to also help themselves by attending one (or all) of the shows Nov. 11-12 at Cabanas and Martini Beach, 429 Beach Ave., in Cape May. You can also donate to the Friends of Cape May Jazz, P.O. Box 2065, Cape May, NJ 08204.
“This fundraiser is a signal that the festival is coming back,” said Steenrod. “Cape May needs this; the Jazz Festival is a real asset for the city.”
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
