Jazz Saturday at the Felix store

BY NICOLE CUSICK

LAFAYETTE — Local Jazz talent the Edward Michaels Trio will perform at Felix the Cat Store in Lafayette Village on Saturday, Aug. 11.
The trio includes Edward Michael of Wantage on piano, Bob Nitkin of Stockholm on drums and Ron Naspo of Montclair on bass.
Michaels had performed prior to this with celebrities like Jack Albertson from the 1970's TV show "Chico and the Man," starring Freddie Prinze; and he'd worked with Tony Orlando before that musician formed the group "Tony Orlando and Dawn."
And, in the mid-1970s, he had also accompanied Frankie Lane a cable TV show.

Forming a group

When Michaels met Nitkin through a mutual friend about three years ago at That Little Restaurant in Jefferson, he said he could see that this friendship was the beginning of “the trio I always wanted.”
Nitkin works with New Jersey freelance musicians, has judged for the annual Guitar Center Drum-Off and belongs to the Garfield Cadets Alumni Corps, a group he competes with regularly. He is also endorsed by DC California Soultone Cymbals. Nitkin studied with drummer Joe Morello. Prio to joining the trio, he had been a part of Moonlight on the Poconos, a larger orchestra with a Big Band feel.
“I love playing it all: the drum corps, the Big Band and the trio, where I really get to improvise," said Nitkin.
Naspo joined the group just a year ago, replacing a bassist who left the trio.
“Our former bassist Bill gave me a few names to call to find a new bassist and Ron was my first and only call,” said Michaels.
Naspo is a retired professor of string bass and ensemble coach at Montclair State University and William Paterson University. He is a mentor with the Sussex County Youth Orchestra.
Naspo has worked with a host of well-known jazz groups, including those of Stan Kenton, Sonny Rollins, Bucky Pizzarelli, Johnny Hartman, Wild Bill Davison and Billy Maxted. He's also worked in symphonic orchestras. He was previous with the Don Shirley Trio.
“I like smaller ensembles. There is more musical freedom and especially when we improv,” said Naspo.

The spirit of jazz

Reminiscing about some of their past gigs, Michaels recalled: “Our first TV show was with the Steve Ames Show, on Comcast Cable TV in 2010. We were all set and ready to play when at the last minute we get a call from our then-bass player, his car broke down he was stranded and could not get there in time. So here we are no bass player, a little frantic. So I thought why not ask the guitar player, Sandy Renda, who is Steve Ames's guitar player for the show, to fill in. So to cut to the chase he said sure, what are you guys doing? It took about five minutes for me and Bob to go over a couple of charts with him, and it was a success.”
That seems to be the spirit of jazz, with musicians ready to improvise and make the music come together.
“The trio is great, each little solo is important, but it is more important that we gel together,” said Nitkin.
“Compatibility on a personal and musical level is important. We all need to mix well,” says Naspo.

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