instruments

STORIES

Our stories are all about the interesting people, places and things in Maplewood.

Read some here or page through our online issues.

ellencdonker

Nov 26, 20216 min read

FROM RUN-D.M.C. TO MAYIM BIALIK by Donny Levit

Dr. Mike finds inspiration in his hardcore band life It all started about two decades ago when a Craigslist ad caught the eye of Mike...

ellencdonker

Aug 13, 20216 min read

SOLVING A CONUNDRUM By Sara Courtney

A CHS student collaboration creates a video-game hit When Wesley Sappington got the idea to create a video game, he did what any budding...

ellencdonker

Jun 11, 20217 min read

FROM DIZZY GILLESPIE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN, JOHN LEE IS A SOUTH ORANGE JAZZ ALL-STAR By Donny Levit

The bass player and Grammy-winning producer knows how to play it local Let’s take a moment to revisit Thursday, February 27, 2020. John...

ellencdonker

Aug 14, 20206 min read

MARK MURPHY'S MUSIC SCHOOL! LIVE! FROM THE BASEMENT! by Sara Courtney

The shutdown made them bored. The music kept them connected. Just a few months ago, before masks and hand sanitizer and the words “remote...

ellencdonker

Jun 19, 20203 min read

GETTING LOST IN THE PANDEMIC SUPERMARKET by Donny Levit

My first COVID-19 shopping spree sets the pace Shopping list. Check. Shopping bags. Check. Travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer. Check....

ellencdonker

May 1, 20204 min read

EVER HEARD OF DJANGO? by Donny Levit Photography by Julia Maloof Verderosa

Guitarist Stéphane Wrembel will make you a devotee At first listen, classical piano, Pink Floyd, and gypsy jazz possess vastly different...

ellencdonker

Nov 21, 20196 min read

THE FULL SCORE ON A BROADWAY COMPOSER by Donny Levit

Maplewood’s Russ Kaplan creates music and musicians He’s a quadruple threat: a Broadway composer with several new projects in the works,...

donny levit

Jun 11, 20195 min read

LISTEN UP! MAPLEWOOD IS RADIO-SILENT NO LONGER by Donny Levit

It all started out with a radio boom box and a Barbie disco record player.

ellencdonker

Mar 8, 20194 min read

STRUMMIN' ON THE OLD WASHTUB CELLO by Ellen Kahaner

Could a metal washtub do more than hold wet laundry? Imagine a gourd the size of a bowling ball or an old metal washtub – the sort meant...