Rita Stafford . . . She has a dream!

CAPE MAY - Sun., Feb. 19 at 3:00 p.m.

Jazz Vespers at the First Presbyterian Church, Hughes & Decatur Streets, Cape May, NJ. The Rita Stafford Band storms the Jazz Vespers stage. Rita is an amazing jazz vocalist, whose vocal and stylistic range is just extraordinary. Rita sings with all her heart the 1940’s big band songs. She will perform with her husband, Bob Ferguson on trumpet and other jazz veterans for this gig.

Limited free parking is available. A $5.00 minimum donation is suggested. Wheelchair accessible. Call 884-0680 or visit www.capemayjazzvespers.com for more information.

Sun., March 18 at 3:00 p.m.

Jazz Vespers at the First Presbyterian Church, Hughes & Decatur Streets, Cape May, NJ presents The Antfarm Quartet. This group of jazz veterans, including Paul Jost on vocals/harmonica; Tim Lekan, bass, Bob Shomo, drums, and Jim Ridl on keyboards, draws on an extremely large musical songbook presenting many delightful musical surprises. From jazz standards to forgotten gems, and from original tunes to contemporary classics, The Antfarm Quartet plays them all with panache.

The show will be presented at the beautiful and acoustically exquisite First Presbyterian Church. Limited free parking is available. A $5.00 minimum donation is suggested. Wheelchair accessible. Call 884-0680 or visit www.capemayjazzvespers.com for more information.

Rita Stafford . . . She has a dream!

She was a late bloomer to the music world. From as far back as five, she remembers loving music and wanting to sing. But her life took on a different passage and when she was in her early 30's, she followed her heart and her dream. Music has been good to her. She says she has been lucky, and has had many wonderful opportunities. Last week in an interview Rita said, “The musicians I have worked with taught me so much and gave so much of themselves in caring for and mentoring me. And so it continues to this day. I am married to an incredible trumpet player who shares his wealth of song and music in every note that he plays.”

She started out as a duo with a very fine pianist who gave her a repertoire. She went on to form her first band with her brother. They performed in Cape May for several years.

She came down to Atlantic City in 1991, under her own name, opening at the Trump Taj Mahal. Still singing standards and adding rhythm and blues and pop, She continued with her career through 2008 in virtually every casino in town. In 1998, she had the prestigious honor of leading a 20 piece orchestra at the Taj in tribute to the big band era and all the wonderful bands that performed at Steel Pier, and again, in 1999 at their New Year's Eve Gala "Salute to Broadway". She was the featured vocalist with Dick Ludwig's big band and also performed in the Somers Point Blue Moon Winter Series and the Cape May Jazz Vespers.

In 2005, 2006 and then again in 2008, she toured over 25 cities in Italy with the Atlantic City Jazz Band, the American Jazz Ambassadors, singing a mix of jazz standards, blues and Italian songs.

Presently, under Rita Stafford Entertainment, she is a band leader, entertainment consultant and event planner in the wedding, corporate and jazz market. Her heart still lies in the wonderful melody of the big band. She is an old soul with a very young heart, excited about recording her first CD in 2012.

Rita is looking forward to the Cape May Jazz Vespers Concert on Feb. 19, 2012, 3:00 p.m. at Cape May Presbyterian Church, Hughes and Decatur Streets, Cape May. She will be performing with her husband, Bob Ferguson, trumpet; Dean Schneider, piano; Andy Lalasis, bass; and, Joe Nero, drums. Should be a beautiful day of melody and music!