This Sunday, Dec. 2, from 5-9pm, saxophonist Michael Pedicin will appear at Stumpo’s Italian Bar and Grill (101 E. Maryland Ave, Somers Point) for a jazz jam. The night of live jazz music, also featuring top-notch local musicians, will benefit Jazz Bridge, a terrific Philly-area non-profit group that assists jazz musicians in need of crisis. What they set out to do is best described on their home page:

The Jazz Bridge Project is a nonprofit organization established by a group of caring Philadelphia jazz musicians and fans dedicated to assisting professional Delaware Valley jazz musicians and vocalists in times of crisis by providing confidential and caring support in keeping with their personal dignity. Through donations, grants, and music bookings, Jazz Bridge will assist those coping with emergencies involving health, legal, financial, personal and professional needs, building an awareness of the local jazz sound and the community of musicians who make it.

Sunday’s event is being billed as: “A whole lotta jazz and a sumptuous Italian buffet–all for $30/ticket.”
Seating is limited so call 215-517-8337 or 609-926-9400 for further information.

You will see a byline in this week’s edition of Atlantic City Weekly (coming out Nov. 29) for longtime Atlantic City Weekly freelance contributor Sandy Posnak. It was written with Sandy’s usual upbeat style and appreciation for talent, in this case magician/singer/impressionist Darren Romero.
Unfortunately, the prognosis for Sandy is not upbeat. She wrote this story before her current battle with cancer. Sandy survived the difficult treatment for her cancer last year, then saw her husband Danny pass away last February. A few weeks back I learned that Sandy’s cancer had returned with a vengeance. It is a soul-wrenching punch in the gut when someone as wonderful as Sandy — so warm, thoughtful and vivacious — is brutalized by this vicious disease.
Anyone who has had a loved one battle cancer understands that nobody deserves the agony that it brings, least of all a woman as life affirming as Sandy Posnak.
Unfortunately, I just learned this morning (Nov. 28) that Sandy has lost her battle. My heart goes out to her children and family, who have endured the loss of both parents in the last year. Sandy’s friends and colleagues here at AC Weekly are also feeling the pain of that loss.

“Holiday Extravaganza – A Musical Journey” appearing through Saturday, December 22, 2007, in the Tropicana Showroom features singers Yoland Sirard, Nancy Fortin and Martin Lacasse (left to right).
In “Holiday Extravaganza – A Musical Journey,” an amazing cast of singers, dancers, musicians and acrobats bring treasured holiday memories to life through glamorous costumes, mesmerizing sets and beloved holiday music.
Photo’s by Lew Steiner

I was about to begin my movie review for this week’s issue of Atlantic City Weekly when Phillies.com delivered the great news that Jimmy Rollins was named National League MVP. I thought Matt Holliday might take it, but J-Roll was the man that stirred the drink for the Phillies this year and deserved the honor. He has also deserved more Gold Gloves than the first one he earned this year. Well, it’s only three months till spring training …
Check out the story here

Tropicana’s 25’ Holiday Tree, located in Fiesta Plaza at The Quarter, officially become illuminated Thursday, November 15th with the help of Santa Claus and Diane Spiers, Executive Director of Media Services and performers from the Tropicana’s Holiday Extravaganza musical.
Tropicana has teamed up with the Salvation Army which offers an array of varied programs and services for children and adults such as after school programs, clothing and furniture assistance, emergency shelter provisions and toys and clothing for children during the holidays.
Photo by Lew Steiner

Television fanatics like myself, especially the ones that are allergic to “reality TV,” have to be concerned about the Writers Guild of America strike. And just so you know, while the writers were the first to go out, demanding a bigger cut of profits from residuals and to earn money from Internet streaming of content, the Screen Actors Guild contract runs out mid-2008.
This has been an ugly battle so far, with TV producers trashing the very people that make their jobs possible. It all starts with the writer. Just like the pain that I felt when baseball players were locked out in
1994, the thought that these Hollywood types can’t find a way to keep the cash cow flowing fairly is just ridiculous. For a great take on the whole strike check out this editorial by Entertainment Weekly’s Mark Harris.
I want to see all 16 episodes of Lost this season and all 24 episodes of 24. Heroes is finally getting better so I don’t want to be cut off.

To quote that annoying commercial for a caffeine beverage, “WAKE UP PEOPLE!”

This weekend at the Borgata, you’ll have the chance to shake hands with a boxing legend. The casino will hold a “glove-signing” with former world middleweight champ Jake LaMotta – whose rise and fall in the boxing world was depicted in Martin Scorsese’s classic 1980 picture Raging Bull — from 3-5pm on Saturday, Nov. 17, inside its Whim retail store. LaMotta, 86, was the middleweight champ between June 1949 and February 1951.

Elvis Costello is coming to the House of Blues with his band The Imposters on Dec. 31. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Wed. Nov. 14). Other new concerts announced include Kid Rock, Jan. 5, Borgata; Matchbox Twenty w/Alanis Morissette, Feb. 15 at Borgata, and G. Love & Special Sauce Dec. 30 at Borgata. All of those shows go on sale this Saturday (Nov. 17). Celine Dion isn’t coming to Boardwalk Hall until Sept. 20, 2008, but tickets go on sale this Mon. (Nov. 19). Caesars is presenting the show.

Country music is coming to AC in a big way in the coming year. Adding to the already announced Trace Adkins show at Trump Taj Mahal Jan. 26, is the news released Nov. 9 that Martina McBride is headed to town on March 1 at Caesars. Trisha Yearwood will also be in town March 1 at the Hilton. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 16. Gee, they have to make us choose between Martina and Trisha? Today comes the news that the new super tour featuring Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood has announced cities scheduled so far, including a listing for Atlantic City. The “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour,” which combines the names of the Grammy-winners’ latest albums, is set to launch Jan. 31. When the AC date is announced we’ll pass it along. Go here for the announcement.

Travis Tritt is shorter than expected in person. However, his height has nothing to do with the energy, terrific vocals, fancy guitar licks and just plain fun he presents in concert. He unleashed his two-hour stage show at Trump Marina this past Saturday, Nov. 10.
Tritt told us early on that he would not short-change the paying customers with an hour and ten-minute show. He lived up to that promise with a 26 song set that included his hilarious “duet” with Willie Nelson on “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” Tritt held his finger to his nose to help him channel the nasal sound of Nelson’s vocal style.
Surprisingly, Tritt did only a couple songs from his terrific new country rock/R&B album The Storm. Those songs were the sexy “Rub Off on Me,” and Tritt’s current single, “You Never Take Me Dancing.”
Travis Tritt is not the current flavor of the month in Nashville like the pseudo country pop singer Kenny Chesney. However, you can take a lot of those bland current singers and shove ‘em. Tritt is the real deal as an outlaw country rocker and he proved that with such Tritt hits as “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’,” and “Put Some Drive In Your Country.” However, his versatility also shows on his way with a ballad on songs like “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “Between An Old Memory and Me,” and “Sometimes She Forgets.” Other songs that enhanced the evening were “Great Day to Be Alive” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”