The JPs Island-Infused Duo, comprising “Kenilworth’s own” renowned singer-songwriter Jimi Pappas on guitar and John Patti on steel drums, will be flying in from Florida for an “End-of-Summer” Caribbean-Style Dinner Party to be presented by the Kenilworth Historical Society on Fri., Sept. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Kenilworth Veterans Center (33 South 21 Street). The informal, fun-filled evening will feature a live two-hour performance of The JPs’ acclaimed smooth, jazz-/tropical-infused acoustic music, which incorporates jazz, R&B (rhythm and blues), classic rock, folk and island music to create a unique sound that has captivated audiences throughout the world and left fans craving more.
A three-course Caribbean-style buffet dinner, including Shrimp Stir Fry, Roasted Jerk Chicken, Caribbean Pulled Pork, Fiesta Lime Rice, Corn and Black Bean Salad, Tri-Color Pasta Salad, Tossed Garden Salad, Fresh Vegetables with Dip and Tortilla Chips with Chunky Salsa, dinner rolls and butter, dessert, coffee and tea, will be served during the evening. A 50/50 raffle and Gift Auction will also take place, and the dance floor will be open for dancing.
Admission to the dinner party and show is $55. Advance reservations (by August 24) are requested. The event seating plan accommodates eight to ten people per table. Early reservations are encouraged to ensure availability and avoid disappointment. For information, reservations and tickets, please call 908-709-0434, 908-709-8957 or visit Especially Yours Florist (13 North 20th Street, Kenilworth), where tickets also are being sold.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Kenilworth Historical Society’s Oswald J. Nitschke House (c. 1880) “living history” museum and cultural arts center by helping defray the cost of an elevator that makes all levels of the restored site fully accessible to everyone.
Jimi Pappas, a former Kenilworth resident, and John Patti were members of the late Jim Morris’ Big Bamboo Band and also have performed with many members of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band as well as with Jerry Jeff Walker, Chubby Checker, Les Paul and many other renowned musicians. Jimi and John’s individual and collaborated studio recordings can be heard regularly on Sirius XM’s Radio Margaritaville. The JPs’ international popularity has grown as a reslt of the duo’s unique take on popular music and the way in which it has showcased the steel drum and brought it to the forefront of musical entertainment. Jimi’s soulful vocals and expressive guitar playing are influenced by the 1970s singer-songwriter movement, and John’s distinct smooth sound elevates the steel drum from its perceived impression as solely an island instrument to one of versatility across many musical genres.
The Kenilworth Historical Society is an independent, volunteer-based, non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the research, preservation and interpretation of the historic Oswald J. Nitschke House (c. 1880), local history and culture.
# # #