IN THE ARTS

Before Hollywood bad boys were even a possibility, there was Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio, a brilliant artist with a violent temper. His work was the subject of renewed interest by both collectors and art scholars in the 20th century. His work will be explored at a multimedia presentation and multicourse dinner Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Georgian Court University Adventures for the Mind and Palate series on the campus at 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, in the North Dining Room.

Presented by Lisa Festa, assistant professor of art at the university, the dinner lecture will treat attendees to a multicourse Italian dinner, including salad, pasta and entrée, while they listen to traditional music selections. During dessert and coffee Festa will offer multimedia presentation of the artist's work. Tickets are $30 per person. Details: (732) 987-2263.

A doo-wop show will be performed at the Strand Theatre, 400 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. Scheduled to perform are Elsbeary Hobb's The Drifters featuring current members Peter Lamarr, Patrick Alan, Rohan Delano Turney and Victor Bynoe; Arlene Smith's Chantels, and Vito Picone and the Elegants.

The Drifters, the longest running band in pop history still performing live, have produced over 50 hits worldwide including "There Goes My Baby," "Up on the Roof" and "Under the Boardwalk."

The Chantels were one of the first female R&B vocal groups to have nationwide success with their hits "He's Gone," "Maybe" and "Every Night (I Pray)."

The Elegants led by original lead singer Vito Picone will perform their No.1 one hit "Little Star." Details and tickets: (732) 367-7789 or www.strand.org.

Latin gospel group GB5 featuring the Guttierrez Brothers from California will perform Sept. 15 at the Lakewood Branch of the Ocean County Library, 301 Lexington Ave., at 1 p.m. The band's performances showcase a love of groove, harmony, rhythm and blues, and Latinfused gospel influenced by The Winans, The Jackson 5, Take 6 and 4Him. All are welcome to attend this performance, which will include light refreshments. Details: (732) 363-1435 or www.oceancountylibrary. org.

The Ed Pocer Swingtet will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 19 as part of Ocean County College's (OCC) Midweek Jazz Series on the campus, located at 2 Campus Drive, off Hooper Avenue in Toms River.

Ed Polcer Swingtet features the seasoned and highly respected cornet player Polcer, who was a fixture at New York City jazz clubs for years. He eventually led the band at Eddie Condon's for a decade. The Swingtet includes Ken Peplowski (clarinet and tenor sax), John Cocuzzi (vibes and piano), Frank Tate (string bass), and Joe Ascione (drums).

The Midweek Jazz Series will continue Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. with Kevin Dorn's Traditional Jazz Collective. The band features Kevin Dorn, a versatile drummer who has performed with several jazz and swing bands.

He gained national attention while drumming with the Jim Cullum Band in San Antonio, heard by radio listeners across the country.

His Traditional Jazz Collective has regular gigs in Manhattan, and drew appreciative audiences at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival in Connecticut and the Bickford Theatre in Morristown. The members of the band are close followers of early jazz and capture the intensity and spirit that made the first recordings of this music such a revelation to listeners.

Pianist Derek Smith will perform Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. Critics have said that Smith is "fiery," "passionate," and has "an evil left hand." He has been heard with such diverse company as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Benny Goodman,

Dizzy Gillespie and Burt Bacharach.

His keyboard work has figured in three modern movies, on the "Tonight Show" with Doc Severinsen's orchestra, and in concert with such notables as Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Sammy Cahn, Placido Domingo, and Steve Allen, to name a few.

Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. Marlene VerPlanck Returns will

entertain audiences at the college

Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. Reviewers have described VerPlanck's voice as "one of the wonders of the Western World."

Tickets for all performances are $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Details: (732) 255-0500.