Jazz Band Makes Sounds Of Love At East Meadow Library

EAST MEADOW, NY – The town's public library was rich with the sounds of love songs on Valentine’s Day.

The Paul Joseph Trio returned to the newly renovated library Monday to perform a program of tunes by Richard Rodgers, emphasizing the American composer’s romantic-themed numbers.

Aptly dressed in a red collared shirt, Paul Joseph, the band’s namesake leader and pianist, spearheaded performances of “Falling in Love With Love,” “If I Loved You,” and “My Funny Valentine.” On the cold February night, the trio also anticipated the arrival of warmer weather by playing “It Might as Well be Spring" and "Spring is Here."

Bass player Edgar Mills commanded the tight rhythm section while drummer Danny Borg provided a steady beat and timely accents to Joseph’s fluid piano playing.

A longtime Oceanside resident who also scores classically oriented symphonic compositions, Joseph has performed for many years with various iterations of his band at libraries across Long Island and the greater New York City areas. The trio performs programs of Rodgers and other American songbook composers, including George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and Jerome Kern, and of classical music rearranged into jazz compositions.

The Paul Joseph Trio will perform programs of St. Patrick’s Day Jazz at Bayport-Blue Point Library at 2 p.m. March 13, and Holiday Jazz at Shelter Rock Library in Albertson at 3 p.m. Dec. 11. For more information visit www.pauljoseph.com.