Here's a Provisional Line-up for the Evening of
Saturday, 28 June2008
WE'RE BACK HOME, FINALLY. Construction is complete and we're resuming our broadcasts from the spanking new facility at 102 Witherspoon Street. Here's how to get there.
Nassau Street separates the town from the university in downtown Princeton. Nassau Hall is set back from the iron gate that demarcates the campus, and Witherspoon Street T-intersects with Nassau Street at the traffic light in front of that gate. Take Witherspoon Street down from Nassau, past Hulfish Street on the left. The next left is Paul Robeson Place. The Princeton Arts Council is on the northwest corner of the intersection of Witherspoon and Paul Robeson Place. There is often on-street parking and there are many reasonable parking garages nearby. If you've got lots of equipment, see us in the rotunda lobby of the Arts Council building, and we'll give you the best access an elevator up to Cafe Improv in the Solley Theater.

Booking: John Irving • (609) 921-3857 - home • (609) 497-2480 - office • Online Form •

As the crew of Cafe Improv acclimates to the newly refurbished Arts Council building at 102 Witherspoon Street, we start the proceedings with Emcee Tom Florek at the stand-up piano. Two Irving children and their father follow Tom onto this strange new stage.

After Effect - New Jersey's Top Youth Band
An Assemblage of Extraordinary Young Talent

The After Effect Jazz Band is based in Millstone Township, NJ, and consists of about fourteen musicians ranging in age from 13 to 19 years old. They rehearse twice a week throughout the year, under the direction of Michael Morreale, a Staten Island native and resident, and an active recording and performing artist. In the two years that After Effect has been together, the group has performed in New York City, Washington DC, throughout New Jersey at community events, and as far away as Boston at the Berklee College of Music. These talented teenagers embody the best in talent and commitment to putting on the best performance possible. Learn more about them at www.aftereffectjazzband.com.

Frank and Ellen Ruck have developed a love for swing songs over the years. They'll be mostly instrumental this Saturday, with one vocal piece -- "Dream a Little Dream of Me." It's Frank on guitar and mandolin, Ellen on rhythm guitar, and Mike Sutton on bass. The entire genre is the handiwork of Django Reinhardt who came up with this unique sound to compensate for the loss of fingers on his fretting hand. The music was christened "Gypsy Jazz" in 1953 after Reinhardt's death.

Preston Harrison -- Raggedy Band Veteran
Brown Goo in the Fields of Windsor.

It's been a while, but Preston Harrison comes back with old songs – his "Brown Goo" has long been a favorite of this Harrison fan – and new ones. He's performing these days with the Fabulous River Rats at New Hope's John & Peter's and elsewhere on the local scene. Since age eleven, this self-taught singer-songwriter has captured the comings and goings of local fauna in descriptive lyrics set to strumming of his signature nine-string acoustic. His achievements include three CDs, and he informs us that there's been an uptick in interest for his music in Europe. Click HERE for an indicative shot of Preston as he was when the Beatles invaded.

Roia is a regular performer at the Improv, and her act seems to grow stronger and tighter every time she drops in to play and sing her original works. By day, Roia is a music therapist, but under cover of darkness, she assumes a secret identity to wow audiences with a unique blend of pop and folk. She is the brains and muscle behind the Common Grounds Coffeehouse at the Hunterdon Developmental Center in Clinton, NJ. Read more about this charming young lady at http://www.roiamusic.com .

Jonathan Eckstein grew up in Princeton and Carlos Oliviera is from Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil, but they have a lot in common. Both have doctorates in Operations Research (a branch of applied mathematics dealing with decision making and planning), both had Greek dissertation advisors, and both love the classic Bossa Nova style of Brazilian popular music. With Jonathan playing tenor saxophone and Carlos playing guitar, they will perform four songs by the Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim.

We're glad that the New York artist's original songs are available to her neighbors in New Jersey. Jodi was an adult when she picked up the guitar, but as she takes her turn in front of audiences, it exquisitely complements the characteristic "delicate toughness" of her subtle voice. When she entertains patrons of the Artland Bar or when spare change rains down from L-Train passengers into her open guitar case, this city-girl doesn't fully appreciate how her somewhat diffident approach to the audience can entice her listeners -- trapping them in the warmth and richness of her poetry and music. Learn more about this charming singer at www.jodishaw.com.

Circle Round the Sun - Exquisite Harmonizingr
"Folk Project" Performers Venture to Princeton

Circle Round the Sun is the folk/acoustic duo of Marie Trontell and Jay Wilensky (sometimes joined by bassist Paul Adams). Jay's warm baritone and Marie's rich alto blend seamlessly into sensuous duets and harmonies. Their influences include renowned singer-songwriters like Dave Carter, Michael Smith, Cheryl Wheeler, and Tom Rush. Over the last several years, Circle Round the Sun has performed on the radio; at concerts, festivals, and benefits; and in coffee houses. They will bring their tight and polished performance anywhere you'd like them to, throughout New Jersey and nearby areas of New York and Pennsylvania. Ms. Trontell and Mr. Wilensky refer to "First Orbit," their CD, at www.sonicbids.com/CircleRoundTheSun.

Emefa Agawu, Vocalist, with John Sturm on Piano
Young Local Talent

The range and versatility of Miss Agawu have made her a hit at concerts and dances at the local high school. Cafe Improv booking agents have been scouting her and young John Sturm over the years. John developed under the tutelage of Professor Laurie Altman -- one of Princeton's premier jazz instructors. Emefa Agawu is amazing. This will be their first performance on our stage.

At the tail end of the evening, strange occurrences can be expected as the crew and the performers together feel strangely moved to let out all the stops.