Mandolin player and (Rumson-Fair Haven grad) Richard Morris can claim no credit for arranging this Saturday’s appearance of the M Shanghai String Band in Atlantic Highlands, though he’s a member of the Brooklyn-based urban-bluegrass band and a resident of neighboring Highlands.

But Red Bank oRBit‘s interview with Morris in today’s edition does give us entree to the both the wonders of M Shanghai, a shambling dozen or so musicians who found their home in a Chinese restaurant. It’s also an opportunity to highlight the healthy bluegrass community in the greater Red Bank area — and the key role in it played by one of Little Silver’s most
historic locales. 

From newgrass to old blues, we take it down to the Wonder Bar in Asbury
Park, where the club is hosting a two-night tribute to the late and lamented
Jason’s jazz and blues club in the former South Belmar (now Lake Como).

Among the veteran
blues-hounds on tap are some familiar Red Bank names, including Chuck Lambert, Sonny Kenn — and Phoebe Holiday Ryan, the RBR senior last seen on
our site in Two River Theater’s Melissa Arctic.

Your neighbors are up to some tuneful stuff, today and always in Red Bank oRBit.

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