The Westfield Athenaeum will be presenting a program of “Halloween Jazz” on Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lang auditorium. The “Halloween Jazz” program will feature singer-songwriter Ellen Cogen and bassist Gary Culver, who have performed frequently together as a duo throughout the Northeast, including a number of appearances at the Tea Pot Gallery in Westfield, where Ms. Cogen helps organize a weekly Jazz series on Thursday nights that includes students as well as seasoned jazz performers. In the spirit of the season, the songs offered at the Athenaeum will include “That Old Black Magic,” “Witchcraft,” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”

Jazz musician Ellen Cogen began her musical life as a classical musician, beginning piano studies at age 5 and cello at age 10. She then went on to study voice while a senior at the University of Massachusetts, followed by a Masters Degree in Voice Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. Ms. Cogen said she now makes vocal music her primary focus, whether she is performing, teaching, composing or conducting. ”The art of improvisation is irresistible and the purest essence of musical expression” she says.  More information about Ellen Cogen can be found on her website at http://ellencogen.com/home.html.

The “Halloween Jazz” program is a musical interlude in the Athenaeum’s Fall Lecture Series. Funding is provided in part by the Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum. The public is cordially invited to attend and “Halloween” refreshments will be served. For more information, call the Westfield Athenaeum at (413) 562-0716.