Feb 4 at 8:30pm

LYNDA MARKS KRAAR – A musical melee!

Toronto-born Lynda Marks and the Marksmen were more than just a passing fancy in Toronto’s nightclub scene during the 1980s. By the age of 21 Lynda had earned the respect of her seasoned colleagues and was performing around town with many of them. After a year-long stint performing nightclubs, concert stages and posh soirees for the diplomatic core in Israel during 1984, Lynda relocated to Asbury Park, New Jersey, to record with members of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Soon thereafter, she formed Blue Moo, an eclectic and highly popular quintet that continued to foster her passion for American roots music. Over the past two decades she’s performed throughout the US and Canada and in Israel. She also spent nearly 15 years as a public relations executive and development professional for several major philanthropies. Lynda, who sings in three languages, continues to write, record and perform, although lately she has spent more time teaching guitar and bass, and delving into the study of Jewish enthnomusicology.

She is on the roster of Musicians On Call, which provides musicians to perform at bedside at hospitals in New York City. She has also composed for Songs of Love, a charity which calls upon writers and musicians to create individualized songs for critically ill children and hopes to do some more of that.

Lynda’s musical projects include The Jewish People’s Philharmonic Chorus under the directorship of Binyumen Schaecter. Lynda joined the alto section in 2006. This impressive chorus has been a mainstay of Yiddish music for generations in New York. She has also been a member of the award-winning Poetic Notion chorus, directed by Rob Darnell. A longtime fan of Laura Nyro, Lynda found a home where she could foster her admiration and respect of the late composer and singer. Lynda hooked up with this chorus in early 2007.

Lynda has spent two years transcribing the manuscript of what has become her mother’s award-winning memoir, “Album of My Life,” published by the Azrieli Foundation in Canada. She has documented her father’s story, which has also won a literary award, and is now working on completion of her father’s book about his experiences in Auschwitz and his heroic escape from the death camp.

Lynda is the president of International Masters Series, and is producing “In the Footsteps of Django,” a 30-city tour of the United States featuring Europe’s greatest Gypsy jazz guitarists, which comes to he States in October. It is the largest-scale tour of its kind, and will be the first in an ongoing series.

Cover $7.00, Min $5.00

Triple Play All-Stars

Feb 11, 2012 – 7:30 p.m.

Robbie Weeden is a folk singer and songwriter whose original grew from diverse musical groups. She plays the guitar, autoharp, dulcimer and banjo. She has contributed to the folk music scene as a performer, songwriter, and producer of creative programs and folk festivals.

Drew Smith has played the autoharp for over thirty years for over thirty years.  He performs wide range musical genres. For many years he performed with Roger Sprung and the Progressive Bluegrassers. He has played on many albums and has produced autoharp instructional workshops.

Rich Rainey has been playing five string banjo and guitar for over thirty years. He is passionate about Bluegrass and traditional Country music. In 1970 he formed Rich Rainey and the Bluegrass Cousins band, which played in NJ and NY for over ten years. In 1984, a new band evolved known as Risky Business Bluegrass Band.

$10 cover, $5 minimum

February 9,   7:30pm

The West Hills Project brings their own distinctive sound to vocal and instrumental classic jazz standards. The members of the band share a common love of jazz and perform everything from up tempo Swing to calming Bossa to contemplative Ballads and Blues. A typical performance includes tunes made famous by Sinatra, Armstrong, Porter, Gershwin, Fitzgerald and many more.

The West Hills Project has been entertaining audiences in the North Jersey area since 2005 and performs regularly at restaurants and bistros, private parties, corporate events, weddings, cocktail hours and community venues.

More information located at:   http://www.reverbnation.com/westhillstrio

Feb 16 @ 7:30pm

Soft, acoustic folk music with lively finger picking and vocals

Free