Centennial Cottage. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA. Blogfinger.net photo.
LEONARD COHEN. “SUZANNE”
Two Grovarian witches at their October 2022 coven on Heck Avenue . Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net. Search for our collection of OG witches.
These sweet witches flew to the Grove on their brooms from their prior stop on the moon.
Bruno Mars has something to say about this:
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Facebook: Imperial Brass
By Paul Goldfinger, music editor @Blogfinger.net. Eileen Goldfinger video clips
July 6, 2017 in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove:
We enjoyed this concert by the Imperial Brass very much, as expected, but there were some “knock your socks off” special moments.
As many of you know, the famous trumpeter Phillip Smith has a summer place in Ocean Grove. His tone and technique are so good that it makes you want to jump up and cheer, which is what happened. Phil Smith played an intricate duet with Mitch Brodsky called “Deliverance.” In the second half he soloed on an amazingly complex piece called Scherzando.
Phil told the audience that he has missed playing in the Great Auditorium and how much he loves the salt air and the pleasures of being back in his little cottage on Pilgrim Pathway. Phil retired from his long-term position as principal trumpet with the NY Philharmonic and now he is on the faculty at the University of Georgia.
Other highlights included a lovely trombone solo of an African American spiritual “Swing Low” by Robert Tiedemann. (We have a brief video from that below.)
We have been attending musical performances in the GA for years, but my greatest wish, until now ungranted, was to hear authentic live jazz in that terrific venue. Tonight the Imperial Brass granted that wish in what I suspect was the first time a real jazz man played, without amplification, on our stage.
Warren Vaché is an acclaimed jazz cornetist from New Jersey who had two beautiful solos with the Brass, but the one that I savored was his rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” Vaché delighted the crowd with a vocal chorus as well as a jazz solo. Hopefully we can get some more jazz players at the Grove.
If you like jazz, check with the Axelrod Theatre in Deal where they often feature first rate live jazz. Last year they had John Pizzarelli. Also, Shanghai Jazz in Madison is a fine restaurant that features jazz and has done so for years. It is worth the trip.
The Imperial Brass is such a fine ensemble, and they vary their content so that you never get bored. The instrumentation is thrilling for you brass fans–a diverse collection of horns— baritones, French, euphoniums, trumpets, and more that I couldn’t identify. But the end result is a magnificent sound where the components come together in a remarkable way.
They have a web site if you want to sign up for their mailings or buy their recordings:
The group astonished the crowd with their last number, a most unusual rendition of the “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa whose premier march is often played in the Great Auditorium, but it is always done “straight.” However tonight the Brass astonished us with a raucus, jazzy, 21st century version of this piece including the classic piccolo solo done tonight by a marvelous soprano cornet player. I wish Sousa could have been there. Below is a bit of that march:
But there was an actual composer present–Joseph Turrin, who got to have a standing O because some of his brass compositions were performed tonight including a marvelous tribute to New York City called “Landmarks.”
Here is a brief segment of Robert Tiedemann’s trombone solo: “Swing Low” Video by Eileen Goldfinger
And here are two selections from the Imperial Brass & Friends CD.
PHILIP SMITH (Trumpet) with a hymn that he loves (he introduced it and played it tonight.)
WARREN VACHE´ (Trumpet) “April in Paris.” ( I could not find a recording of “Smile”)
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This is a post regarding the October “harvest festival” in 2024 Ocean Grove. Today they had another version for 2026. But our 2024 report still mostly applies:
By Paul Goldfinger Editor. Blogfinger.net Ocean Grove, NJ, USA. 10//5/24
2024: If you go to the CC web site, you will not find a mission statement. What is their purpose in life? Today they had a “Fall Harvest Festival.” Has anyone seen any harvesting going on in this town?
Instead they took up a beautiful sunny OG Saturday by closing streets and attracting a multitude of tourists to “small town America” at the Jersey Shore. For what: “crafts, food, arts and music”. So how about returning the Grove to those who live here, their visitors and their families. We can enjoy music, the arts, crafts and food without the help of the Chamber of Commotion.
The usual jockeying for parking spaces was going on, especially in our North End neighborhood which provides an intersection of downtown Asbury Park with free parking here. I witnessed a crash on my block as one parked car clashed with one parking car.
Our reporter went there to the “festival” and he found a “mob scene” where it was hard to walk around. He spent a few minutes and then took a right turn to enjoy beautiful Fletcher Lake. He wasn’t interested in the shlock-fest and junk sale there.
As for today’s “Fall Harvest Festival,” why does Neptune Township allow so many of these gigantic events in our town? What good does is it do for Ocean Grove? Who gets the money, and why does the CC need to make money, especially on the backs of our beautiful historic shore town?
You cannot find another Jersey Shore town with such useless tumult and tourist mayhem as here.
If you look up the mission of local Chambers of Commerce you will find:
“We believe in the ability of American businesses to improve lives, solve problems, and strengthen society.”
