Question of the Week: “What is your favorite style of music and who are some of your favorite performers?” (Asked Sunday at the Palmer Square JazzFeast)

September 18, 2013

Question of the Week: “What is your favorite style of music and who are some of your favorite performers?” (Asked Sunday at the Palmer Square JazzFeast)

David: “Well, I love contemporary jazz, especially R&B style, people like Will Downing and others, his genre. Will is smooth and contemporary, but it’s jazz.” Tiffany: “My music taste is very eclectic, so I kind of pick from everywhere, and right now, I’m really liking Mumford and Sons, but I really do appreciate jazz. Every once in a while, I put on the “Smooth Jazz” channel on Pandora Internet Radio.”

—David and Tiffany Rodriguez, Princeton

“I guess at heart, I’m a jazz fan, but I have kids, so I have to keep up with hip-hop, as well. As far as jazz goes though, I am a big traditionalist. I love John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Roy Hargrove, and Wynton Marsalis. With hip-hop, I’m all over the map, but right now, Kendrick Lamar is my big guy.

—Steven Healy, Princeton

Al: “I was one of the original founders of the New Jersey Jazz Society back in 1992, at which point I was 32 years old. And, from that original group, besides Jack Stein and myself, I can’t think of anyone who is still around. I have spent half of my life with this organization and I’m very proud of it. I’m so amazed to see this fantastic crowd and to see these musicians. We have worked for years with guys like Bucky Pizzarelli, who is here, he’s the next act to go on, and the guys is 87 years old. Jerry Bruno, the bass player, is 93! Bucky will always be one of my all-time favorites.”Don: “My favorite period went through the 40s and 50s into what we call modern jazz. Of all the jazz artists who have ever lived, Louis Armstrong would be my favorite. But stick around for the last set today and listen to Bria Skonberg. You will be amazed. She’s in her mid-to-late 20s. She plays like Armstrong. And she is just beautiful.”—Al Kuehn (left) and Don Greenfield, Maplewood, N.J.

TT Janice Stevens

“I think that Bria Skonberg is the next Diana Krall.”

—Janice Stevens, Morris Plains, N.J.

“I like pop-rock, with groups like John Mayer, Jack Johnson, and Dave Matthews Band.”—Amanda Packer, Bordentown

Written by: town Topics