The Jazz Singer - John Neudorf

THE JAZZ SINGER - John Neudorf Releases New CD in Toronto ... In Style!     By HANK DUBEY
From the Ellicotville Special Effects

I really didn't want to go. However, I had previously ... in a moment of weakness ... told Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brian McFadden that I would. Consequently, we left Ellicottville this past Monday afternoon at about 3pm and headed north. Destination: Toronto. Objective: Attend a "CD Release Party" for John Neudorf. Many of you remember John, as he has performed at the Silver Fox Restaurant in Ellicotville during the last couple of Jazz Festivals.

OK. So, we finally arrived at the Montreal Bistro & Jazz Club at 65 Sherbourne Street in downtown Toronto a bit after seven. That gave us time to sit down and eat before John and the boys began doing their thing (playing the songs that are on the new CD). My seafood dish was wonderful. Jazz or no jazz, I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone ... great food and reasonable prices!

After the meal, I found myself having a delightful converstion at the bar with John's beautiful wife Kirsten. Suddenly, a hush came over the entire establishment ... you could have heard the perverbial pin drop. I turned to discover the reason ... the band was about to begin.

"Wow!" I muttered under my breath. The guy next to me said, "the people who come here come for the music and they respect the musicians." He should know. As it turns out, Pat Taylor is the man who puts together the huge Toronto Jazz Festival every year.

Now I've got to admit that "jazz" has been anything but my favorite musical medium; however, these fellows got my attention. From the very first note, it was obviuos we were hearing something special.

Not only was the music most enjoyable, but I learned something that night. Every now and then, John would rapidly sing words that I just couldn't make out. You've probably heard Ella Fitzgerald and the like do the samething. I always thought that rap lyrics were a take-off on this type of jazz singing. Wrong. Kirsten explained that when John was singing "scat" that he wasn't singing words, but merely syllables ... in effect, playing his instrument (which is his voice). Well, I felt better ... being able to enjoy his instrument without straining to understand the meaning of the words. (Later it occurred to me that if smeone could cpmbine the rapid fire words of rap with the scat style of jazz, they might just have something there. You could call it "razz" ... listening John?)

Anyway, congratulations to John Neudorf whose musical career will no doubt continue to flourish ... what a great voice! I'm fairly certain you'll have the opportunity to hear him in Ellicotvill during this year's Jazz Festival (May 18th through 20th); however, if you find yourself presented with an opportunity prior to that ... take it.