When did you ever see the OG “Area” Chamber of Commerce do any of that?
When have you ever seen this organization take an interest in our town, our governance, our history, education, juried fine arts, problem solving, improving lives, strengthening society, and be concerned about those who live here, own homes, or rent or maintain our historic sites and architecture?
We need toilets down town, affordable housing for young people who want to live here, improvement of our disgraceful parks, and activism to destroy the North End Plan and visit the phony zoning apparatus at the Mother Ship. And how about taking an interest in the tax assessments as described recently by Neptune United.
And more: who are these people and how are they helping us. Re-read the mission statement above. Is this some sort of scam?
The Chamber of Commercials act like the”homies” of Ocean Grove don’t exist. At least they could buy underwear for the poor as the Home Groaners are doing.
Tourists come here to admire our town and our historic architecture. We-the-People pay for keeping our homes historic and beautiful. When did the Chamber return any of their money to our town? And does any of this lower our taxes?
Who are they and why are they allowed to take over the Grove on multiple weekends in prime time.? Ae they trying to out-do the Camp Meeting?
I have complained about this topic before, and that is why I am Complainer-In -Chief.
And if you are sick of those worn-out blues players, try this by the Marvelettes.
Chamber—bring back the Doo Wops!!
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“I’m a happy witch! The wicked witch is dead. ” Paul Goldfinger photo. At the Ocean Grove witches’ reunion. Oct. 2022.
FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ:
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By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net
Isn’t it interesting? There is no mention in this ad of “Christian Seaside Resort,” “OG Camp Meeting Association,” religious programs, Sunday closures, or “blue laws.” Is it possible that the 1938 CMA/Ocean Grove was less religious than now? Or is this merely nuanced advertising?
Instead the sales pitch in this ad includes: safety, playground, no saloons, no mosquitoes, “invigorating breezes,” “congenial aquaintances,” “clear open lawn and boardwalk,” and the vague promise of “re-creating mind, body and spirit.”
They do call themselves “God’s Country” but how about a definition of what that means? You could visit Montana or Jersey City and call it “God’s Country,” without any actual religious identity.
It looks like the CMA, despite its governance in 1938, lacked sufficient influence to put its true identity out front in advertising Ocean Grove. Were they embarrassed to call a spade a spade? (Oh, no card playing on Sunday either.)
THE KODOKS. (What the heck avenue does Kodok mean?)
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PAUL DESMOND (1924-1977) was a great jazz alto sax player who came out of the West Coast cool jazz scene. He was most famous for playing with the Dave Brubeck quartet.
Desmond had a unique tone. It was very light, minimalist, and melodic. As an alto sax player myself, I always admired him. He played a Selmer (French) alto like mine, so I felt a sort of kinship and always tried to emulate his sound. 
In Desmond’s album “Summertime” he performs a touching Broadway song that is rarely done by jazz players—“Where is Love?” from Oliver.
This arrangement was by Don Sebesky. Of this version, a jazz critic said, “..a thing of great beauty—now and for always.”
—Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
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Tuba or not tuba….. Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove. 5/25/19. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click to enlarge.
Memorial Day Concert. Atlantic Winds. Paul Goldfinger . May 25, 2019.
“Americans We” by Henry Filmore: United States Air Force Academy Band.
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a. The recent color was yellow vinyl, but that siding was removed.
b. In December 24, the residence was sold to the current two owners for $1,435 million.
c. 9/25: Approvals at the Neptune HPC
d. The size is 4,918 square feet.
e. Windows are to be re-done.
f. The new owners have given it a name: “BELL FLOWER.”
g. Air conditioning and roofing to be re-done. Gas lanterns will add a special touch as occurred in their magnificent home across the street.
h. Realtor.com: “Building Specs: A Queen Anne/Victorian-Colonial style home built around 1925 (with historic roots tracing back to late-19th-century designs) featuring 3 stories, 8 bedrooms, 10-foot ceilings on the main level, 9-foot ceilings upstairs, stained glass windows, and an attached 2-car garage.”
i. Goal of current project, “To restore the architectural character of one of OG’s most unusual large historic houses.” (Source:?)
j. We are looking forward to finding out how this house will be used in the future. ?Residential single family
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By Paul Goldfinger. Click.
CAT POWER “Where Is My Love?” from the movie Jack Goes Boating.
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Asbury portrait. Paul Goldfinger. 9/17/22
BOB DYLAN. “When the World Was Young.”
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Visiting the doctor. I had hip surgery, and after a few weeks, I had to return to the orthopedic surgeon for a post-op visit. Being a cardiologist , I had a few questions as he removed some stitches:
Me: I saw a few You Tube videos showing how this surgery is done.
He: OK
Me. Since I saw those videos, do you think it would be OK if I did a few hip operations myself?
He: You probably saw the same two videos I saw before your operation.
THE HARPTONES:
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Paul Goldfinger, 2019.
PAUL ROBESON:
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