The Costa Family Joseph L. Costa and his wife Victoria founded the Costa Memorial Home, 170 Central Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights in 1975 after acquiring the
Peterson Memorial Home. Their twin sons, Joseph A. and Vincent L., joined the family business in 1986 after receiving their Associates Degree in Business Administration and graduating from the American
Academy of McAllister's Institute of Embalming in New York City. They are members of the Bergen County, New Jersey State, and the National Funeral Directors Associations. They are parishioners
of Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church and members of the Monsignor Robert Fitzpatrick Knights of Columbus Council No. 7041, the Chamber of Commerce, Pioneer Club, Elks Lodge No. 1962 and are past
presidents of the Kiwanis Club, all in Hasbrouck Heights. Joseph A. and Vincent L. are also members of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Bishop O'Connor Assembly in Hackensack. Highly
respected throughout the area, the Costa Family have greatly contributed to the success of the programs of Care on the Corner.  The Big Easy
This talented group has been entertaining people throughout the area and has been the special guests of Care on the
Corner at their Annual Evening of Jazz and Tricky Tray.
Mark Wright, playing piano, is Organist and Choir Director
at St. John the Divine. Hearing New Orleans jazz live in New Orleans for the first time in 1973 inspired him to try to play this style. For the last 33 years he has played
annually at Preservation Hall in New Orleans. He performs regularly in the New York City area (where he has played at The Cajun Restaurant and the Rainbow Room) and has
lectured/ performed New Orleans music in 30 states and Europe. Weekly, he plays at The Old '76 House in Tappan, NY. Ruth Brisbane, vocalist, hails from New York City, Ruth's background includes singing and dancing parts in "the Wiz,"
"Black and Blue" and "One Mo'Time." She was also lead in a one-woman Bessie Smith blues show. Ruth has worked with many of the great names of jazz and continues to perform internationally. She recently
performed on a tour of Russia with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band. Paul Boehmke
, clarinet& saxophone is a dynamic and exciting soloist. His versatile style effectively bridges the jazz, r&b, and blues idioms. He is a multi-instrumentalist, playing clarinet, alto, tenor,
soprano saxophone and flute. He is in demand as both a recording and performance artist.
John Russell
, drums, harmonica is leader of The Big Easy Rhythm, John is a supportive ensemble player with a gutsy percussive style geared to "swing the band." Since his first jazz gig at the 1978 New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, John has maintained a vision of preserving a modern legacy of pre-1950's jazz. His performance and recording credits include work with Arvell Shaw, Doc Cheatham,
Red Richards and Sammy Rimmington. Tom Wright,
tenor saxophone, began studying saxophone in 1925. He played in various local dance and marching bands in the 1930's including the West New York Exempt Fireman's Band and Wilbur
Buchner's Rhythmasters. In the late 1940's he was one of the early members of the Palisades Park Fire Department (Marching) Band. He performed regularly from 1961-1991 through at dances and weddings
as a member of Phil Labue's "Windjammer's." He and his son, Mark, still regularly perform for local groups.
|
