Pianist John Bunch to Perform with Bucky Pizzarelli and John Beal in the Jazz Room Series at William Paterson

Pianist John Bunch, who has been called the “Fred Astaire of the piano,” will perform at William Paterson University in Wayne on Sunday, October 31 as part of the fall 2004 Jazz Room Series. Joining him for the performance will be master guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and renowned bassist John Beal.

The concert will begin at 4 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on the campus in Wayne. Tickets are available in advance or on the day of the performance at $12 standard and $9 for senior citizens, non-William Paterson students and William Paterson faculty, staff and alumni. William Paterson students may attend free of charge. Prior to the concert, Bunch will be the guest for “Sittin In,” an informal discussion about jazz, at 3 p.m. in room 101 of Shea Center. Admission is free to all Jazz Room ticketholders.

Originally from Indiana, Bunch began playing the piano as a child and started performing with local groups. During World War II, he taught himself arranging while in a German prison camp. He moved to Los Angeles in 1956 and began playing in the bands of Woody Herman, Benny Goodman and Maynard Ferguson.

Bunch has also performed in the small groups of Buddy Rich, Zoot Sims/Al Cohn and Gene Krupa, while living in New York. He has made numerous solo concert and television appearances within the U.S. and abroad. His recent recordings include a trio record on Concord and a solo collection of Kurt Weill songs on Chiaroscuro.

Now in its 27th year of exciting performances, The Jazz Room is one of the largest and most prestigious college-sponsored jazz events in the country. Performers include renowned professionals who encompass the complete spectrum of jazz, from practitioners of traditional jazz to avant-garde to bebop to swing to Afro-Latin jazz as well as William Paterson’s own student ensembles. The series has won numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its innovative programming.

For more information, call Shea Center for Performing Arts Box Office at 973-720-2371.
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Note to reporters and editors: High-resolution, downloadable photographs are available at:
http://ww2.wpunj.edu/publicityphotos/Jazz

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For Further Information, contact:
Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966