December 31, 2011 marked the 20th Anniversary of New Jersey’s biggest and brightest New Year’s Eve non-alcoholic celebration of the arts – with 275 artists, 80 events in 24 venues – representing dance, drama, music, visual arts and children’s events. For all 20 years, the Arts Council of the Morris Area has served as First Night’s artistic programmer, researching and securing a wide range of high caliber performing artists who provide a rich, multi-faceted experience which routinely attracts nearly 10,000 people from throughout the state and beyond.
L-R: Sweet Plantain Quartet; Jazz greats Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola with Vinny Raniolo; and The Glimmer Twins (Rolling Stones Tribute Band).
Nearly 70% of this season’s program featured either new artists or artists returning after several years. Jazz fans packed the house and gave standing ovations to the performance by guitar “gods” – the legendary Bucky Pizzarelli, in his first appearance at First Night Morris County – as a Special Guest with the fabulous Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo. The Mayo Performing Arts Center was rocking as the capacity audience relived the early glory days of the Rolling Stones with The Glimmer Twins who – with uncanny accuracy, recreated the look and sound of young Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and their iconic rock ‘n roll band. Melanie Mitrano’s haunting voice captured the bittersweet love songs of the Portuguese FADO tradition while The Mayhem Poets tore into contemporary life with wit, poetry and passion in front of full houses! The world renowned Nai Ni Chen Dance Company entranced the audience with its brilliant choreography and stunning costumes while comedians Moody McCarthy and Chuck Marti brought laughter and smiles to full houses.
One of the highlights of the evening was not listed on the program: a marriage proposal (to his unsuspecting girlfriend) by the first violinist of the Sweet Plantain Quartet!. The standing room only crowd applauded that special moment as well as the group’s extraordinary performance. Equally at home with Alicia Keys, Smokey Robinson or Russia’s classical circles, Sweet Plantain blended Beethoven and Bach with jazz and Latin music, blues and even some rap! And, speaking of strings, Princeton Professor Dan Trueman delighted his audiences with his inspired performance of Norwegian Hardanger fiddle music….and prizewinning operatic soprano Chelsea Friedlander raised the roof with her effortless coloratura work. Snakes and reptiles delighted youngsters at Let’s Get Wild with Rizzo’s Reptiles as did the magic of Mr. Fish, Benjamin Lipman, the Children’s Fun Festival and Transformation Face Painting. Others enjoyed the groove of Don Braden/Karl Latham’s Big Funk, celebrated the samba with Bossa Brasil® or did some Latin dancing to the music of Los Ciegos Del Barrio (“Blind Boys of the ‘Hood”…who are actually legally blind!). The rousing voices of GospelWays soared to the rafters and Silk City’sbluegrass had to turn people away at the door after exceeding capacity of their venue!
Scott Joplin’s ragtime, magicians, street performers, jugglers, the Harlem Wizards Duo, blues, bluegrass, funk, folk. Irish step dancers, classical choral and chamber music, an original hip-hop musical (with beat boxer) and a host of other old and new acts rounded out the offerings. Mix in 2 visual arts exhibits, a DJ and ice sculptor on the Green and 2 sets of fireworks and you have a sense of the rich offerings of the night.
L-R: GospelWays; George Esparza’s Flying Flea Circus and Wahoo Medicine Show; The Mayhem Poets; Sweet Plantain violinist Eddie Venegas with his new fiancee; crowds gathering on the Green awaiting fireworks.
For a full description of the performances click on First Night December 31, 2011 Program.
To get a behind-the scenes glimpse of the booking process, check out: http://morristowngreen.com/2011/12/27/preparing-for-first-night-morris-20th-edition-a-really-big-shew/
Be sure to visit http://morristowngreen.com/2012/01/04/video-ladies-could-you-resist-this-man-a-romantic-tour-de-force-at-first-night-in-morristown/ andhttp://link.patch.com/view/beb5.14/790592db for coverage of the wedding proposal and photos of First Night Morris County, December 31, 2011.
L-R: Helene and Chelsea Friedlander (piano, soprano); The Nai Ni Chen Dance Company; and The Gizmo Guys.
Charleston lesson with Bob Butryn of Crazy Rhythm, Fancy Feet
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To see the full program for last year’s First Night Morris County, click on First Night 2011 FINAL
Red Hawk Native American Arts Council dancers
For video highlights and a good overview of the 19th First Night Morris County (December 31, 2010) – compiled by Kevin Coughlin on www.MorristownGreen.com, click on:
First Night coverage on MorristownGreen and
pianist Andrew Rosenblum performs Chopin Scherzo at First Night Morris County.
View additional video highlights of First Night from the Daily Record here: Daily Record video highlights of First Night.
For additional background visit Coughlin’s “sneak preview” on www.MorristownGreen.com at http://morristowngreen.com/2010/11/11/start-planning-now-for-first-night-morris-the-talent-roster-is-deep/.
The Frank Vignola Trio packed the Baptist Church at First Night
Facepainting at Children's Fun Festival