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Arts & Entertainment

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree at Cecil's Wednesday

Four rock bands to usher in holiday

Long time area music producer, Michael Locker is doing it again: He's bringing in four great bands at one low — $10 — music charge for his monthly indie rock extravaganza at Cecil's Swinging Jazz Club at 364 Valley Road in the township. Most of the band members are area based, but many tour nationwide.

Here's the lineup: the Stuff Brothers at 7 p.m., Blue Roux at 8 p.m., the Paul Gargiulo Band at 9 p.m. and Nick Piro and Eric Wilson unplugged from 10:30 p.m. to about midnight. Previous Locker presentations have brought big and enthusiastic crowds to Cecil's, a destination music club.

Headliner Gargiulo is a singer-songwriter-guitarist based in North Caldwell. A stalwart on  the music scene, he is looking forward to debuting tracks from his forthcoming LIVE — The Paul Gargiulo Band at the Cecil's event. The CD was recorded live at the Franklin Tavern in West Orange earlier this year.

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"I've been on the scene for more than twenty years. I play an original mix of roots oriented sound, sort of alternative country with a funkabilly flavor," Gargiulo said. "My influences range from Elvis Presley to Jeff Beck and even some Latin sounds."

Gargiulo and his band perform nationally, especially in Memphis. "I've shared licks with Beck and Les Paul and many other national acts," Gargiulo said. His band mates are Ken Adessa on drums and Brad Schwartzseid on bass.

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The band has also played at some big area events, including the Redbank Jazz and Blues Fest and the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival, and locally at Hat City Kitchen in Orange. They have done fundraisers in Montclair, including for victims of Hurricane Katrina at Trumpets and the 2004 tsunami at Just Jakes.

The Stuff Brothers are Maplewood-based Doug Gill and South Orange-based Tarquin Learned. Each is also known for their work in other groups with an area following, Gill from "5 Cent Philosopher" and Learned from "Felt."

Learned talked about their affiliation: "We may not be brothers in blood, rather, something thicker — music," Learned said.

The Stuff Brothers focus on soulful interpretations of the works of Macy Gray or Leon Russell as well as playing their original compositions. Expect to hear a finger picking  from Gill and blues and rock anthems sung and played by Learned.

The South Orange-based Locker, who also manages some of the musicians he presents, including Paul Gargiulo, talked about the rest of the lineup: "Blue Roux is a rockin' blues band that plays originals and covers," Locker said.

"Nick Piro is a lifelong Orange resident and a very talented singer songwriter. This is his return to the Valley show; he has not played in an area show for two years."

Cecil's is best known for presenting world-class jazz acts on the weekend and the Cecil's Big Band led by tenor saxophonist Mike Lee which plays every Monday night. There is a jazz jam on Tuesdays and Thursdays tend towards the blues. Rock at Cecil's is usually the third Thursday of the month, but December's show is a special holiday edition on Wednesday.

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