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The first time alto saxophonist, Greg Abate, came to Clarksburg, he was sponsored by local restaurateur, attorney Tim Genti-lozzi, and his partner, Chris Moffat, a Gassa-way attorney and flute player. Abate’s annual performances in Rocco Muriale’s Kenova, WV, restaurant were leg-endary in jazz circles, and given that Muriale is a Harrison County native, the connection to Clarksburg and its Italian-American community was inevitable. It was October, 2016, when Gentilozzi-Moffat Enterprises was formed to bring Abate in to play in Washington Square, the Clarks-burg pizzeria turned live music “hot spot.” “When Greg got here, we got to talking about his Italian-American background and we made sure he learned all about our Italian his-tory in the region and the Italian Heritage Fes-tival,” recalled Gentilozzi. “We took Greg to Minard’s Restaurant for dinner, where we shared more history.” According to Gentilozzi, one of those at the table suggested that Abate return when the Italian Heritage Festival was going on, and maybe play as one of the featured Italian-American artists. “That idea led to a bigger concept,” ex-plained Gentilozzi. “Why not recruit an entire jazz ensemble with each member being of Ital-ian descent? We decided to call it ‘Jazz Itali-ano!’” Enter the West Virginia Jazz Society(WVJS), and their rolodex of jazz artists near and far. “We loved the idea of an all-Italian band,” said Rose Ann Policano, WVJS VP. “And we already knew Mark Cappellini, one of our favorite drummers. Mark’s from Morgantown, so that was close, and a good place to start.” Policano said the next connection was made through jazz singer, Sharon Clark, who introduced WVJS President, Eric Spelsberg, to pianist, Chris Grasso, a jazz stalwart in the DC jazz scene (with four Italian grandparents). Grasso is also an attorney who gave up his practice to focus on jazz full time.

It was with ease that Grasso made a refer-

ral to Marco Panascia, a very well regarded New York City bassist, who grew up in Italy before coming to America to study at Berklee Institute in Boston. The end result of all the networking is a show billed as Greg Abate and “Il Trio Pae-sano.” “Roughly translated, ’Il Trio Paesano’ means ‘the three from my country’”, said Gen-tilozzi. “It’s a celebration of the Italian musical tradition from generation to generation.” The show is set for Friday, August 25, in Clarksburg’s Uptown Event Center, with opening band, The Bambinos. Doors and din-ing begins at 6:30pm. The $20 admission in-cludes an unlimited Italian buffet. A beverage service is planned to assist those who BYOB. For more information and to reserve seat-ing, call WVJS at 304-517-9813 or email to WVJazzSociety@aol.com.

The third annual Elkins Jazz Walk set for Friday, August 4, will feature five out-standing jazz ensembles performing in four unique Elkins eateries. Each of the bands will play one-hour sets with half hour breaks to allow the audience to “turn over” as groups of “jazz walkers” move from one venue to the

next, if they so choose. The diverse lineup begins with Pitts-burgh-based, The Funky Fly Project. Set to play in El Gran Sabor at 6:30pm and 8pm, the band is led by 15-year old saxo-phonist, Winston Bell, and 14-year old drummer, Brandon Terry. Seth Maynard will lead a specially as-sembled ensemble of top West Virginia-based artists into Beander’s, a familiar haunt for the popular guitarist-vocalist.

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Dr. James Moore, skilled trumpeter and Director of Jazz Programs at WV Wesleyan, will lead an organ trio in C.J. Maggie’s restaurant featuring Cliff Barnes on organ and J.J. Johnson III on drums. In Jabberwocky, the talented young Isaac Viars Sextet will serve up a mix of traditional songs from the Great American

Songbook with some original composi-tions. This band is made up of current and former students of James Moore at WV Wesleyan. Back in El Gran Sabor, Dr. Monika Herzig’s jazz fusion band, Time Flies, will play a 60-min. set at 9:30pm and a 90-minute late show at 11pm for jazz fans still on their feet after the evening’s Walk. For more info on the Elkins Jazz Walk, contact Seth Maynard at 304-642-7099.

Brandon Terry, 14-yr old leader of Funky Fly Project, appearing in Elkins on Fri., Aug. 25.

Dr. James Moore headlines for the Elkins Jazz Walk in C.J. Maggie’s, 6:30pm to 10pm.

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