Morris Nanton, 80, of Perth Amboy passed away peacefully at home Sunday morning, Nov. 15.  Mr. Nanton was born in Perth Amboy and lived there all his life. He served his country with honor in the U.S. Armed Forces with the 5th Army Division Band during the Korean War. He graduated from Perth Amboy High School and Juilliard Conservatory of Music in New York after attending on full scholarship. Known throughout the metropolitan area, The Morris Nanton Trio performed for over 50 years; 53 of those years together with bassist extraordinaire, Norman Edge. They completed an unprecedented 22-year stand at the Cove in Roselle, where such jazz greats as Rashan Roland Kirk, Don Elliott, Sal Nestico, Babs Gonzalez, and Joe Morello shared the spotlight with the group. They have performed at numerous jazz festivals and universities, sharing the stage with the Count Basie Orchestra and Tito Puente. They have accompanied vocalists Jack Jones, Mel Torme, Nel Carter, and Barbara Streisand, to name a few. Their recordings include "Flower Drum Song," "Roberta," and "The First Jazz Piano Trio" on the Warner Bros. label; "Ray Ellis Orchestra and Chorus," "Big Big Voice of Lovelace Watkins" on the MGM label, and "Something We've Got," "Preface," and "Soul Fingers" on the Prestige label. Their most recent recording on CD is "A Christmas Present." They have performed privately for Walter Cronkite, Eileen Ford, Architect Robert Moses, The New York Giants, and the Los Angeles engagement party and New York wedding of Marvin Hamlisch. Their recording of "Ja Da" was the first music to be heard on outer space, as the recording came over Apollo's radio during the first orbit around the Earth. Morris Nanton was inducted into the Perth Amboy High School Hall of Fame in March 2001, "as one of the School's most illustrious graduates and acknowledges his exemplary history of service, leadership and many meritorious accomplishments." The New York Times covered the Trio's performance at Shanghai Jazz in May 2008, showering their performance with accolades in an article entitled, "Jazz Survivors." The Morris Nanton Trio has been performing at Shanghai Jazz in Madison up to and as recently as September 2009, and as a soloist at the Quay in Sea Bright on Sundays. Morris' last performance was Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, the day before his 80th birthday. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Elsie, and beloved sister-in-law, Ena. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Lisa Nanton; sons, Seth and Jesse Nanton; brother LeRoy Nanton; nephews, Dennis and Hugh, and niece, Lori Nanton Harris, and their families.  Morris mentored and taught several of the musicians who play in the Consortium's jam sessions.

                ~ Wanda Maximilien - 1946 - 2009 ~

On December 20, 2009, Wanda "Maxe Millary" Maximilien, age 63, passed on after a battle with cancer.  Formerly of Bucks County, PA, Maxe was a music professor at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ for many years.  A graduate of Julliard School of Music as well as a classmate of Marvin Hamlisch, Maxe taught and influenced many musicians active in the Tri-State Area, including Noah Baerman, Jim Jasion and John Harrity, among others associated directly or indirectly with the Somerset Jazz Consortium.  A lover of all kinds of music, Maxe opened the eyes of many people to the beauty of music and performance art and the human spirit in general.  Her presentation of music played on period instruments in conjunction with the Mason Gross Theatre Arts Dept will always be remembered fondly.  Survivors include her parents, Rhea and Maurice; sisters Gladys Laguerre, Carol Montas and Regine; and her brother, Leslie.