Music and the Arts With The Naples Jazz Orchestra

Stevan Stanisic
Jan 16, 2014
2 min read

The Naples Jazz Orchestra (NJO) is a Big Band.

This band format typically includes rhythm, brass and woodwind instruments. It is a hybrid of Ensemble (group) playing and solo improvisation.

Bob Stone is the founder and musical director of NJO. As a musician over the last 40 years he has been a performer, a director and conductor in addition to a mentor to students as well as his contemporaries.

The NJO typically Perform at Cambier Park in Naples, FL in the winter and spring months.

As part of an effort to increase public awareness of the arts, The Naples Art Association (NAA) and the NJO have started a partnership

called Music and the Arts. This series combines musical performances by the NJO and guest artists with the opportunity to interact with them beforehand in a very relaxed, personal setting. The kickoff to Music and the Arts was held at the von Liebig Art Center, the exhibition and teaching facility of the NAA.

The event that evening featured the trumpet Virtuoso, Byron Stripling,

and was held in The Art Resource Center at The von Liebig Art Center.

Mr. Stripling is an accomplished musician and actor. He has Performed throughout the years in very good company, and is presently Artistic director for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.

The event was catered by Artichoke and Company. A nice assortment of nibbles were on hand that evening, some inspired by Recipes from some of the jazz greats.

These included marinated chicken and cilantro quesadillas with pepper jack cheese and vegetables,

pulled pork sliders, vegetables with dip,

endive leaves stuffed with Gorgonzola Cheese and cherries,

and Crostini with Brie Cheese, sliced apple and grapes.

The real treat of the evening was interacting with the musicians. Both Mr. Stone and Mr. Stripling had some interesting thoughts on their craft.

Both musicians felt that music, and in this context jazz, is food for the soul transcending the written and spoken word to take one to another level. Music was also representative of democracy to them in that one can perform and sound how they choose to.

Mr. Stripling travels a lot to perform. He thought it interesting observing the cultural differences as to how people feel about, and react to his performances. He thought it important to be able to personally use what you experience in your travels. The Bossa Nova, and Cuban influences on Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie, respectively, were cited as notable examples of this.

As we were soon to view the show, it was mentioned that live music is unique, performed differently on different days and in the present moment. I looked forward to this day’s “take” on the material they selected to play.

After a short “warm-up” by the NJO

Byron Stripling treated us to a wonderful performance.

On the whole a very entertaining, interesting and filling evening.

There you have it, another review on forks.

The von Liebig Art Center

585 Park St.

Naples, FL 34102

(239)262-6517