Jazz trio plays at college

NEWTON — The Keith Marks Trio brought its style of jazz to the Sussex County Community College café earlier this month as one of the many student activities scheduled throughout the spring semester. Keith Marks discovered the flute in junior high school and jazz has never been the same. “I write and compose the arrangements on the piano but perform on the flute,” said Marks. Marks had just returned from Honolulu where he spent a month lecturing, conducting classes and performing in concerts. Marks has played with saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist John Hicks and bassist Jimmy Garrison. The trio consists of Marks, Gregg Novick, who has played with Marks for 15 years, and Diego Lopez, who has played with the group for three years. “I played the South African National Anthem for President Nelson Mandela at the Rainbow Room in New York,” said Marks. In addition to his trips to Hawaii, his list of appearances is predominately in the northeast at colleges, universities, and festivals, corporate and commercial functions.