Boogie Bob Seeley at Midweek Jazz Tonight

Ocean County College's Midweek Jazz series hosts boogie-woogie and stride pianist Bob Seeley tonight at Mancini Hall, Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street, Toms River. If I have my information right, Seeley is currently 80 years old. He looks miraculously vigorous, with a strong left hand that pumps out its own rhythm section. His music is considered "old-timey" and best understood as preserving a tradition. It's still exciting to hear him wail at the keyboard.

Here's a clip of Seeley playing Chicago Breakdown at the 2008 Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival. More clips of him are available on YouTube and elsewhere.



The college has been offering $13 advance tickets through the box office, 732-255-0500 and they're still available until the box office closes at 1 p.m. I just called to make sure. Otherwise tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, call the box office before 1 p.m. or visit http://www.ocean.edu/campus/fine_arts_center/index.htm. The college's website isn't the easiest thing to navigate, but the A-Z Site Index and the on-campus "search" window on every page should help if you can't find what you need.

--C.