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6th Annual “Tribute To Bricktop” In Alderson
Imagine
a
warm
summer
night
sitting
on
the
Alderson
Memorial
Bridge
in
the
middle
of
the
Greenbrier
River
listening
to
smooth
jazz.
Alderson
Main
Street,
with
support
from
the
Greenbrier
County
Commission
Arts
and
Recreation
Fund,
will
be
holding
its
annual
“Tribute
to
Bricktop”
on
Alderson
Memorial
Bridge
on
Sunday, August 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Free
to
the
public,
this
tribute
is
in
memory
of
jazz
singer
and
entertainer
Ada
Beatrice
Queen
Victoria
Louise
Virginia
Smith
born
in
Alderson
in
1894.
Although
she
moved
to
Chicago
with
her
mother
when
she
was
still
small,
she
always
claimed
Alderson
and
West
Virginia
as
home.
Her
career
reached
its
peak
in
Paris where she owned a popular nightclub and taught the Prince of Wales to dance the “Charleston”.
Returning
to
present
the
music
of
Bricktop’s
time
is
the
Robinson,
Hoffman,
Penn,
and
Sellards
jazz
group.
Writer/Artist/Vocalist
Susanna
Robinson
has
been
a
fixture
and
creative
force
in
the
Lewisburg
area
for
more
than
25
years.
She
was
a
founding
member
of
long-lived
jazz
combo
Ghost
Town
Swing,
well-known
state-wide
and
beyond
for
their
sultry
interpretations
of
jazz
standards,
and
has
often
been
featured
as
guest
vocalist
for
the
Manhattan
Jazz
Quartet.
Robinson
has
also
appeared
with
Ancestor
Radio
and
Sam
and
Janet
Evening,
as
well
as
the
eclectic
Squawkin’
Henry,
and
the
inventive
and
decidedly original vocal group, Blue House.
She
still
returns
to
her
jazz
roots
by
belting
it
out
with
her
own
jazz
group,
Robinson,
Hoffman,
Penn,
and
Sellards,
formerly
known
as
the
Robinson-Kenga
Trio.
She
has
often
been
an
official
judge
for
a
myriad
of
state-wide
vocal
competitions,
and
has
appeared
occasionally
on
public
radio
and
local
music
radio
shows
including Music from the Mountains and Mountain Stage.
Joining
her
at
the
6th
annual
Tribute
to
Bricktop
in
Alderson,
WV,
will
be
guitarist
extraordinaire
Bill
Hoffman,
who
hails
from
Roanoke,
Virginia.
Hoffman
is
known
for
his
flawlessly
smooth
style,
and
his
sweet
renditions
of
jazz
standards.
He
is
an
exceptional
musician
with
an
amazing
technical
knowledge
of
jazz. Hoffman currently plays with several groups including Roanoke’s big band, The Old Timers.
William
Penn,
piano
and
vocals,
is
a
longtime
presence
in
the
music
scene
of
Roanoke,
Virginia.
Teaming
up
with
Hoffman,
they
play
together
regularly
in
the
Roanoke
area.
His
presence
is
a
great
addition
to
the
group.
Rounding
out
the
group
is
upright
bassist
and
master
of
several
other
instruments,
John
Sellards,
formerly
of
Boston,
and
who
has
returned
to
his
roots
in
Beckley,
West
Virginia.
Sellards
is
not
only
a
superb
musician,
but
a
brilliant
music
historian
as
well.
In
demand
as
both
a
live
player
and
session
musician,
he
has
been
welcomed
back
to
the
Mountain
State
with
open
arms,
and
looks
forward
to
being
part
of
this
evening.
There
will
be
no
concessions
available
but
you
are
welcome
to
bring
your
own
non-alcoholic
drink.
Bring
a
chair and settle in for a wonderful evening.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
William
Penn,
piano
and
vocals;
Susanna
Robinson,
vocalist;
Bill
Hoffman,
guitarist;
and
John
Sellards,
bassist in concert in the “Tribute to Bricktop” in 2018. (
Click photo for larger view)
